Book excerpt: Elsimore is a rambunctious and fun-loving fourth grader who is in the middle of some of the worst anxiety she has ever felt. Although she is absolutely terrified to accompany her class on a trip out-of-state, Elsimore sincerely believes that she must go or she’ll be missing out on something so important that she won’t be able to forgive herself. If she stays behind, she’ll be left with a large hole inside she may never be able to fill. As Elsimore fights with herself, her fears, and her mom, the author accompanying her on her journey begins whispering ideas that help the queen of terror work through each challenging moment. While Elsimore reviews her coping strategies and works on whether or not to use them to push through her panic, Elsimore’s mom has to figure out her own anxiety in order to help both herself and Elsimore. The big question is will Elsimore go, or won’t she? In this powerful story, a fourth grader riddled with anxiety and her mom work together to push through a looming challenge that may just be an opportunity to grow.