A Diamond in the Rough

<p><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>Charlie's summer before senior year begins in the worst possible place-a hospital room. What starts as a routine visit quickly turns into something far more serious: she needs to have one of her lungs removed. It's a terrifying prospect for anyone but especially for a teenage girl on the brink of what's supposed to be the best year of her life.</span></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>Convinced her future is over Charlie struggles to adjust. Even after she's discharged life doesn't return to normal. Her health challenges persist and the frustration of feeling different and left behind begins to weigh heavily. Surrounded by people who treat her like she's fragile Charlie wonders if it might be easier to simply give in and become the invalid they expect her to be.</span></p><p><span style=background-color: rgba(255 255 255 1); color: rgba(15 17 17 1)>But as the school year unfolds so does Charlie's inner strength. With the support of a few loyal friends she begins to rediscover her spirit. Through setbacks and triumphs Charlie learns to embrace her new reality discovering that perseverance courage and self-acceptance are what truly define a person. And maybe-just maybe-being different isn't a weakness at all but a quiet kind of strength.</span></p>