Just Shy of Ordinary

Thirteen-year-old Shai Stern is an expert problem-solver. There’s never been something they couldn’t research and figure out on their own. But there’s one thing Shai hasn’t been able to logic their way through: picking at the hair on their arms. Ever since their mom lost her job, the two had to move in with family friends, and the world went into pandemic lockdown, Shai’s been unable to control their picking. Now, as the difficult times recede and everyone begins to discover their “new normal,” Shai’s hoping the stress that caused their picking will end, too. After reading that a routine can reduce anxiety, Shai makes a plan for a new normal that includes going to public school, coming out to their friends as nonbinary and pansexual, and mastering their picking once and for all. When Shai is assigned a big project for English, they decide to focus on their Jewish heritage and the Jewish community's relationship to queer individuals. Over the course of the fall, Shai struggles to manage their new responsibilities and friendships. Luckily, they find support in others who share their queer identity, including their English teacher, their friend Millie, and their crush Edie -- who ends up reciprocating Shai's feelings! Each change brings more surprises. Eventually Shai learns that they can’t plan their way out of everything, but with the help of family and friends, they can make it through anything.