The Science of Being Angry follows eleven-year-old Joey, a perpetually angry girl who constantly struggles with her temper, frequently lashing out and hurting those around her, including her former best friend and crush. After a serious meltdown leads to her family’s eviction, Joey becomes desperate to understand her rage and wonders if she inherited her anger from her biological sperm donor when her science class covers genetics and nature versus nurture. As she secretly researches her donor and navigates her big, overwhelming feelings with the help of her supportive two-mom family and counseling, Joey begins to recognize how her behavior affects others and learns that family—both biological and chosen—continues to show up with love and patience, even when solutions aren’t quick or obvious.
DCP Stories Collection
- Book – Fiction
- Ages 13-18 (e.g., young adult/teen)
- Nicole Melleby
- Sperm Donor
The Science of Being Angry
Review
What’s Done Well
- Authentic curiosity. Joey’s curiosity around whether or not it’s her DNA that’s making her feel so angry leads her to secretly using 23andMe to find her donor’s family. While she should have used the site with parental supervision (since she’s only 11), Joey’s curiosity led her on a journey that can be relatable to many donor-conceived people.
- Support from recipient parents. Joey doesn’t reveal what she’s really feeling until the end of the novel, but once she does, her moms give Joey much-needed support for her mental health and her search for her donor.
