Braver: An Uplifting Story About Anxiety and Sensitivity
A short but sweet post today. I have just finished reading Braver by Deborah Jones and wanted to share this book with the Happy Sensitive Kids community. Whilst the book itself is not about being highly sensitive, there is a theme of sensitivity running through the book – as well as living with anxiety. And more simply put, going through life simply feeling different to other people, having different needs and learning to cope in a society with different expectations and acceptation of what ‘normal’ is. In other words, a great read for the highly sensitive community.
Braver by Deborah Jones – The Storyline
Hazel has OCD and anxiety and has arranged her life around rigid routines to cope with life. As a teaching assistant (teacher training was too stressful for Hazel, so she dropped out) Hazel helps children with additional needs in a local school. One morning an accident leads to a chance meeting, which develops into an unlikely friendship with Virginia, a church minister. A shock accusation against Virginia rocks the ‘church family’, something Hazel has stepped outside of her comfort zone to become a part of, despite not being at all religious. Hazel learns the positive impact of community and friends and she is able to step inside the shoes of others and empathise.
This really is a lovely story, which feels like stepping into a warm bath, or a gentle hug. The audio book by SAGA Egmont is a delight to listen to, with the array of voices and the insight of Hazel as she writes in her diary, for example.
Don’t forget to check out your local library (it’s what I used to listen to this audio book)! Here’s an excellent post on why our libraries are important, now more than ever: 5 Reasons I’m Falling Back in Love with Libraries in 2025.
Other Book Recommendations
If you are looking for more book recommendations with a highly sensitive theme, check out these earlier posts:
18 Perfect Books for Highly Sensitive Children
9 Amazing Book Gifts for Highly Sensitives
15 Great Parenting Books You Need on Your Reading List
Help Is On Its Way – A Book Review
You’ll also find a ton of recommendations in the HSK Amazon Store.
Over to You
If you have read this book, what did you think of it? Always happy to hear about book recommendations from the Happy Sensitive Kids Community, so if you have something to share let me know below.
*For your convenience, this post includes affiliate links to products useful for the HSK community. They cost you nothing more to buy, but I may get a small commission, which goes towards costs to keep the HSK site running.*
