Advocacy
Community
Medical Awareness​
Ari's Empowering Story
Eight-and-a-half-year-old Ari is an ordinary girl living in New York City with her parents and older sister, Ava. She loves to dance, act, and sparkle on stage, and she admires the bright Broadway billboards in Times Square.
As the new school year unfolds, Ari is excited about the new opportunities and friendships ahead. However, she wakes up to an unexpected surprise! Hair strands have fallen onto her pillow, and she is diagnosed with alopecia areata. At first, it feels as though her world is turned upside down, but with the support of her amazing peers, Ari comes to realize that her hair loss is truly her superpower.
Why This Book Matters
What is alopecia areata?
Alopecia is an autoimmune condition in which the body's immune system mistakenly attacks hair follicles. Hair loss can occur on the scalp, face, or other parts of the body, and it looks different for everyone!
Alopecia areata, one of the various types, often appears as small, round patches of hair loss on the scalp or other areas. These patches can grow in size or may be joined by a few more on the scalp.
Why is hair difference education important?
Learning about hair differences like alopecia areata helps children understand that no two heads of hair look the same, and that is exactly what makes them special and unique! It encourages kindness and empathy, and destigmatizes hair loss in the classroom. Teaching about hair differences also helps children experiencing hair loss feel seen, accepted, and confident in following their dreams.
Meet the Heroes!
Co-Author
Madeline Lee
Madeline Lee is a high school student, born and raised in New York City. She was diagnosed with alopecia areata at five years old. Growing up, she transformed her hair loss journey into an opportunity to educate her communities, especially through her creative passions, including writing.
She reaches over 50,000 people across the globe every month as Director of Outreach of the Alopecia Justice League (AJL). During the school year, Madeline has brought the AJL Hair Heroes Curriculum to 500+ students alongside a team of medical students and dermatologists.
Contributor
Lindsey Sullivan
In addition to being a co-founder of the Alopecia Justice League, Lindsey Sullivan is the northeast regional support group leader for the National Alopecia Areata Foundation. She is also the creator and host of Very Nearly Almost, her podcast about alopecia and other secret superpowers. She is also a writer with bylines in Billboard, The Cut, Time Out New York and more. By day, she works at Broadway.com as a Senior Producer, and by night, you can probably catch her enjoying a show at the theater.
Co-Author
Kristen Lo Sicco, MD
Kristen Lo Sicco is a co-founder of the Alopecia Justice League and a full-time faculty member in the Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology at NYU Langone Health. She is an Associate Professor of Dermatology and the Director of the NYU Skin and Cancer Unit.
It was during her dermatology residency that she discovered the need for more dermatologists specializing in alopecia and the importance of giving a voice to a community that often felt disregarded.
Dr. Lo Sicco's clinical and research interests include diseases of the hair, scalp, and nails as well as complex medical dermatology.​​ She has over 240 articles published in peer-reviewed journals, and is on the board for the American Hair Research Society as well
as the Scarring Alopecia Foundation.
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Support the Mission
Every book purchased helps us place copies in the hands of children who need to see their story reflected. Proceeds from How Ari Got Her Cape support the Alopecia Justice League's mission to bring education and empowerment to schools, hospitals, and support groups across the country.
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Have a question about the book, interested in a bulk order, or want to bring Ari's story to your school? We'd love to hear from you! Fill out the form below and we'll get back to you soon.