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4.52 AVERAGE
4.52 AVERAGE
Wow! You loved this book. The perspective is incredible. The voice is real, tender, accurate, and sometimes heartbreaking. All educators should read this to gain an understanding of children who are deemed “different.” Great book for a bookclub. Grades 5 and up
A beautiful book about autism...del estilo de Shannon Draper Out of my mind (Fuera de Mi)
Three cheers for Charity! Full disclosure: this book would probably be five stars for anyone else but middle-grade books aren't my favorite and I struggle to get through them. So...make of that what you will.
Nonetheless, this book met all of my expectations, especially in how it created empathy for our neurodiverse, autistic heroine without falling into "brave disabled hero" tropes. I was especially impressed with authors Carol Cujec and Peyton Goddard's ability to create Charity as both a window into non-verbal autism for neurotypical folks and as an authentic mirror for kids across the neurodiverse spectrum. Another aspect that puts this book above the norm is that Charity's struggles are relatable because her feelings are part of the universal human experience, regardless of the aneurotypical way she experiences or expresses them. My only critique is in the slightly unrealistic wrap-up, but the character development and exploration of interpersonal friendships more than makes up for it.
This book is ripe with opportunities for discussion with kids about ableism, equity in education, and acceptance; the author's note shares how Goddard's own non-verbal experiences inspired the text, and a selection of discussion questions is included in the end matter. Recommended for classrooms and kid book-clubs, and those looking to diversify their reading.
Nonetheless, this book met all of my expectations, especially in how it created empathy for our neurodiverse, autistic heroine without falling into "brave disabled hero" tropes. I was especially impressed with authors Carol Cujec and Peyton Goddard's ability to create Charity as both a window into non-verbal autism for neurotypical folks and as an authentic mirror for kids across the neurodiverse spectrum. Another aspect that puts this book above the norm is that Charity's struggles are relatable because her feelings are part of the universal human experience, regardless of the aneurotypical way she experiences or expresses them. My only critique is in the slightly unrealistic wrap-up, but the character development and exploration of interpersonal friendships more than makes up for it.
This book is ripe with opportunities for discussion with kids about ableism, equity in education, and acceptance; the author's note shares how Goddard's own non-verbal experiences inspired the text, and a selection of discussion questions is included in the end matter. Recommended for classrooms and kid book-clubs, and those looking to diversify their reading.
Thanks to Shadow Mountain Publishing for the free book.
I feel like this is a book all people should read to better understand people with differing intellectual abilities. It is based on a true story. This book is about Charity, who's diagnosed with low functioning autism. She has to work so hard to earn her rights to learn. People doubt her abilities based on what they observe, not on any sort of facts. There are so many obstacles to overcome, yet there is so much perseverance in the book. I loved her attitude, exploration of feelings, and supportive parents and teachers. I felt so many emotions while reading, and I was also challenged in my thinking. I hope that this book gets into as many hands as possible because it is an important and impactful book.
I feel like this is a book all people should read to better understand people with differing intellectual abilities. It is based on a true story. This book is about Charity, who's diagnosed with low functioning autism. She has to work so hard to earn her rights to learn. People doubt her abilities based on what they observe, not on any sort of facts. There are so many obstacles to overcome, yet there is so much perseverance in the book. I loved her attitude, exploration of feelings, and supportive parents and teachers. I felt so many emotions while reading, and I was also challenged in my thinking. I hope that this book gets into as many hands as possible because it is an important and impactful book.
I absolutely LOVED Real. Based off of a true story, 13 year old Charity has autism. She’s nonverbal and it’s assumed she’s not intelligent. Underneath all of the behaviors and inability to communicate is a girl with a lot of thoughts, a lot of empathy, and a very smart girl. Spending her days at a school for those with special needs, Charity is ignored and abused. After a surprise visit by her mom, the horrors of that school were revealed. Charity is immediately pulled from the school and her parents fight like crazy to get her accepted into the public school. Thanks to a slew of champions by her side, Charity’s intelligence is unleashed. She slowly unravels from the box she was put in and it’s a learning experience for all.
This book was just beautiful. It served as a reminder to keep being a champion for these kids. It was a reminder that while we’ve come a long way in Special Education, we still have a ways to go. I think this is a book that everyone should read! It will be a perspective shift for all, and will act as a guide if you are unsure how to interact with someone who is nonverbal. I think every educator needs to read this book! It was eye opening and reinvigorated my passion for education. The insight into the Autistic mind is incredibly powerful. This book is a must read and one of my favorite reads of 2020! 5⭐️ My thanks to @shadowmountainpub for sending this review copy my way!
