Verna Hiser is a National Board-Certified teacher with over twenty-two years of experience in education, specializing in gifted and talented students. Passionate about advocating for twice-exceptional children, she dedicates her career to raising awareness about the unique strengths and challenges these remarkable young minds face. She believes that every child deserves to be seen, understood, and celebrated for their individuality. When she’s not in the classroom, Verna enjoys spending quality time with her family, immersing herself in books, and exploring her love for acting. A lifelong fan of creativity, she can often be found building intricate Lego structures.
Athena Reverie lives in a world that is too bright, too noisy, and too germy. Because she believes she is broken and doomed to do poorly in school, she maintains her survival by wearing her noise-canceling headphones, keeping her head down, and doing her best to follow directions. But then, she finds a team: the Neuro D Narwhals. Now, Athena is at the International Finals, surrounded by thousands of students, battling her sensory fears as beach balls fly and music blares. She and her friends have learned to combine their unique strengths and face down their challenges. As a spotlight shines on a huge table of trophies, Athena watches and wonders: Can a group of neurodiverse kids conquer the universe? More importantly, can a girl who can barely make it through the day find her voice and discover that her differences aren’t a flaw, but her greatest strength?
