The eighth biennial Dolly Gray Award Winners have been announced for 2014. They are awarded to the best books for children and young adults that “authentically portray individuals with developmental disabilities.”
Here are the winners:
Intermediate Award
Remember Dippy by Shirley Reva Vernick
Young Adult Award
Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend by Matthew Dicks
King for a Day by Rukhsana Khan, illustrated by Christiane Kromer
It is Basant in the city of Lahore, Pakistan and Malik has only made one kite to use in the kite battles over the city. Malik is still sure of himself though, eager to show how fast his Falcon kite is. Malik is especially interested in teaching the bully who lives next door a lesson for all of the times he’s said horrible things to Malik and his sister. He also dreams of being the king of Basant, the best kite fighter in the city. Malik spends his day freeing other kites by cutting their strings, and at the end of the day he has a pile of kites at his feet. Then the neighborhood bully emerges again and tries to take a kite from a little girl, but Malik uses his new status as King to solve the problem.
Khan has captured a unique festival in Pakistan that is vivid, visual and offers children the ability to take on the city for a day. Malik sits in a wheelchair throughout the book, but it is never mentioned in the text. This quiet acceptance of a disability adds power to the idea that Basant is a holiday for everyone and that all abilities and ages can participate. Khan has a nice touch with the kite battles, creating drama by sharing details but also making sure that the story is fast-paced and interesting.
Kromer’s illustrations are a beautiful mix of paper art and textiles. Using textiles from the region brings in the deep colors and textures. The paper arts capture the crispness of the kites in the sky and also the beauty of the people. The mix of the two has a richness that suits the subject.
Celebrate Basant with this picture book that offers a glimpse of the Pakistani culture through the eyes of a young boy. Appropriate for ages 4-6.
Reviewed from digital copy received from Edelweiss.
All the Truth That’s in Me by Julie Berry
Judith has returned to her family and her small Puritan town after being missing for two years but she is unable to speak because her tongue has been cut out. Without speech, the entire community ignores Judith and treats her as if she is less than a person. Her own mother reviles her, never saying her name and ordering her around as “you” instead. In her silence, Judith has many secrets that she keeps close. She sees everything and moves through the town as if she is a ghost. But inside herself, Judith is smart, caring and dutiful. When her mother refuses to hear her attempts at speech, Judith stops trying altogether. When the boy she loves takes another as a fiancé, Judith is only kind to the girl. Secrets though have a way of getting out and one dangerous secret may just be able to save their community.
The first thing I have to say is that the cover is lovely but very misleading. This is a book set in an unnamed historical setting and the cover reads entirely modern. Reading the book I was astonished to find it was historical fiction and kept turning back to the cover in confusion. The paperback cover is no better since it also conveys a modern feel.
With the cover aside, this is one incredible read. One might think the lack of real historical context would be an issue, but it works well here. The focus is on the people rather than the setting, though the world of Puritanical thought is an important element throughout. The book is a real mystery novel with the questions of what really happened to Judith swirling throughout the book. The reveal is tantalizingly written, making for one compelling novel.
Berry writes with a lyrical voice throughout, capturing the loneliness and longing of Judith. The beauty of the writing serves as a way for readers to see the thoughts of Judith and understand that she is rich with thinking inside. Berry is also masterful at pacing and how she reveals the details. It is entirely on her terms and readers may guess what is coming but can never be sure until it is revealed. It is a book where the ending is crucial, exciting and immensely satisfying.
A great pick to book talk for teens, the premise of this historical novel should be more than enough to get teens to pick it up. The writing and the mystery will keep them reading. Appropriate for ages 14-17.
Reviewed from library copy.
Helen’s Big World: The Life of Helen Keller by Doreen Rappaport, illustrated by Matt Tavares
This picture book biography of Helen Keller celebrates both the accomplishments of Helen Keller in overcoming her world of darkness and silence and those of her teacher Annie Sullivan. The book begins with Helen as a small baby, before she had an unknown illness at 19 months that took her sight and hearing away. It then moves through her attempts to continue to communicate, the frustration that caused her tantrums, and the slow progression of learning that led to the seminal moment at the water pump that connected the letters in her hand to the outside world. Readers will see how Helen learned to write, read in Braille, and put her hands on people’s faces to feel their lips move so she could understand their speech. The book continues to show how Helen Keller spoke up for social injustices that she felt were wrong. This is a testament to what a brilliant mind and a great teacher can create.
