{"product_id":"kara-and-the-red-pen-a-story-about-tests-book-swaps-and-finding-out-what-really-counts","title":"Kara and the Red Pen: A Story About Tests, Book Swaps, and Finding Out What Really Counts","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKara loves school. She loves learning. She loves everything about it.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eUntil it's time to mark the work.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhen Mrs Matthews announces a book swap — when everyone has to swap their books with the person next to them so another child can mark their answers in red pen — Kara feels a tight, cold feeling behind her ribs. What if her answers are wrong? What if everyone sees? The red pen. The crosses. The exposure.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAnd the tests. Oh, the tests. Kara knows the maths. Mum helps her at home and she knows it all perfectly. But then Friday morning comes and her mind goes blank and her pencil moves slowly and slowly and slowly, and everyone else's pencils are already down, and she is the last one, and the room is watching her, and—\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBut her friends don't care. Jasmine still swaps books with her. Chloe still sits with her. They still love her exactly the same. So why can't Kara love herself the same way when there are red circles on her paper?\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA warm, funny, and deeply honest story about the anxiety that hides inside love of learning. And about discovering that God doesn't look at the mark — God looks at the heart. The heart that tries. The heart that stays at lunch to finish a project about wombats. The heart that asks the best questions. That heart is doing just fine.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePerfect for:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChildren who love learning but worry about being marked or tested\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKids who are the last to finish and feel self-conscious about it\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eParents wanting to help their child separate their worth from their marks\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAustralian families recognising the book swap practice from their own schools\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIncludes book-club discussion questions and a note for grown-ups. Australian setting and spelling.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePart of The Brave Heart Stories series.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eScripture: 1 Samuel 16:7 — 'The Lord looks at the heart.'\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Brave Heart Stories","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52856237392161,"sku":null,"price":11.99,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0989\/8219\/9585\/files\/Screenshot2026-06-11at2.56.14pm.png?v=1781605062","url":"https:\/\/thebraveheartstories.com\/products\/kara-and-the-red-pen-a-story-about-tests-book-swaps-and-finding-out-what-really-counts","provider":"The Brave Heart Stories","version":"1.0","type":"link"}