lipstickitotheman's review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny

4.5

Really stunning collection of pieces. Only thing taking it down in stars is how some felt a little shorter/less fleshed out than I'd expected. Overall a really well-curated selection with great narrative voices. 

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kateyhb's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful informative reflective fast-paced

4.5

I appreciate that this book is an accumulation of first hand accounts. It is full of both everyday and extraordinary wins and losses told directly from the ones experiencing them. Not every chapter had to contain some “call to action” for able-bodied readers-- stories from disabled folks deserve to be heard simply because we value them and their experiences as human beings. It is so important to acknowledge and appreciate the multitude of  wisdom and value disabled folks bring to the table, while also rejecting the capitalist idea that we are only as valuable as the goods we can provide.

This book helped me consider multiple new struggles faced by disabled folks, and helped me to examine what my role should look like as a co-conspirator fighting against our systemically ableist society. There is so much diversity in the disabled community, and they really don’t need more one-size-fits-all solutions created by well-intentioned able bodied folks. We need to stop and listen. 

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chronicacademia's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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atuin's review against another edition

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challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective

5.0

Truly an amazing collection detailing stories from people with different backgrounds all living in a world with disabilities. This book helps communicate how disabled people are not lesser in any way, and are perfectly able and willing to lead happy lives if given the proper chance. A must read. 

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kerrygetsliterary's review against another edition

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challenging emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

5.0


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softgalaxy's review against another edition

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hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

One of the best books I’ve ever read. Everyone should read this. 

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atomicbritt's review against another edition

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challenging informative reflective medium-paced

3.25


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ageckocalledachilles's review

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challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

Everyone should read this. It covers a multitude of disability rights issues as well as being incredibly intersectional. Some sections discuss very difficult/triggering issues, but many of these come with content warnings 

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thedisabledreader's review

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emotional informative reflective slow-paced

4.0

Although it may not be *the* disabled book, it is certainly a place to start for listening to diverse and individual perspectives within or out of your own communities. These creators, Alice Wong included, are witty and funny yet still maintain the vulnerability and strength necessary to share their experiences in such a public light. They are captivating and open to being wrong, willing to learn and letting the reader do so as well. 

The authors and speakers are all disabled, but there is very little overlap within disabilities. Diversity is not just a theme in this, it is a celebrated requirement. Thoughts are shared on different issues, different identities, different marginalizations and intersections, walks of life, and opinions. Despite the individuality of each story, the stories are well structured and engaging, especially when stories relate or build off similar foundations.

This is the first time I have ever seen one of my chronic illnesses, Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, even briefly mentioned in any mainstream media - or anywhere outside of the disabled community on social media. 

The author with EDS wrote an entire story for this. Although it wasn’t necessarily groundbreaking to me in its subject, disabled motherhood, it will remain a part of my life that I can attribute an important ‘first’ to. That’s a feeling I want everyone to feel - and then a million times afterward - and that is a feeling that this book can bring.

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elizabethkore's review against another edition

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challenging hopeful informative reflective medium-paced

5.0

A book that should be a modern primer for disability studies and narrative. Covers a variety of topics, centering and advocating for disability narratives. Authors highlighted are from a variety of backgrounds, with physical and/or mental disabilities, and predominately QTPOC identities.

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