Dancing in the Storm

In the tradition of Out of My Mind and Rules, and inspired by the co-author's own life, this is a heartfelt, candid, and illuminating story of a girl named Kate learning to live fully with a rare genetic disorder called Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva (FOP). Living a normal life in Baton Rouge with friends, family, gymnastics, and Girl Scouts, Kate's world changes drastically at the age of twelve when she develops a mysterious shoulder pain. This marks the beginning of her journey with FOP, a condition that causes bone to form in unexpected places and for which there is no cure yet. With the help of her family, friends, and a pen pal named Amie who also has FOP, Kate learns to navigate her new reality. Drawing upon co-author Amie Specht's own experiences, she and novelist Shannon Hitchcock craft a poignant, eye-opening, and uplifting narrative about finding courage and joy despite adversity.