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70 books found for your search
Susan Laughs
Author Jeanne Willis Illustrator Tony Ross
Publisher Red Fox Published 2001
Format paperback Price £4.99
ISBN 0099407566
Category fiction
Review by a Professional:
Simple text and enchanting images depict the daily life of a small girl. She plays and laughs, dances and swims, is good and bad, is happy and sad - much like anyone else.
An endearing book which expresses a message of equality in a simple and outstandingly effective way. (Reviewed by Alexandra Strick)
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(RA5+ IL3+)
Green Fingers
Author Paul May
Publisher Corgi Yearling Published 2002
Format paperback Price £4.99
ISBN 0440864569
Category fiction
Review by a Reader:
Kate hates school so the idea of moving out of London and starting in a school in the country without her friends is her idea of hell. When they see the ‘new’ house things go from bad to worse - it’s falling down and the garden is a jungle. Within weeks, however, she has found a passion for gardening which has surprising consequences. This book shows that determination and dedication can pay off. (Reviewed by Zara Todd)
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(RA8+ IL8+)
Dear Venny, Dear Saffron
Author Gary Crew and Libby Hathorn
Publisher Floris Books Published 2000
Format paperback Price £4.99
ISBN 0863153313
Category fiction
Review by a Professional:
Sixteen-year-old Venny writes (somewhat unwillingly) to a New Yorker called Saffron, as part of a 'pen pal' exercise for his English class. Despite his unenthusiastic first letter, Saffron replies and an unlikely friendship develops.
This book is a convincing depiction of a long-distance friendship, told entirely in letter form. Saffron, artistic and articulate, writes eloquently of her travels with her wealthy aunt, while Venny is more interested in his social life and a flourishing modelling career. Then tragedy strikes with a car accident which leaves Venny in a wheelchair. This is a readable double-act from Gary Crew and Libby Hathorn.
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(RA13+ IL13-16)
Don't Call me Special: A First Look at Disability
Author Pat Thomas
Publisher Hodder Wayland Published 2002
Format paperback Price £4.99
ISBN 075023556X
Category non-fiction
Review by a Professional:
This picture book introduces key concepts and ideas about disability in an accessible and imaginative way. It takes the approach that each of us is in some way “different”, and that all of us may sometimes require equipment and help in life.
Issues such as preconceptions, forms of disability, types of school, learning disabilities and attitudes towards disability are explored in a gentle but effective style.
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(RA6+ IL5+)
The Sleeping Sword
Author Michael Morpurgo
Publisher Egmont Published 2000
Format hardback Price £9.99
ISBN 1405204923
Category fiction
Review by a Professional:
This Arthurian tale set in the Scilly Isles is a story within a story. Ten year-old Bun Bendle, blinded two years previously in a freak accident, falls into a huge hole in one of his father’s fields. The hole is, in fact, an ancient tomb which has been hiding a remarkably well-preserved sword and shield. When Bun takes hold of the sword, an incredible power surges through his whole body and his life is changed forever.
Michael Morpurgo is one of the best storytellers writing for children today. His stories are always utterly convincing and compelling and while this is not his best, it is a magical tale which illustrates beautifully the value of friendship, family and positive thinking.
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(RA8+ IL8-13)
Being in a Wheelchair
Author Lois Keith
Publisher Belitha Press(Series Think About) Published 2003
Format paperback Price £5.99
ISBN 1841387916
Category non-fiction
Review by a Professional:
One of the successful 'Think About' series (other titles are Being Blind, Being Deaf and Having a Learning Disability). Written by a wheelchair user, the book looks at disability in terms of types. past attitudes, education, travel, work, leisure and access issues, with a constant emphasis on encouraging the reader to explore his/her own views.
A useful glossary and list of contact addresses make this both comprehensive and thought-provoking.
