Author and illustrator Maxine Thomas Davis was burned

in an accident when she was very young. This is her story.

Maxi was born a perfect baby girl, but a terrible accident left her

burned and scarred. Her family never talked about the scars, and

soon Maxi forgot all about them.

When Maxi went to school, she had a kind and thoughtful

teacher, and no one pointed or stared or called her bad names.

Then, her family moved and matters at Maxi’s new school were

totally different. On the very first day, the students acted like Maxi

was a monster. They called her Burnt Head Collard Greens.

Young Maxi shows us how it feels to be different because of

a physical defect. She shows what it feels like when a teacher is

silent, and what happens when a teacher steps in to make the

bullying stop. Above all, Maxi shows us how, with courage and a

teacher’s help, it can all get better.