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A review by panda_incognito
I Am Not a Label: 34 Disabled Artists, Thinkers, Athletes and Activists from Past and Present by Cerrie Burnell
4.0
This beautifully illustrated book shares the stories of thirty-four disabled people who have triumphed in various fields. The author's note at the beginning explains that as a disabled child, she struggled with the lack of representation around her, and she writes these bios with sensitivity to the different experiences of each person, never presenting them in monolithic ways or enshrining them as superhuman inspirations.
She strikes the right balance between celebrating those who have overcome difficult odds and dignifying each person as an individual, not as an inspiration for someone able-bodied. However, I think that some of the bios are overly rosy and cheerful. The author often goes into detail about a subject's bodily struggles and social obstacles, but in some cases, she glosses over these too quickly to write about the person's accomplishments. I know that she was dealing with word-count constraints and writing a book for children, but in some cases, it seemed like she wasn't being completely forthcoming about people's trauma and suffering.
Still, that is only a minor complaint for a book that accomplishes its aims so well. It is very educational, and it is amazingly global and diverse, representing lots of different time periods, races, and nations. Even though I was already familiar with some of these historical figures and celebrities, I had never heard of most of them, and I am glad that I had the chance to learn so much from this.
This book addresses disability in a clear and helpful way, and raises awareness through its sections on mental health struggles and invisible disabilities. I am impressed with how educational and moving this book is without ever becoming didactic or saccharine, and recommend it as a great resource for individual readers and schools.
I received an advance copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
She strikes the right balance between celebrating those who have overcome difficult odds and dignifying each person as an individual, not as an inspiration for someone able-bodied. However, I think that some of the bios are overly rosy and cheerful. The author often goes into detail about a subject's bodily struggles and social obstacles, but in some cases, she glosses over these too quickly to write about the person's accomplishments. I know that she was dealing with word-count constraints and writing a book for children, but in some cases, it seemed like she wasn't being completely forthcoming about people's trauma and suffering.
Still, that is only a minor complaint for a book that accomplishes its aims so well. It is very educational, and it is amazingly global and diverse, representing lots of different time periods, races, and nations. Even though I was already familiar with some of these historical figures and celebrities, I had never heard of most of them, and I am glad that I had the chance to learn so much from this.
This book addresses disability in a clear and helpful way, and raises awareness through its sections on mental health struggles and invisible disabilities. I am impressed with how educational and moving this book is without ever becoming didactic or saccharine, and recommend it as a great resource for individual readers and schools.
I received an advance copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.