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(RA8+ IL8-11)
Crab-boy Cranc
Author Julie Rainsbury Illustrator Fran Evans
Publisher Pont Books Published 2000
Format paperback Price £3.50
ISBN 1859028357
Category fiction
Review by a Professional:
A vividly written story, with Welsh language interest, for newly fluent readers. Cai has a limp and is cruelly nicknamed Cranc the Crab. Then new boy Caradog arrives. He is a flamboyant and unconventional character with calm and confidence to spare, and he teaches Cai to be more relaxed about being different.
They become good friends and go on a school trip to an adventure camp together. Sharing an unplanned adventure teaches them more about themselves and each other and strengthens their friendship.
The black and white illustrations complement this story very well. It is lively and easy to read, and will appeal especially to boys and late reluctant readers. The ideas will give comfort to any child who needs confidence, and food for thought to many others.
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(RA7+ IL7-10)
Dolphin Boy
Author Julie Bertagna Illustrator Chris Chapman
Publisher Mammoth Published 1999
Format paperback Price £3.99
ISBN 0749737301
Category fiction
Review by a Professional:
Six-year-old Dibs has never spoken, but he can mimic sounds and is an extremely talented artist. His older sister, Amy, knows he is special and has always looked out for him, but she often feels angry and frustrated that her brother isn't 'normal'; she also feels jealous of all the attention he receives.
On a trip to the seaside, Dibs discovers a baby dolphin stranded on the beach. It is taken to a rescue centre, but makes no sound because it is very sick and unhappy at being separated from her mother. Eventually, however, Dibs and the dolphin begin to communicate through a series of clicks and squeals, and form a very special relationship that helps them both.
This moving portrait of an autistic child, with short chapters and beautiful black and white illustrations, is ideal for newly confident readers.
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(RA7+ IL7-11)
Dyslexia
Author Paula Wiltshire
Publisher Hodder Wayland(Series Health Issues) Published 2002
Format hardback Price £12.99
ISBN 0750239476
Category non-fiction
Review by a Professional:
A well-presented, attractive and thorough book about dyslexia, which is thought to affect between 8 and 10 percent of the population. It covers the causes of dyslexia, how it is diagnosed and how it affects other areas such as maths, music and life skills. Common myths are dispelled and there are examples of successful dyslexics, from Winston Churchill to Einstein.
Techniques to help deal with this learning difficulty are suggested, and people with dyslexia share their experiences of overcoming the problems they have.
This is a clear and readable text, supplemented with a wide list of resources, a helpful glossary and an index. It is ideal for school libraries, worried parents and PSHE in Key Stages 3 and 4.
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(RA11+ IL11+)
Gathering Blue
Author Lois Lowry
Publisher Bloomsbury Published 2002
Format paperback Price £5.99
ISBN 0747555923
Category fiction
Review by a Professional:
This fantasy tale is set in a future where harshness and cruelty are the norm. Kira, recently orphaned, must learn to survive alone in this bleak environment. She was born with a twisted leg, and as any form of disability is not tolerated in her society, she struggles to earn a living.
Then she realises that she has a gift – a talent which lifts her out of her daily struggle – and her life changes forever. Lowry describes a hideous society, peopled by humans who show little humanity. There is no compassion and no love – not even for the children.
Only near the end does Kira learn that things do not have to be like this, when she hears of a place where people are caring and show kindness to one another. A very thought-provoking read, which should appeal to children beginning to take an interest in the wider world.
Review by a Professional:
Gathering Blue takes place in the future, in a primitive society that developed after disaster had struck the world we know today. Kira is a girl living in a small village run by the Council of Guardians, where men hunt for a living and women are restricted to traditional domestic tasks and are not allowed to learn to read or write. Being disabled from birth, Kira was supposed to be taken to the Field, where the dead and 'useless' are left to be eaten by beasts. However, Kira's mother protected her and thus she grew up to be a talented weaver. After her mother's death, Kira is taken in by the Council to repair the exquisite robe worn by the Singer at the annual gathering. She is well-fed, finds friends in Thomas the carver and Matt the scruffy street boy, and has everything she needs to carry on with her work, but Kira feels that something sinister is happening around her. With the help of her friends she slowly realises the terrible truth. A gripping story about the power of artists to transform an abusive society.
