Mustaches for Maddie

by Chad Morris, Shelly Brown

Overview

Based on a true story.
 
Twelve-year-old Maddie has a quirky sense of humor and loves making her classmates laugh by slapping on fake mustaches every chance she gets. Being funny gets her noticed by class queen Cassie, and things are looking up when Maddie is cast as Juliet in the school play. Maybe Juliet could wear a mustache?

When Maddie starts tripping when she walks and her hand starts curling up at her side, her mom takes her to the doctor, who confirms Maddie has a brain tumor. In an instant, her world is turned upside down.

Maddie doesn’t want anyone else to know. Especially Cassie, whose jealousy has turned to bullying. What about Maddie’s chance to play Juliet opposite the cutest boy in the sixth grade? What if the doctors can’t get the ugly tumor monster out of her brain?  
As Maddie’s surgery approaches, she wonders if her illness is giving  her super powers because her imagination is bigger than ever, her courage is stronger than ever, and her compassion is about to be felt by more people than she ever imagined.  
 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781629723303
Publisher:	Shadow Mountain Publishing
Publication date:	10/03/2017
Edition description:	First Edition
Pages:	256
Product dimensions:	5.60(w) x 8.40(h) x 1.10(d)
Age Range:	8 - 11 Years

About the Author

Chad Morris and Shelly Brown are the proud parents of four sons and one daughter, Maddie, who was diagnosed with a brain tumor when she was nine.
Chad grew up wanting to become a professional basketball player or a rock star. Neither of those plans quite panned out, so he wrote and performed sketch comedy while going to college. Now he’s a teacher and a writer.
Shelly loves to write books for children. In her spare time, she enjoys the theater and traveling. In addition to her five children, she has three chickens and sixty-four Pez dispensers.
 

Read an Excerpt

As far as twelve-year-old girls go, I hope I'm pretty funny, but that wasn't why my friends were laughing and taking pictures. It was because I was wearing a mustache. Yep. I'm a short, sandy-blonde girl with a mustache. And it was beautiful, bushy, and pink.

I also had a thick green mustache and a curly brown one, but they were still in my pocket. I collected mustaches for one major reason: they're hilarious. Everything is funnier with a mustache. For example, think of a pig. They're cute and funny with their piggy snouts and curly pink tails. Now imagine one with a mustache. Yep. Funnier. Or think of a woman in a fancy dress singing opera. Now imagine a woman with a mustache in a fancy dress singing opera. Think of your baby brother . . . with a mustache.

He-he-he. Hilarious.

Three of the girls liked my mustache, but I still wanted to win one more over. The hardest to impress.

Cassie turned to find out why everyone was laughing and taking pictures. She had been talking to Sarah at the front of the group. Cassie is like the queen of the sixth grade. Well, the queen, the president, the fashionista, winner of the People's Choice Award-pretty much everything important. It isn't official or anything, but everyone knows it.

She wore her blonde hair long and flowy, with a few fancy braids, the kind moms have to learn how to do by going to beauty school or by watching a lot of videos on the Internet. She also wore a glittery red sweater. Super cute, but we wouldn't expect anything less.

"Maddie! So funny," Cassie said, showing her brilliantly white teeth. "Weird, but funny."

The queen thought I was funny! Maybe I could work my way up to becoming the jester of the sixth grade. That would be awesome. My risky risk was paying off. Hopefully, she would let me hang out with her today.

I jogged to catch up to the other girls. All of them were taller than I was, and they seemed to walk faster too. We opened the big black doors and walked out of Acord Elementary, glad to have at least a few minutes of freedom.

We had only walked a few more feet before Cassie turned again, this time walking completely backwards, looking at the bunch of us following her. She could even walk backward sassy. "Okay," she said, with her big bright smile, "I need to talk with Sailor and Hannah."

She looked over her shoulder to make sure she was following the walking path around the school. Every recess Cassie picked who got to walk around with her. Sometimes she chose me and we talked about movies and makeup and funny jokes and boys. Well, I didn't usually do much of the talking, but it was still fun.

Some recesses I didn't get picked. Cassie didn't like it if I tried to hang out with a different group, so if I didn't get picked, I usually chilled by the door and made up jokes to myself or invented some crazy story. Once I made up one about a cyclops who had to go on a treacherous journey to get the only contact lens big enough for his monster eye. It was pretty awesome. Well, as awesome as telling a story to yourself can be.

