Special by Nancy F. Goodfellow

Story of Adolescent Best Friends Explores Disabilities and Inclusivity in the Underrepresented Special Needs Community

Traverse City, MI—A prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome for her daughter led Nancy Goodfellow to a committed community and a lifetime of advocacy. Before Lily’s first birthday, Goodfellow was already a parent support volunteer for the National Association for Down Syndrome. Now her inaugural title, Special, Mission Point Press (March 19, 2026), explores the relationship of two young girls, Madison and Meg, as they enter adolescence and the challenges of junior high school. Best friends since they were five years old, Meg’s Down syndrome was never an issue, but the passing of Madison’s dad is altering their relationship.

Special

Sharing the book’s premise, Goodfellow explained how young children in preschool and kindergarten are typically inclusive, don’t pay much attention to differences, and simply gravitate toward each other as playmates. “As children get older, teachers recognize the students who have become friends with their classmates with disabilities and often rely on those students for their help. That help—on the playground, in gym class, on field trips—can alter a friendship into a helper relationship by fourth or fifth grade. I imagined a relationship between young girls, in this case Madison and Meg, where their friendship changes for typical reasons or life circumstances like new schools, new interests, new friends.”

A Story Well Lived

In Special, Meg’s Down syndrome never mattered to Madison. However, after her dad passes away, Madison begins questioning many of her life choices—including their relationship. Does she want to be the “special” girl—the girl who is best friends with someone who has a disability?

Goodfellow purposely waited until her daughter was in junior high to write the book, “so I could accurately create characters that age, both with and without Down syndrome. I also interviewed many other parents who have children with Down syndrome, so Meg wasn’t exclusively a reflection of my daughter, Lily.” Told from the perspective of each girl, alternating chapters between them, Goodfellow gives further authenticity to Special by incorporating text messaging dialogue, letting readers see themselves in the story and the impact of misconstrued communications.

Reflecting on the depth of her work in the Down syndrome community, Goodfellow shared the impact of her school presentations, explaining the importance of providing an opportunity for children to ask questions or share about their own disabilities. Often accompanied by a young woman with Down syndrome, children especially enjoy the Q&A portion, where they learn of similarities and see her as “someone who is just like them rather than someone with a disability.”

Goodfellow intentionally timed the presale of Special in October, which is Down Syndrome Awareness Month, and the publication date on March 19, 2026, just in time for World Down Syndrome Day, March 21.

Advance Praise

“This book tells about a wonderful friendship between Madison and Meg, but it’s much more than that. It’s about loss, trust, and being part of the ‘popular’ group. It’s also about the importance of children asking themselves honest questions and arriving at important decisions. It’s a beautiful story written in an honest, direct way.”

—Sheila Hebein, former executive director, National Association for Down Syndrome

The Author

Nancy F. Goodfellow always dreamed of being a writer, but it wasn’t until her first child was born with Down syndrome that she understood her true calling. Since then, she has committed to advocating for individuals with disabilities and encouraging inclusion in all areas of life. After spending a decade presenting to adults about common misconceptions of Down syndrome, Nancy realized the most important presentations were the ones she gave to children. Accompanied by a young woman with Down syndrome, Nancy teaches students about all intellectual disabilities, emphasizing that the more they understand, the more accepting they become.

When not writing or presenting, Nancy spends her time with her husband and three children in a suburb outside of Chicago. She loves to travel, especially internationally, and appreciates that her family is willing to keep up with her crazy itineraries and unusually fast walking pace.

The Book

Special

Nancy F. Goodfellow

283 pages, 5.5” x 8.5”, B/W

Juvenile Fiction/Neurodiversity, Social Themes/Friendship, Death, Grief, Bereavement

ISBN: 978-1-965278-87-1, $22.95 (Hardcover)

ISBN: 978-1-965278-88-8, $16.95 (Softcover)

Mission Point Press, March 19, 2026

Copies are available at Bookshop.org, Amazon, and other online retailers. On its March 19, 2026, publication date, it will be available for purchase wherever books are sold. For more information or to arrange for signings and events, contact the author at nancyfgoodfellow@gmail.com or visit www.nancyfgoodfellow.com .