The OFFICIAL campaign book of the #visible campaign.
Author interviews.
Book reviews and recommendations.
The Disability Directory- where you can contact people who know about certain conditions and illnesses.
Interactive chapters.
And so much mor...
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If I could urge you to read only one story this year, it would be this book. It is as though all the ethos of visible came together and channelled itself into this story.
If I could write the perfect story, about disability, people reacting to it, people living with it, then this is the story I would have produced.
Sandi, firstly, thank you. You have written a book that I have been searching for since I became sick.
Finn is the character I needed to read about when life really sucked, and Catherine is the friend I always dreamed of having, but never knew could exist.
Thank you for writing such a brilliant story of teenage angst, shameful secrets, alienation and a world that doesn't understand.
Finn is deaf, he can read lips but he relies on Catherine and a few other friends to understand what people are saying. He doesn't magically regain his hearing, nor does falling in love fix him- something he attempts to do throughout the story.
There is frustration at the world many of us who are disabled can connect with straight away. And there is triumph as Finn lives a normal life, surrounded by people who understand. His disability doesn't stop him from playing baseball. The only thing that nearly stops him from reaching his dreams is himself, and the attitude he has at the start of the story to the people around him.
A seamless read, this is a story, at the bare bones of it, about a popular boy hiding a secret that is eating him up, and a girl who only wants to help, no matter what the cost.
Disability is one of the main plot points in this story, and yet, because the writing is so brilliant, the characters are so realistic and the world constructed so normally, that Finns disability also becomes normal. You are reminded throughout the book of his disability yet it flows seamlessly into the rest of the plot- budding romance, jealousy, secrets, family trouble, not feeling understood.
The story does not revolve around Finn, Catherine, the main character, is wonderful. She learns sign language to help herself first, then after becoming friends with Finn does she continue with it for the sake of their friendship. Her ambition and drive for perfection and perfect grades is reflective of many teenagers, especially those who do it to match their parent's goals and successes.
It is the lengths that these two characters go too to find happiness that is the key plot point in the story. Without giving it away- because you must read this book!!- I felt that having these little side plots was genius. Drugs and searching for someone to love them are the two converging side plots, though not in the way you would expect!
I found myself connecting with each of these characters on a level which I rarely do when I read a book, and I know others will too.
So go and add this book to your library, and take a read, you won't be disappointed!
