884 words
7 minute read
11.
Genre: Young Adult
Disability Representation: Yes (various, but not good)
Rating: 0/4 (Never again)
Excerpt of GoodReads Summary: In a one-of-a-kind collaboration, seventeen of the most recognizable YA writers—including Shaun David Hutchinson, Neal and Brendan Shusterman, and Beth Revis—come together to share the viewpoints of a group of students affected by a school shooting.
What I Thought: I read this one previously, but hadn't for several years. Unfortunately, the reread did not do this one any favors.
This book does all it can to rationalize the actions of a killer, to humanize him, and to make it clear that his victims "had it coming." There was only one POV that I really felt was well done - called "The Second."
But it's not a book I'll ever be rereading.
12.
Genre: Young Adult
Disability Representation: Yes (various mental health)
Rating: 4/4 Wheels (Loved it!)
Excerpt of GoodReads Summary: When a letter that was never meant to be seen by anyone draws high school senior Evan Hansen into a family's grief over the loss of their son, he is given the chance of a lifetime: to belong. He just has to stick to a lie he never meant to tell, that the notoriously troubled Connor Murphy was his secret best friend.
What I Thought: This was such a mindblowingly good read!
As a writer myself, I loved the concept of writing a book based on a musical after the musical's released (the reverse of what's usual) because it allows for many of the gaps to be filled in.
This was like reading a whole novel full of deleted scenes / extra content that contextualized the musical even more deeply. I thought it was really clever, how Connor was maintained as an actual character in the book and not solely as a figment of Evan's imagination or Evan's version of him. I loved that he was a character in his own right.
Also, getting to be inside Evan's head, too, was a revelation and to really see the reality of his inner-world was so needed and so well done. In the musical, so many of his lines are played for laughs but the book allows for a deeper look inside Evan.
I really, really loved it.
Favorite new read of the year so far!
13.
Genre: Memoir
Disability Representation: Yes (Trauma)
Rating: 1/4 Wheels (Okay)
Excerpt of GoodReads Summary: Born Rosita Dolores Alverio in the idyll of Puerto Rico, Moreno, at age five, embarked on a harrowing sea voyage with her mother and wound up in the harsh barrios of the Bronx, where she discovered dancing, singing, and acting as ways to escape a tumultuous childhood. Making her Broadway debut by age thirteen--and moving on to Hollywood in its Golden Age just a few years later--she worked alongside such stars as Gary Cooper, Yul Brynner, and Ann Miller.
What I Thought: My favorite sections of this book were about Rita's childhood in Puerto Rico and her journey to the United States, and also when she became a mother herself. (Additionally, the comments about living in the time of the chicken pox epidemic and a period of time in the 1960s when grocery store shelves were bare due to people hoarding during a crisis were particularly notable.)
14.
Genre: Children's > Picture Books
Disability Representation: Yes (Cerebral Palsy)
Rating: 4/4 Wheels (LOVED it!)
Excerpt of Amazon Summary: Jennifer Keelan was determined to make a change―even if she was just a kid. She never thought her wheelchair could slow her down, but the way the world around her was built made it hard to do even simple things. Like going to school, or eating lunch in the cafeteria.
What I Thought: I just watched Crip Camp and Jennifer makes a brief appearance at the end of the documentary - the famous footage of her climbing the capitol steps. I first heard about Jennifer (The Capitol Crawl, The ADA, pretty much anything disability-related...) in college. When I saw that Stephanie's Story Time was reading this, I knew I had to tune in!
This book was beautifully illustrated - with a foreword by Jennifer herself - and really explained the situation pre-ADA well, so that kids would understand what was going on at the time. I really enjoyed this one. Still so rare that I get to read about authentic CP representation!
15.
Genre: Romance
Disability Representation: Yes (TBI, OCD)
Rating: 0/4 Wheels. (No.)
Excerpt of GoodReads Summary: Kristen Petersen doesn't do drama, will fight to the death for her friends, and has no room in her life for guys who just don't get her. She's also keeping a big secret: facing a medically necessary procedure that will make it impossible for her to have children.
What I Thought: I checked this one out at the recommendation of a friend and because it was free on Audible. But the disability representation was hideous. (Better Off Dead Than Disabled trope is a thing in this book, heads up.) I found the male lead to be super toxic and abusive and the female lead to be grossly ableist. I could not really root for either one of them, or get invested in the story. But it's always interesting to check out a new author.
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