The 17 stories in this wide-ranging anthology all center disabled kids and, importantly, are written by disabled authors. The stories cover a wide range of disabilities and neurodiverse identities, and the protagonists are also diverse in racial/ethnic identities, family structure, and more, while the stories range from contemporary, real-life tales to those of the near future and the fantastical.
Unsurprisingly (especially given editor Marieke Nijkamp’s queer identity), there are queer protagonists in some of these tales. H. E. Edgmon’s “How to Love a Firefly” stars Bo, an indigenous transgender boy worried that his inability to focus and get things done, from school to chores, means he’s lazy and bad. His grandmother reminds his parents, however, that they supported him in his gender transition, letting him lead the way to who he really is, “And who he is cannot fit into anyone else’s box but his own.” The same applies, she says, to the way his mind works. This leads to his parents and Bo visiting a doctor who says he has ADHD. Bo welcomes this diagnosis; it means he’s not lazy and there are options to help him. I particularly love that Bo’s queer identity is a source of strength here as he learns about other aspects of himself.
Nijkamp’s own contribution to the volume stars Quinn, a former soccer goalie now sidelined because of ME/CFS (myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome). (Quinn is also nonbinary, and that’s a complete non-issue here.) Forgotten by their teammates, Quinn finds belonging and friendship in an cooperative online game—until their gamer teammates want to go to a convention that Quinn won’t have the stamina to attend. Quinn hasn’t told them they have ME/CFS, though, not wanting these new friends to pull away like their soccer ones did. Then their brother encourages them to share the truth—and the gamers come up with a creative solution that I won’t spoil.
The volume as a whole reminds us that there is no one way to live with or view a disability. All of the protagonists are unique and multifaceted, making this a highly recommended title for any home or library shelf.
