by Donna Galanti (2026)
(Not a review, just some notes to help me remember the things I've read. But written this way because it's the Internet, and some people will stumble across this page.)
This book was a free Advanced Reader Copy from Library Thing. I'm encouraged (but not required) to leave reviews in exchange for the free books.
I left the following review on the Library Thing website:
"Don't talk about Secret Winners Club" isn't the first rule of Secret Winners Club, but it's up there on the list.
Three middle-school students with autoimmune disorders (one is hairless, one has psoriasis, one had developed spots) join together for support each other, and to help each win, whatever it takes. Vee wants to beat her classmate swimming the IM 200 and break a school record. Sunny wants to build a winning junkbot and beat a rival student
The first thing they decide to do is find experts and get their advice and help. This starts off well, but then doing whatever it takes to win, or wanting to win for the wrong reasons, takes a toll in the way they act toward both their mentors and their classmates.
There are more complications when Trevor's absent father returns, and when new club member Jolie has her own health issues.
They learn that everyone has their own problems that they're dealing with even if it isn't as obvious, and winning doesn't mean you get to be the bully.
I enjoyed this book.
There isn't much more to add. Suspension of disbelief that these three students have these particular autoimmune diseases in the same small middle school. And then the fourth has anxiety, although she tries to claima disease to fit in.
Sunny's mom left when she was young, as did Trevor's dad. Sunny wants to win so she can be in the newspaper and maybe her mother will see it and be sorry that she left them. Not that she wants her back. Trevor hates that his father came back, which increases his anxiety levels, which can worsen his condition.
Vee is the first winner, and she becomes what she hates, and then doesn't feel good about it.
Nothing hits you over the head, not even Trev's infatuation for another boy whom he doesn't know if he's also gay or not.
The book avoids a bunch of tropes and could've gone off the rails or gotten preachy in places.
It was a quick read.
If you stumbled across my page via the Internet, please check out my short book series, Burke Lore Briefs. A fantastical foursome of flash fiction and short stories.
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