A review by fyziksgirl
Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling

sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

I love disability lit and wanted to love this book, but it was so full of ableism I could not. The ongoing message throughout most of the book is about how a disabled person is better the more they can act like they're not disabled. It even borders on inspiration porn at times. Then she makes a friend with Tourettes and immediately treats him as a project to be fixed, plowing right over any boundaries he sets.

There are many great disability lit books out there, but as a disabled parent of disabled kids, this is not one. We had to repeatedly stop and talk about how it's not bad to use available supports and how disabled people have worth even when they are limited in what they can do.
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