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ellornaslibrary's review
fast-paced
1.0
This isn’t inspirational, it’s problematic.
Honestly, I’m not even sure where to begin except to first say that if I read another review that uses the words inspirational or inspiring when describing this book, I might actually gag. While I am not autistic, I am disabled and this book is 100% an example of inspirational rhetoric. It's terrible and wrong, and certain communities are tired of seeing it pushed especially by people who have children that are considered part of those communities. I know autistic people, and have interacted in their communities, which is why I felt rage when I got to the end of this book. Autism is not something to be gotten through anymore than a disability is something to be overcome. And it most definitely is not a plot twist! That doesn’t even start to touch how awful the conversation is these adults are having while discussing this child.
Even before I got to the terrible reveal, I had almost DNFed this book cause the writing and plot wasn't good. It was rushed, there wasn’t any reaction to reveals like the character’s closest companion betraying her, they just moved on from character deaths like it was no big deal or made contradictory claims like acting upset people might die while going on about how people are going to die when others got upset as if they were being unreasonable, etc. but I’m glad I finished. Now I can tell people how awful this book is so they don’t read it to children - especially autistic children. There are better books out there for children regarding autism that aren’t insulting to autistic people. Some are even written by people who are actually autistic. I recommend checking those out instead.
Honestly, I’m not even sure where to begin except to first say that if I read another review that uses the words inspirational or inspiring when describing this book, I might actually gag. While I am not autistic, I am disabled and this book is 100% an example of inspirational rhetoric. It's terrible and wrong, and certain communities are tired of seeing it pushed especially by people who have children that are considered part of those communities. I know autistic people, and have interacted in their communities, which is why I felt rage when I got to the end of this book. Autism is not something to be gotten through anymore than a disability is something to be overcome. And it most definitely is not a plot twist! That doesn’t even start to touch how awful the conversation is these adults are having while discussing this child.
Even before I got to the terrible reveal, I had almost DNFed this book cause the writing and plot wasn't good. It was rushed, there wasn’t any reaction to reveals like the character’s closest companion betraying her, they just moved on from character deaths like it was no big deal or made contradictory claims like acting upset people might die while going on about how people are going to die when others got upset as if they were being unreasonable, etc. but I’m glad I finished. Now I can tell people how awful this book is so they don’t read it to children - especially autistic children. There are better books out there for children regarding autism that aren’t insulting to autistic people. Some are even written by people who are actually autistic. I recommend checking those out instead.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism and Medical content
Moderate: Death
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