Rappaport has somehow condensed the complicated story of Keller’s life into a very readable picture book that has a brisk pace and invites readers to find out more about this remarkable woman. Throughout the book, Keller’s own words are used to illustrate points in the story. Shown in their own font that is colorful and set apart from the rest of the text in size too, her words shine.
Tavares’ illustrations reveal the marvel of Helen Keller’s learning and education. There is a light to the images once the learning begins that contrasts with the darkness of her earlier life. Throughout Keller is shown experiencing the senses she does have, from the scent of a rose to the feel of the breeze on her face.
An inspirational figure, Helen Keller continues to be a beacon for overcoming obstacles and using one’s mind. This book is a beautiful tribute to her. Appropriate for ages 8-11.
Reviewed from library copy.
Pinned by Sharon G. Flake
Autumn is the only female wrestler at school, but that doesn’t stop her from excelling. Her physical strength and her mental agility are formidable. However, she can’t seem to apply that same effort to her school work. She is several grades behind in reading and failing math. Adonis, on the other hand, loves school and is known as one of the smartest kids in their 9th grade class. In a wheelchair because of birth defects that left him without legs, Adonis survived a bullying attack that almost killed him. These two people, both struggling with big issues in their lives, tell their stories in alternating chapters. Neither character is perfect. Despite her strength, Autumn is needy and pushy. Adonis is proud and disdainful of those who will not try to excel. They aren’t really even friends, but Autumn wishes they were so much more.
Flake has refused here to make the book you think you are reading. She has a heroine who is strong physically and mentally, yet will make readers cringe with her headlong flirtation with Adonis. Adonis could have been that saintlike disabled character that everyone would have recognized. Instead here he is prickly and judgmental not only of Autumn but of everyone around him. He lives in a life of certainty where he can peg people easily into categories. Flake beautifully ties these characters into their families where Autumn’s parents have GEDs and also have issues with reading. On the other hand, Adonis’ mother is educated and making sure that Adonis will have a bright future academically. They are studies in contrasts, and yet also studies in similarities as they both struggle with disabilities.
The writing here is strong and forthright, speaking directly to the reader. The book rests on the heads of its two narrators, both of whom see the world in a specific way that is their own. As their relationship slowly turns into something more serious, readers will be surprised to find that not all of the loose ends are tied up neatly. Adonis remains aloof and hyperaware of the opinions of those around him. Autumn stays flirtatious and continues to struggle with school. There is nothing magical here. This is life, and it continues clearly after the book ends.
This should be very popular with middle school readers who will enjoy the complex and surprising characters as well as the thread of romance. Appropriate for ages 13-15.
Reviewed from ARC received from Scholastic.
Started in 2000, these book awards are given “to recognize authors, illustrators, and publishers of high quality fictional and biographical children, intermediate, and young adult books that appropriately portray individuals with developmental disabilities.”
The awards are given every even year by The The Division on Autism and Developmental Disabilities (DADD) of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) in collaboration with Special Needs Project.
Here are the winners:
Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine
Waiting for No One by Beverley Brenna
My Brother Charlie by Holly Robinson Peete and Ryan Elizabeth Peete, illustrated by Shane W. Evans
Just Because by Rebecca Elliott
Laurie by Elfi Nijssen & Eline van Lindenhuizen
Originally published in Belgium and Holland, this tremendously sweet book takes a straight-forward approach to the story of Laurie, a girl with hearing loss. Laurie has trouble hearing other children, so she usually plays alone. The others tease her about being deaf and refuse to play with a girl who can’t understand them. Laurie’s dog doesn’t mind that she’s different from the others. Finally one day, Laurie and her mother go to the ear doctor. He discovers she needs hearing aids, or “hearing computers” as Laurie calls them. Now Laurie can hear cars coming, plays happily with others, and pays better attention in class. Sometimes though, she still likes the quiet and turns her hearing aids off just to return to the silence.
