Burying the Pawn

Burying the Pawn is the story of three unconventional people facing the challenges of learning disabilities and mental health issues in America. Zeb, Kiara, and Leo have all suffered in their own ways but are determined not to let their struggles define them. As they mature from lonely and confused children into headstrong adults, they still face obstacles but seek to make a difference in a society that often overlooks those who learn differently.

Zeb, a floundering adventure tour operator, wants to live a big, consequential life but is held back by his ADHD. Kiara, a disbarred psychologist and former soccer star, yearns to be a better person but seemingly lacks empathy for others, despite her auditory processing disorder, scoliosis, and Trinidadian immigrant heritage. Leo, a Venezuelan-born investment banker who suffers from anxiety, wants to make his family proud and repay his adopted country, but his mistreatment of Zeb, Kiara, and others might tank his chances. Individually, they struggle to keep their lives from unraveling, but their paths converge in the university town of Chapel Hill as they confront one of America's most pressing social problems-a broken education system that leaves students with learning differences behind. With tenacity and passion, they work to change the system and give others like them a chance to succeed.

At times joyful and other times heartbreaking, Burying the Pawn is a story about persistence, friendship, redemption, and taking control of your own destiny. Along the way, it offers a nuanced picture of the ways our education system fails students who learn differently and what can be done about it.

Proceeds from the book will benefit the University of North Carolina Learning Center and Smart Kids with Learning Disabilities.