Fans of John Green, Sara Barnard and Adam Silvera will love this contemporary YA that is packed with humour and heart.

A high school student with spinal muscular atrophy is determined to reinvent himself.

When new-boy Harris meets cute-girl-in-his-class Nory, he is determined to prove he is more than just the kid in the powered wheelchair. Luckily, he has a secret weapon. His new nurse Miranda.

Beautiful and confident, Miranda sees Harris for who he really is - funny, smart and totally worthy of Nory's affections. It seems everything is working out for Harris for once. But Miranda has her own demons, and Harris starts to wonder if she has his best interests at heart.

PRAISE FOR THE FIRST THING ABOUT YOU

"A beautifully empathetic novel that makes you look at the world differently." Phil Earle, author of When the Sky Falls

"A witty, candid take on love, friendship, belonging, and disability." Kirkus

"A stellar debut. Chaz Hayden writes with the humor and heart of a seasoned storyteller. An instant favorite." John Corey Whaley, author of National Book Award Finalist Noggin and Michael L. Printz Award winner Where Things Come Back

"Clear-eyed and bighearted and laugh-out-loud funny." Katie Cotugno, New York Times bestselling author of 99 Days

"Following Harris as he navigates family, friendship, first love, and finding himself was thoroughly enjoyable. I would recommend this honest, hilarious, and heartfelt novel to anyone 14 years and over." Reading Time

About the Author
Chaz Hayden is a debut author who, like his main character, was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy as an infant and spent his childhood in and out of hospitals. The First Thing About You, he says, is "not just about disability but about friendship and love and all the things that a young person hopes to experience". Through his writing and his YouTube channel, he speaks with abundant positivity and encourages people to "Be different. Leave a trail." Chaz Hayden grew up in New Jersey and now lives in Pennsylvania with his parents and his English Bulldog, Lovey. Follow him on Instagram and Twitter: @TheChazHayden.

Reviews
[...] Readers will root for Harris even while wincing at his reckless decisions; Hayden, who has SMA (spinal muscular atrophy)himself, vividly captures Harris' desire to belong and the pressure to transcend disability stereotypes. Melding wry wit, awkwardness, and introspection, Harris' frank narration keeps the pages turning as he grapples with the uncomfortable, conflicting feelings of his romantic dilemma. The ending is a delightful pop of realism. [...] A witty, candid take on love, friendship, belonging, and disability -- . * Kirkus Review *

Hayden has hit the mark with this debut novel by tapping into his own lived experience (Hayden has the same condition as Harris) to create an authentic narrative voice. An abled person writing this could have easily fallen into the trap of relying on stereotypes, or reducing the disabled character to 'inspiration porn'. This is why it's important that marginalised and under-represented people are given a platform to tell their own stories.

Hayden shows us what it is like to live with a condition that renders you different to others, but also highlights the commonalities we share that make us human. At its heart, this is a story about what it means to be a teenager searching for acceptance and a sense of belonging, which anyone can relate to.

-- Nick Bor * NetGalley *
"Debut author Hayden, who, like Harris, has SMA, writes with humor and compassion that instructs without lecturing. His funny, sarcastic, and smart narrator easily reminds the reader that people with disabilities have amazing abilities and, most important, are people first." -- Booklist * Booklist *
This novel made me feel warm and cozy as I was reading it, it was a lovely book to read. The author has written such a lovely warm novel with such likeable characters I couldn't help but fall in love with it. * A Cascade of Books *
Such a moving book filled with humour and love! * @kelliesam.books *


Awards
Short-listed for The Badger Book Awards 2023 (UK).



Book Information
ISBN 9781529510942
Author Chaz Hayden
Format Paperback
Page Count 368
Imprint Walker Books Ltd
Publisher Walker Books Ltd
Weight(grams) 255g
Dimensions(mm) 198mm * 129mm * 22mm