Nijssen’s writes as an author who has experienced hearing loss herself. This makes the emotions and struggle of Laurie very real. The book doesn’t shy away from conflicted feelings and one of the nicest parts is when Laurie decides to turn her hearing aids off or down once in a while. It makes for a lovely moment that shows that being different was not the problem, being misunderstood was.
Lindenhuizen’s art is simple and friendly, depicting Laurie separated from the other children at first and later connected with others. She uses space on the pages very successfully, emphasizing the spirit of the text visually.
A great pick for units on differences and diversity, this book is friendly and straight forward. Appropriate for ages 4-6.
Reviewed from library copy.
Five Flavors of Dumb by Antony John
Winner of the 2011 Schneider Family Teen Book Award
High-school senior, Piper has been invisible in her school for years. Until one day, she gets herself a lot of attention for cheering for a band. Not that unusual? Well it is for Piper, because she’s deaf. And now her mouth has gotten her involved with the band as its manager. Now the girl who can’t hear the music has to figure out how to get the band ironically named Dumb paying gigs. And she has to do it in a month. Piper is tired of being invisible to her classmates and her family, so being a band manager comes at exactly the right time for her. It will take her getting to know the members of the band, understanding a lot more about herself, and learning to feel the music before she can discover her inner rock and roll.
John has written a book with protagonist who has a disability but does not let it dictate her life. Piper is a great character who is filled with self-doubt but does not allow it to stop her from moving ahead. She is at times jealous, manipulative, pushy and self centered, and it all makes her that much more human and relatable. Throughout the book she is one amazing, powerful female character. Nicely, the book also has other great girl characters of different types.
This book just feels real. John uses music and humor in the book to create a beat that moves the story forward. Small touches make sure readers know they are in Seattle. Piper’s entire family is vividly dysfunctional but equally believable and filled with love for one another, though they have problems showing it. The growth of the characters, including Piper’s parents, has a natural feeling.
Highly recommended, this is a great teen book that is certainly not dumb. It just rocks. Appropriate for ages 14-17.
Reviewed from copy received from Dial Books.
Words in the Dust by Trent Reedy
This is the wrenching tale of Zulaikah, an Afghani girl who lives with a cleft palate that has earned her the nickname of Donkeyface from the bullies in her neighborhood. It is a modern story, set after the defeat of the Taliban. Zulaikah lives with a harsh taskmaster of a stepmother, her beloved older sister, and two younger brothers. Despite her face, she is the one her stepmother sends to the market for supplies, giving the other children a chance to mock her. With the Americans in town, Zulaikah is offered the chance to have her face repaired. She also meets Meena, an old friend of her late mother who offers to teach her to read. These are immense opportunities for her, but will she be allowed to take advantage of them?
Reedy is a debut author who served in Afghanistan with the National Guard. Zulaikah’s story is based on a girl he met in Afghanistan. Reedy has created a marvelous lens for readers to better understand Afghanistan, its culture and its people. The day-to-day life shown here is so very different from our own, that one never forgets that this is a different country. Yet Zulaikah’s hopes and dreams are universal. So this book manages to offer a view of a foreign country at the same time it is showing our united humanity.
Zulaikah is a heroine who has seen unthinkable things, lives with a very visible disability, and yet remains hopeful about the future. She is a girl living in a culture that devalues women and girls, and while she searches for someone to teach her to read, she is not straining against the culture she is a part of. That is a large part of what makes this book so successful. This is a girl who is a product of her family and culture, yet radiant with inner beauty and always hope.
This is a particularly timely book that offers a perspective of modern Afghanistan. It also offers a very human character who will have you viewing news of Afghanistan differently, now with a spirited girl to inspire understanding. Appropriate for ages 11-13.
Reviewed from ARC received from Scholastic.
Also reviewed by:
Waking Brain Cells 