1st Rule of The Secret Winners Club: Do whatever it takes.

Thirteen-year-old Sunny Whitlock has alopecia; an autoimmune condition that’s made her lose her hair—and she’s desperate to be seen as more than just the bald kid. But how? By setting an epic goal: win her school’s junkbot club competition. And if she’s #1, then other kids will have to see beyond her disease … and she’ll finally fit in.

Sunny’s immune-deficient best friends are also tired of looking different and achieving second place in their school competitions. With a bold plan, Sunny bands with them to create The Secret Winners Club, a club devised to win—at any cost—and push them outside their comfort zones.

They promise to trust no one else. It’s all classified! And in total secrecy they aim to help one another become #1 before this middle school year is over. But as they start to succeed, they quickly discover that crossing the line and hurting others can make them even more visible—and even more an outsider.

For young readers between 9-13, fans of Erin Entrada Kelly, R.J. Palacio, Sharon Draper, and Joan Bauer.

Why Donna to write this book?
Donna has several autoimmune conditions, some visible, like the characters in this story and relates to how it feels to look different and try to stand out for something other than your appearance.

You may like The Secret Winners Club if you like these books:
Hello, Universe
Fish in a Tree
Counting by 7’s
Wonder

Key Points:
 A powerful story rich in identity, friendship, and second chances.
 For readers yearning to belong through creative, new adventures.
 A cast of characters struggling with skin conditions.
 Full of challenges, human connection, and sweet encounters.
 Tween club settings with STEAM and autoimmune themes

Keywords:
friendship, family, coming-of-age, theater, autoimmune, STEM, swim team, STEAM, bullying, junkbot, vitiligo, alopecia, psoriasis, school clubs, identity, LGBTQIA+, new experiences, self-acceptance, inventions, technology

Audience:
 Tech, theater & swim lovers
 Kids seeking self-acceptance
 Fans of friendship stories
 Those with skin conditions