This book was just beautiful. It served as a reminder to keep being a champion for these kids. It was a reminder that while we’ve come a long way in Special Education, we still have a ways to go. I think this is a book that everyone should read! It will be a perspective shift for all, and will act as a guide if you are unsure how to interact with someone who is nonverbal. I think every educator needs to read this book! It was eye opening and reinvigorated my passion for education. The insight into the Autistic mind is incredibly powerful. This book is a must read and one of my favorite reads of 2020! 5⭐️ My thanks to @shadowmountainpub for sending this review copy my way!
If you loved Wonder or Out of My Mind, you'll love Real. It's also based on a true story, and co-written by Peyton, who's story of being freed to communicate is the source for Charity's. I expected to like this book but I loved it. It is eye opening and empathy inducing.
A very emotional book about a young girl with nonverbal autism. Inspired by the life of coauthor Peyton Goddard, it briefly touches on the abuse and mistreatment Charity, the main character, received while attending a specialized school. When her parents realize what is happening, they pull her from that school and place her in a public junior high school.
This book follows Charity as she receives a real education for the first time, discovers a way to communicate, and handles bullying both online and in person.
I was very invested in Charity's journey during my reading. My heart broke for her and rejoiced with her.
Thank you to Shadow Mountain Publishing for providing me with a review copy!
This book follows Charity as she receives a real education for the first time, discovers a way to communicate, and handles bullying both online and in person.
I was very invested in Charity's journey during my reading. My heart broke for her and rejoiced with her.
Thank you to Shadow Mountain Publishing for providing me with a review copy!
Plot:
Charity feels like a charity case. At age thirteen her parents still treat her like a baby. The reason? They cannot tell any difference. Diagnosed with low-functioning autism, Charity cannot speak and has low control over her body. Thus, she cannot tell her mother she hates oatmeal, cannot tell her father how him teaching her to surf with him meant to her, or that she desperately wants an education. Kicked out of all the schools in the area, her parents sent her to Borden, an educational institute for those with disabilities. However, Charity cannot tell her mother what Borden is really like: the constant failing of tasks because her body does not work with her brain, the time out corner which was a closet, the stealing of their lunch money. Borden is not a place for education. An unplanned visit to Borden by her mother proved that, as her parents fought the school board to allow Charity back into the public school system. Teaming up with the special education team of Celia and Anna at Jefferson Jr. High, Charity is faced with the toughest challenge yet - mean girls, disgruntled parents, basketball, making friends, and the hardest of all: finally speaking her mind.
Thoughts:
What a compelling story. Carol Cujec and Peyton Goddard made me laugh, cry, scream, throw the book against the wall, only to run it back over to pick it back up. Based on the true story of what co-author Peyton Goddard went through as being non-vertebral autism, and trying to tell their family that they still matter and are intelligent. Charity is a fantastic narrator, as you really feel her struggle as she tries and fails to control her body, stop having meltdowns, and painfully doing her school work. As nearly ⅔ children with autism have been bullied, you truly feel for Charity as she struggles to make friends, issues with online bullying, and the dog whistle scene actually had me bawling my eyes out. I think it may be Goddard’s lived experience that makes Charity's story so raw and intense. With easy writing, Goddard and Cujec wrote this captivating story that truly does not let you put it down. Each character was vivid, from charity herself, to her supportive family, her friends, her enemies, classmates, and every character they introduced seemed to have a larger purpose in Charity's life. It is hard to name anyone as a side character when they all seem so important to the storyline. Charity, and her extremely supportive family, tries her hardest to succeed and really lets you see how hard she is trying in her mind, and how her body failing her doesn't mean she's not intelligent. Which is the main message in this novel of what is intelligence, as you see people on Charity’s side fighting for her equality, and those teachers, administrators, other students, and their parents trying to shut Charity out of their school. A must-read for anyone going into education, has someone with autism in their life, and should be a class set book for every middle school class as Cujec and Peyton truly makes you feel and want to do better.
Charity feels like a charity case. At age thirteen her parents still treat her like a baby. The reason? They cannot tell any difference. Diagnosed with low-functioning autism, Charity cannot speak and has low control over her body. Thus, she cannot tell her mother she hates oatmeal, cannot tell her father how him teaching her to surf with him meant to her, or that she desperately wants an education. Kicked out of all the schools in the area, her parents sent her to Borden, an educational institute for those with disabilities. However, Charity cannot tell her mother what Borden is really like: the constant failing of tasks because her body does not work with her brain, the time out corner which was a closet, the stealing of their lunch money. Borden is not a place for education. An unplanned visit to Borden by her mother proved that, as her parents fought the school board to allow Charity back into the public school system. Teaming up with the special education team of Celia and Anna at Jefferson Jr. High, Charity is faced with the toughest challenge yet - mean girls, disgruntled parents, basketball, making friends, and the hardest of all: finally speaking her mind.
