
Reach for this book if your teenager is struggling with the isolation of being different or is ready to move beyond being a passive recipient of care. It is a powerful resource for those navigating the transition from seeing their disability as a medical problem to seeing it as a source of community and pride. Set in the 1970s, the story follows Jean, a girl with cerebral palsy who attends a summer camp for kids with disabilities. There, she encounters Sara, a firebrand who challenges everything Jean believed about the world and her place in it. This is a gritty, honest, and often humorous look at the birth of identity and the rejection of pity. It is highly appropriate for mature teens seeking an authentic voice that does not sugarcoat the realities of living in a world built for the able-bodied.
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Sign in to write a reviewTeenagers discuss attraction, bodies, and mild sexual curiosity.
Explores the systemic ableism and societal exclusion of the 1970s.
Themes of being unwanted by society and the struggle for self-worth.
The book handles physical disability with brutal, secular honesty. It avoids the 'inspiration porn' trope, instead focusing on the messy realities of bodily functions and social exclusion. The resolution is realistic and empowering, focusing on internal shifts rather than external fixes.
A high schooler with a physical disability who feels like they are the only person who sees through the patronizing attitudes of adults. It is also perfect for any teen interested in the history of social justice movements.
Parents should be aware of the frank discussions regarding body mechanics and sexuality. It is best read cold by the teen, as the discovery process mirrors Jean's own experience. A parent might reach for this after hearing their child say, 'I hate being the inspiration' or expressing frustration with being 'helped' when they didn't ask for it.
Younger teens will focus on the camp friendship and the rebellion against authority. Older teens will grasp the systemic critique of the medical model of disability vs. the social model.
Unlike many books about disability, this is written by a prominent disability rights activist. It captures the authentic, unvarnished voice of the movement without the filter of able-bodied sentimentality.
Seventeen-year-old Jean has lived her life as a 'good' disabled person, striving to be as little trouble as possible. When she attends Camp Courage, a summer program for youth with physical disabilities, she meets Sara, a sharp-tongued peer who introduces Jean to the concept of 'disability pride' and the idea that the world is the problem, not their bodies. Together, they navigate the complexities of teenage rebellion, burgeoning sexuality, and social activism.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.