"And Yasmin," Cassie said.

I really liked Yasmin and was glad Cassie picked her. And not just because she took a picture of me with her phone. Yasmin and I walk most of the way home together. She lives a street over. She has really dark straight hair and dark skin. She once told me to guess where she was from. I guessed India. I was so wrong. It was Ohio. But her grandparents were from Malaysia. That's somewhere way across the ocean. I could point it out on a map, maybe.

"And . . ." Cassie said.

This was it.

Please. Please.

I really hoped my mustache sealed it. "Definitely Maddie." Phew! I almost danced for real. Not only was I in, but I got a definitely. Behold the power of the mustache. "Even though she's holding her arm weird again," Cassie added.

For the love of potatoes! I had forgotten about my arm. I stretched it out quick. For some reason my arm liked to rest in a funny position sometimes. Cassie had pointed it out twice now. My fist would tuck in close to my chest and my elbow would stick out behind it. It was probably because I was growing. Bodies do weird things when they grow. At least that's what they told us in that really awkward presentation at school. You know, that one your parents have to sign the permission slip for you to go to and where they talk about deodorant and your body changing. The permission slip probably asked, "Is it okay for your son or daughter to sit through the most awkward presentation of their lives?" And all the parents signed it.

Or maybe I held my arm weird because of the ninja training I was doing after school in the invisible dojo in my basement. That was probably it. I was almost a titanium belt. That's like twenty levels above black, and it's when you learn to break cars with your pinky finger and bust through freeways with your head. Yeah. That kind of training is intense.

Okay, I made up the ninja stuff, but it sounded pretty cool.

Editorial Reviews

08/21/2017
“Everything is funnier with a mustache” is 12-year-old Maddie’s motto, and she has fake press-on ones for every occasion, including imaginative stories and games she makes up on the spot. Maddie’s offbeat sense of humor is the heart of this story from spouses Morris and Brown, which was inspired by their own daughter. Maddie is trying to make inroads with cool classmate Cassie, who handpicks the girls she hangs out with during recess and tells them which parts to try out for in an upcoming performance of scenes from Shakespeare. Maddie secretly auditions for Juliet (the role Cassie wants) and is overjoyed when she gets it, but her life takes a turn when her family learns that she has a brain tumor. Maddie learns to stand up for herself and face her fears head-on in this moving story of courage and heart. Morris and Brown balance the gravity of Maddie’s illness with her buoyant imagination as she navigates the reality of the surgery she needs and the politics of sixth grade. Ages 8–11. (Oct.)

Publishers Weekly

"Follows the experiences of a young girl with an active imagination as she battles the biggest struggle of her life - a brain tumor. Although the subject matter is heavy, this book is not. The seriousness of the situation is offset by Maddie's strong sense of self and her ability to conquer obstacles through her imagination. Most of her humor is slapstick and court jester-like in nature, which makes for a fun read. This book does an excellent job of describing medical procedures in an accurate, yet non-threatening way. Some of the procedures include: getting shots, MRI, surgeries, being alone for some procedures, fears and feelings of being seriously ill, etc.

Throughout the book Maddie also deals with the issues a typical twelve-year-old would face:  social pressures, relational aggression on the playground/classroom, the struggle between right and wrong, discovery of self, new crushes, etc.

Maddie is a very engaging character that is easy to fall in love with. She is quirky and different, and yet down-to-earth and relatable. This book is ideal for a wide range of readers including anyone going through a hard time - medical or otherwise. However, it is also good for those who are on the outside, who may want to help someone going through a hard time. There are discussion questions at the end of the book, which are great for group discussion, book clubs, or even one to one."