Thoughts:
What a compelling story. Carol Cujec and Peyton Goddard made me laugh, cry, scream, throw the book against the wall, only to run it back over to pick it back up. Based on the true story of what co-author Peyton Goddard went through as being non-vertebral autism, and trying to tell their family that they still matter and are intelligent. Charity is a fantastic narrator, as you really feel her struggle as she tries and fails to control her body, stop having meltdowns, and painfully doing her school work. As nearly ⅔ children with autism have been bullied, you truly feel for Charity as she struggles to make friends, issues with online bullying, and the dog whistle scene actually had me bawling my eyes out. I think it may be Goddard’s lived experience that makes Charity's story so raw and intense. With easy writing, Goddard and Cujec wrote this captivating story that truly does not let you put it down. Each character was vivid, from charity herself, to her supportive family, her friends, her enemies, classmates, and every character they introduced seemed to have a larger purpose in Charity's life. It is hard to name anyone as a side character when they all seem so important to the storyline. Charity, and her extremely supportive family, tries her hardest to succeed and really lets you see how hard she is trying in her mind, and how her body failing her doesn't mean she's not intelligent. Which is the main message in this novel of what is intelligence, as you see people on Charity’s side fighting for her equality, and those teachers, administrators, other students, and their parents trying to shut Charity out of their school. A must-read for anyone going into education, has someone with autism in their life, and should be a class set book for every middle school class as Cujec and Peyton truly makes you feel and want to do better.
I received a copy of Real from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Real by Carol Cujec and Peyton Goddard is about 13-year-old Charity who has not spoken since she was born. She is incredibly intelligent and opinionated, but she has no way to share her thoughts with the world. She cannot speak, her body is unpredictable, and her mind works differently due to her autism. Despite this, she is still a funny, kind, smart, and determined girl, even though those around her, including some of her own family members, treat her like she's a disease and ignore her. After her parents become aware of the appalling conditions she is facing at her private school, they fight to get her enrolled in a public junior high school. With the support of her teachers, newfound friends, and her family, Charity finds her voice and begins to fight to be treated like a real student.
This book is so incredibly powerful and heartbreaking at the same time. Charity's story, which is based on a true story, is one that needs to be shared with the world. This book is all about neurodiversity which, like Charity herself, is a voice not often found in middle grade literature. The reader can feel Charity's frustration and pain, and at times it is absolutely heartbreaking. Her perseverance is empowering and the story reminds readers that there is so much more to a person that what they see on the surface. It also reminds us to never underestimate others. You cannot see what is going on inside of others, what they are thinking, what they are going through, and, because of this, we should always treat others with kindness and compassion. Real is a story that every teacher, student, and parent should read it. I loved it so much that I started recommending it to colleagues before I'd even finished the whole book. I honestly cannot wait to share this book with my students and the staff at my school.
Real by Carol Cujec and Peyton Goddard is about 13-year-old Charity who has not spoken since she was born. She is incredibly intelligent and opinionated, but she has no way to share her thoughts with the world. She cannot speak, her body is unpredictable, and her mind works differently due to her autism. Despite this, she is still a funny, kind, smart, and determined girl, even though those around her, including some of her own family members, treat her like she's a disease and ignore her. After her parents become aware of the appalling conditions she is facing at her private school, they fight to get her enrolled in a public junior high school. With the support of her teachers, newfound friends, and her family, Charity finds her voice and begins to fight to be treated like a real student.
This book is so incredibly powerful and heartbreaking at the same time. Charity's story, which is based on a true story, is one that needs to be shared with the world. This book is all about neurodiversity which, like Charity herself, is a voice not often found in middle grade literature. The reader can feel Charity's frustration and pain, and at times it is absolutely heartbreaking. Her perseverance is empowering and the story reminds readers that there is so much more to a person that what they see on the surface. It also reminds us to never underestimate others. You cannot see what is going on inside of others, what they are thinking, what they are going through, and, because of this, we should always treat others with kindness and compassion. Real is a story that every teacher, student, and parent should read it. I loved it so much that I started recommending it to colleagues before I'd even finished the whole book. I honestly cannot wait to share this book with my students and the staff at my school.
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated