A compassionate Freshman high school girl with a unique perspective on autism, struggles with her self image, a growing interest in a boy at school, and her need for her dad’s attention as she assists her family in the care of her two older atypical siblings in this coming of age story.

SYNOPSIS:

When Dawn was eleven, Duane, her father says something that has her feeling dull and ordinary. She has two older autistic siblings, Chase who is low functioning, and Amy who is high functioning. She knows a lot about autism, not only because of her siblings, but her mother is an advocate for parents with autistic children. Dawn goes with her mother to meetings and babysits for the parents in an adjacent room. Now that Dawn is in high school she is the one to walk her brother to the Sped room every morning, thus Dawn becomes very involved with some of the students at school that are autistic. She has a big heart and brings them into her little group of girlfriends. Cameron is very high functioning, and has three classes with Dawn. One of these classes is PE. One of the boys, Jeff, on an apposing basketball team, teases Cameron, trying to get him to throw the ball to him by saying that he is on his team, but Cameron knows better. Everyone is yelling at Cameron what to do with the ball, so he throws the ball really hard in Jeff’s face, breaking his nose. Josh, one of Jeff’s friends, calls Cameron an idiot. Dawn defends Cameron. To avoid a fight, the teacher sends Dawn off with Jeff to the nurse, and on the way, Jeff admits that it was all his fault and that he’s sorry. Dawn totally falls for him. However, Duane has a rule in the family, no dating until you are Junior, because of a bad experience that Amy had when she was dating. Dawn changes her hair style and starts wearing makeup. Jeff starts coming to school early to spend time with Dawn.

In the mean time Amy, who is in her first year of college, comes home for a weekend. Dawn is a bit exasperated, because Amy is hard to live with. Duane is very excited that Amy is home and encourages her change to the community college, so she can live at home. However, Dawn’s mother insists that Amy go back to the university and work through her problems. Amy goes back to her school after the weekend. Jeff invites Dawn to an away game. Dawn isn’t able to go because her father needs her to stay home with Chase (her mother is working). On the bus going to the game, some of Jeff’s soccer buddies tease him about Dawn. Jeff pulls back, and Dawn blames her father and brother for Jeff pulling away. It takes Cameron’s naive honesty to bring Jeff and Dawn back together. Dawn is very wary of her father not supporting her and Jeff, so she sneaks off to an away game, driving with a girl who has just gotten her license. Duane gets a message to Dawn to come home with the team on the bus. Dawn goes home in the car and on the way home, the girl runs into a tree. No one is hurt badly, but the girl’s boyfriend hit his head, and is bleeding. They all go to the hospital, and Duane hears the message that Dawn was in a car wreak and at the hospital. Duane is in a panic when he gets to the hospital until he finds out that Dawn is fine. Dawn is grounded for three months. Just before Winter Break, Amy comes to her school and pulls Dawn out early to help her find a Christmas gift for their parents. Amy shows how she has made a good friend and grown in empathy since she has been away from home. During Winter Break, Dawn takes Chase for walks and meets with Jeff. They become boyfriend and girlfriend. Duane sees them together at the park with Chase. He realizes that Dawn has been going on walks with Chase to see Jeff. Duane takes Dawn out shopping and dinner, and he mentions that she should be focusing on her studies and not on boys. Dawn jumps up and tells him that she can do both, and that she already has a boyfriend. Later that night she overhears her mother and Duane talking and listens as her father says exactly the things she needs to hear to realize how important and wonderful she is to him. Sitting down with her brother, Dawn has an epiphany that when you are loved you are one of a kind, and if you are one of a kind you can’t be replaced. She decides that no one should be categorize, and also, there is no such thing as normal when it comes to people.