My name is Jessica Middleton and I'd like to tell you why I wrote this book.

I was born on 30 April 2002 and my family moved to Canada in November 2002 for an adventure. My brother and I went to a school there when we were both three years old. I was born with low tone or ataxic cerebral palsy and had to work hard to do what other people think is easy – like sitting by myself and walking. I didn’t even like to put my feet on the ground at first, so had to stand in a standing frame. Then, when I was a bit stronger, I used a cute little walker to help me zoot around. After a lot of exercise, swimming, horse riding and walking, I was able to learn to balance by myself. I love to walk fast, and I even ride on a tandem with my dad. We have ridden in the Cape Town Cycle Tour (109 km) twice and Johannesburg’s 94.7km , which is awesome – I love speed!

We returned to live in South Africa when I was six years old. We moved back to our old home in Johannesburg. Later, when I was twelve, I attended a school in Durban. Sometime later, my parents took me out of that school because my teachers didn't believe in my potential. My mom decided to home-school me instead.

My book began in 2009, many years ago. I wrote chapter headings, designed the cover, and started planning what the story was all about. I talked, dreamt, discussed, designed and drew character sketches. Then I took a long break and did no more work on my book. About five years ago, I was asleep in bed when a soft voice came to me in a dream, saying, “Write!” I was 14 years old.

The next day, after school, I saw my mom’s computer on the table, and I sat down in front of it. Before I consciously realized what was happening, I was writing and writing. At first it was a sentence, then a paragraph, a page and then a chapter. Soon it was four chapters. As I stopped writing that day, it hit me – the voice was God's! I then understood what was taking place in my life. I had found a calling.

Near the end of my book, I took another break to think up a good ending. And I did! My book was finished!

All this happened because I am different from other people. No matter what you love to do, never let people hurt you and say that you’re not good enough. You are!