Reviews with content warning for Ableism - Show Us Who You Are

Reviews tagging 'Ableism'

Show Us Who You Are by Elle McNicoll

28 reviews

ashylibrarian's review

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

This book has the potential to be something exceptional for readers.

I was hesitant about the book in the beginning because it started a bit slow for me, but the themes and values throughout the book hold true to the overarching message: Love who you are, always, no matter what.

I adored the characters of Cora and Adrian. Their friendship was special and unique and McNicoll did a great job creating depth and texture. This is one thing, if done right, that I really appreciate about middle-grade stories. The friendships can be so powerful.

I appreciate Adrian's outlook on life and the way he so unapologetically encourages and supports Cora.

Adrian's mother - love her.

And Cora, a truly strong, powerful female main character. I enjoyed her development throughout the book and feel that her character has the ability to spark inspiration among young readers.

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someonelikeblue's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful mysterious medium-paced

Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

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t_higgsreviews's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

5.0

5 Stars
CAWPILE = 9.29

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femmenova's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional inspiring fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0

BRILLIANT. Without revealing too much about the book, this was so brilliantly written. This is exactly the kind of book I would want my students, my younger self read and feel absolutely seen. I cannot speak for the representation of the characters as this is not an own voices review, but I find that the exploration of ableism and eugenics in digital AI is very thoroughly unpacked and digestible for a child to understand. It got me genuinely thinking about the way we immortalized people in our life after their passing. How much we sanitized people to shape them to be the way we want them to be to suit a narrative that is.. comfortable.

I have so many other things to say about the book but I have yet to properly process it. All I know is that this book had me bawling my eyes out, snot in my mask on a public bus at 4 in the afternoon. I was clutching my chest to calm myself down.

Among many favorite powerful lines in the book, "children are not extensions of their parents." Absolutely powerful and empowering to have that read if I was a child, let alone an adult with *tada* parental issues! I don't want to expose on a public site why this book hit me the way it hit, I'm just a neurodivergent person who saw a little of child me in this book and it healed a tiny part of me that grieved the times an adult has made me felt inadequate.

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creativeworld's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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lunar_lapis's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

A brilliant story about accepting who you are, despite other people trying to "fix" you or limit you based on certain traits they say are "undesirable"

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daffodildyke's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

Finally got around to reading, as it felt important to me to read this before reading Elle's new book.

It is hard to put into words what reading stories that I would enjoy anyway but with neurodivergent characters feels as a neurodivergent person, but I know that so many others who read these books already know how it feels without me having to put it into words.

An interesting and modern plot that is equal parts interesting and inspirational. Pomegranate and Dr Gold are fascinating and deeply fleshed out, and I felt Cora's emotional rollercoaster along with her as I read this. It was a deeply interesting book and I can't wait to re-read it when I get the chance.

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