Compass Book Ratings

Grades 4-6 category

Missouri Mark Twain Award - 2019-20 Nominee

Grade 4-5 for 2018-2019

Alabama Camellia Children's Choice Award nominee

2019 nominee

Rhode Island Children's Book Award

2018

Ohio Buckeye Award winner - Grade 3-5 category

08/01/2017
Gr 4–6—Twelve-year-old Maddie Bridger has a great imagination. She likes to imagine herself heroically fighting monsters, or even speaking out when Cassie, the most popular girl in her class, excludes other people at recess. But then Maddie comes face-to-face with an unexpected foe: a brain tumor that is affecting the right side of her body, and may leave her blind if it isn't removed. While trying to cope with the life-threatening prospect of brain surgery, Maddie also faces challenges at school: Cassie is jealous that Maddie has been cast as Juliet in the upcoming Shakespearean short plays, and starts a rumor that Maddie invented the tumor to get attention. At first Maddie is furious that Cassie could tell such a terrible lie, but she begins to realize that Cassie is facing challenges of her own. Meanwhile, although her first surgery is a success, a cyst on the part of the tumor the surgeon couldn't remove leaves her in renewed danger, and facing an even riskier surgery. Based on the true story of the authors' daughter, this is a moving novel about a truly brave girl. Maddie is a wonderfully thoughtful, creative, and funny protagonist, with whom readers will identify as she grapples with her social and physical challenges . The title comes from her love of fake mustaches, which she carries around to lighten the mood wherever she goes, and which become a viral sensation when she is hospitalized. Although the novel does not reveal the outcome of Maddie's second surgery, an author's note explains that the real Maddie recovered completely, and that thousands of people really did wear fake mustaches to show their support for her. VERDICT This poignant and uplifting novel is a good read-alike for fans of R.J. Palacio's Wonder.—Ashley Larsen, Pacifica Libraries, CA

School Library Journal

2017-08-02
A 12-year-old copes with a brain tumor.Maddie likes potatoes and fake mustaches. Kids at school are nice (except one whom readers will see instantly is a bully); soon they'll get to perform Shakespeare scenes in a unit they've all been looking forward to. But recent dysfunctions in Maddie's arm and leg mean, stunningly, that she has a brain tumor. She has two surgeries, the first successful, the second taking place after the book's end, leaving readers hanging. The tumor's not malignant, but it—or the surgeries—could cause sight loss, personality change, or death. The descriptions of surgery aren't for the faint of heart. The authors—parents of a real-life Maddie who really had a brain tumor—imbue fictional Maddie's first-person narration with quirky turns of phrase ("For the love of potatoes!") and whimsy (she imagines her medical battles as epic fantasy fights and pretends MRI stands for Mustard Rat from Indiana or Mustaches Rock Importantly), but they also portray her as a model sick kid. She's frightened but never acts out, snaps, or resists. Her most frequent commentary about the tumor, having her skull opened, and the possibility of death is "Boo" or "Super boo." She even shoulders the bully's redemption. Maddie and most characters are white; one cringe-inducing hallucinatory surgery dream involves "chanting island natives" and a "witch doctor lady." Medically, both squicky and hopeful; emotionally, unbelievably squeaky-clean. (authors' note, discussion questions) (Fiction. 9-11)

Kirkus Reviews

Grade 3-5 category

2018 Ohio Buckeye Children's Book Award winner

"When the neurologist says Maddie has a brain tumor and needs surgery, and that the surgery might change her personality, or even end her life. Maddie doesn’t want anyone to know, but Mom convinces her to tell. Much to Maddie’s surprise, it turns out she has a ton of supporters, who all start wearing mustaches, too...to help Maddie bear her long, tough treatment. Based on the authors’ experience, this sweet, hopeful, believable, and unsentimental tale rings true. Being brave, growing up, true friendship—this has it all."

Booklist

"Mustaches and the magic of cards unexpectedly come in handy when a brain tumor challenges a brave 12-year-old girl. Reflects the ups and downs of a young person braving a terrifying journey. Morris and Brown capture the interests of middle grade readers from the get-go with Maddie's high energy, imaginative narration and her love for sporting fake mustaches. Amid surgeries there are topics that Maddie ruminates on, such as life, friendship and the importance of accepting oneself. Very funny yet poignant, an encouraging read."

BookPage

"When the neurologist says Maddie has a brain tumor and needs surgery, and that the surgery might change her personality, or even end her life. Maddie doesn’t want anyone to know, but Mom convinces her to tell. Much to Maddie’s surprise, it turns out she has a ton of supporters, who all start wearing mustaches, too...to help Maddie bear her long, tough treatment. Based on the authors’ experience, this sweet, hopeful, believable, and unsentimental tale rings true. Being brave, growing up, true friendship—this has it all."

Booklist