A review by theresablue
Miracle Creek by Angie Kim

dark emotional mysterious sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.5

This book is incredibly ableist against autistic people. It perpetuates harmful stereotypes and promotes abusive behavior towards autistic children, framing it as 'a mother's love'. It also perpetuates the myth that vaccines cause autism and promotes the use of autism 'cures' like Miracle Mineral Solution (BLEACH). Both autistic characters within this book are young boys, one of whom is killed in a incredibly horrific way, the other's defining characteristics are that he smears his shit everywhere and ends the book institutionalized. None of this is substantially addressed in narrative and the book continually perpetuates the idea that autistic children are a burden to their parents, that the parents of autistic children are somehow special and worthy of admiration for loving and caring for their children despite them not being 'normal' and that autism can and should be cured. 
 I think the one redeeming factor of this book is the mother/daughter relationship between Young and Mary, but beside that, even ignoring the harmful and offensive ableism, this book's plot and characters are boring and repetitive. I don't know why it's so popular or why so many reviewers are so blind to the ableism within it.
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