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eponineeurydice's review against another edition
5.0
I am a disabled teen who struggles to find positive representation of disabilities in media. Most disabled people I read about either have their disability erased by some superpower—they have 'vanquished' it, in a sense—is a villain, is an 'angel' of a sort—who is good but not very useful—or is "cured" of their disability by the end of the narrative. As a person who cannot hide my blindness, who will likely not be cured of it anytime soon—and why should I want to be?—and who is not a bitter and angry villain, but a person with feelings and struggles and a story just like anyone else, this can be utterly disheartening and sad. This is not to say that I don't see myself in media, as there are of course other parts of me besides my disability. But at the same time, my disability is an important part of who I am and always will be. So needless to say, when I see positive representation in a book that not only offers words of encouragement to disabled people but also calls the world out on its ableism, that fills me with an immeasurable joy.
This book is not popular, it is not on any lists on the Goodreads blog, and it is not 'booktok hyped.' It is unabashedly real. Yet I would encourage anyone, anyone, to pick this up. Give it a read. Perhaps it might not concern you specifically, but it is so important, so magical, so illuminating. And if you do have a disability, then I hope will will be such a validating experience for you as it was for me.
This book talks about fairy tales, and how they've affected the world, our culture and the way we see things and people, specifically relating to disabilities. It talks about how disabled people are represented in fairy tales, and in Disney, and it describes how that can shape us as a culture in real life; the combination of discussion on fairy tales and disability is unique and expertly done and beautiful. And lastly, it talks about what we can do about it, how we as a society can—and need to—change this mindset, these stories we're telling ourselves. It is empowering, it does not shy away from reality, and it was exactly what I needed at this point in my life. A perfect read for Disability Pride Month (which is July, if you didn't know!) We need more stories with positive disability rep. We need to read more stories by disabled voices, and we need to be more educated on these important matters. Thank you to this book, for feeling so magical and hopeful, and also so validating and personal. May I find more stories like this soon. :)
This book is not popular, it is not on any lists on the Goodreads blog, and it is not 'booktok hyped.' It is unabashedly real. Yet I would encourage anyone, anyone, to pick this up. Give it a read. Perhaps it might not concern you specifically, but it is so important, so magical, so illuminating. And if you do have a disability, then I hope will will be such a validating experience for you as it was for me.
This book talks about fairy tales, and how they've affected the world, our culture and the way we see things and people, specifically relating to disabilities. It talks about how disabled people are represented in fairy tales, and in Disney, and it describes how that can shape us as a culture in real life; the combination of discussion on fairy tales and disability is unique and expertly done and beautiful. And lastly, it talks about what we can do about it, how we as a society can—and need to—change this mindset, these stories we're telling ourselves. It is empowering, it does not shy away from reality, and it was exactly what I needed at this point in my life. A perfect read for Disability Pride Month (which is July, if you didn't know!) We need more stories with positive disability rep. We need to read more stories by disabled voices, and we need to be more educated on these important matters. Thank you to this book, for feeling so magical and hopeful, and also so validating and personal. May I find more stories like this soon. :)
kellee's review against another edition
informative
medium-paced
4.0
I enjoyed this book’s premise that fairytales were and remain a way of explaining differences or being “other” to children and even ourselves, and that they may seem innocent but really contain some insidious ideas about what’s “normal.” Each chapter consistered of reframing the way I’ve viewed fairy tales for so long, and at the end of the chapters, Amanda Leduc shared her own experiences as a women with cerebral palsy at the end of each chapter. I think parts of the book could’ve been edited, as they felt a bit repetitive, but this is a read that is worth the time. Leduc is a solid writer, and I appreciated the way she used fairy tales, modern research, and her own experiences to share more about being disabled in an able-bodied world.
arlingtonchamberofgay's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
5.0
Amanda Leduc has made me ask myself: what do I want disabled stories to look like? Because it certainly isn’t the fairytales that she explores, the ones that make us deformed villains, pitiful side characters, or ‘fixable’ protagonists.
I want to exist in a world that embraces disabled folks for our differences and allows us to move freely without outward hindrances. I want disabled protagonists who take rest days, who have aid malfunctions, who are messy and weird and joyous.
I want to exist in a world that embraces disabled folks for our differences and allows us to move freely without outward hindrances. I want disabled protagonists who take rest days, who have aid malfunctions, who are messy and weird and joyous.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, and Medical content
Moderate: Mental illness, Misogyny, and Body shaming
Minor: Rape