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(RA11+ IL11-14)
Blindness
Author Patsy Westcott
Publisher Hodder Wayland(Series Living With) Published 2002
Format paperback Price £4.99
ISBN 0750241594
Category non-fiction
Review by a Professional:
This book, produced in consultation with the RNIB, talks about three people who live with blindness. It contains information about how they cope and the special equipment they use.
There are details of the many causes of blindness in the book. The overall tone is positive and practical, stressing that blind peopl want to be independent and can live 'normal' lives.
There are attractive, informative photographs and the layout, contents list and the chapter on 'Getting Help' are clear and user-friendly. The index, glossary and further information sections are rather limited, making this perhaps more suited to the Secondary pupil, although it could be a helpful book for teachers in the Primary school.
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(RA9+ IL8-15)
Cerebral Palsy
Author Paul Pimm
Publisher Hodder Wayland(Series Living With) Published 2002
Format paperback Price £4.99
ISBN 0750241624
Category non-fiction
Review by a Professional:
This title in the 'Living With' series (for Key Stage 2 readers) has been produced in partnership with Scope, and is written by an expert. It provides clear, accurate information about the causes and effects of cerebral palsy.
Three very interesting and sympathetic case studies of disabled children allows the reader to appreciate the differences in lifestyle that people with this condition may experience. One further case study shows how a school leaver moving on to fulfilling employment.
This book is a useful resource regarding cerebral palsy. Contents, chapter layout, and glossary are clear, and there is a useful section on getting help and finding out more.
An excellent resource in all respects.
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(RA8+ IL8+)
Last Seen Wearing Trainers
Author Rosie Rushton
Publisher Andersen Press Published 2002
Format paperback Price £5.99
ISBN 1842702165
Category fiction
Review by a Professional:
When Katie meets a dashing young stranger called Joe, she feels that her life may finally be taking a turn for the better. Her severely autistic brother, Tom, has become increasingly dependent on her, her mother is drinking excessively and her father’s death is still haunting the family. It’s not surprising that Katie is also struggling at school.
All in all, she feels that she is cracking under the pressure. So when Joe suggests she teach them all a lesson by running away with him, she finds herself complying willingly. With chapters narrated by each of the key characters in turn, the book follows the family’s reactions to the teenager’s disappearance, as well as Katie’s own increasing sense of unease and fear as the awful nature of Joe’s hidden agenda becomes apparent. A gripping, emotionally charged thriller.
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(RA12+ IL13+)
Night Riders
Author Mark Roberts
Publisher Andersen Press Published 2001
Format paperback Price £4.99
ISBN 1842700227
Category fiction
Review by a Professional:
Neighbours William and Stanley are the same age, both have Down’s Syndrome and get on brilliantly. After hearing about an endangered dolphin on the news, they decide they must do something to help, but when their fund-raising efforts prove unsuccessful, they turn to alternative methods of raising the cash and plan a bank robbery.
The author’s imaginative leap into the confused but highly sensitive and creative minds of these fourteen year-old boys is a revelation and the story is funny and exciting.
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(RA8+ IL9-12)
Wings
Author James Lovegrove Illustrator Ian Miller
Publisher Barrington Stoke Published 2000
Format paperback Price £4.50
ISBN 184299011X
Category fiction
Review by a Professional:
Az is born without wings in a world where everybody can fly. He feels clumsy and isolated as he is left behind on the ground while his friends and family soar above him.
Written specifically for older reluctant readers, this futuristic tale addresses the subject of disability in an unusual and effective way. The clear text is accompanied by imaginative pen and ink drawings.
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(RA9+ IL11-14)
Brian has Dyslexia
Author Jenny Leigh Illustrator Woody Fox
Publisher Red Kite Books Published 2000
Format paperback Price
ISBN 1902463544
Category fiction
Review by a Professional:
When Brian the bear’s teacher and parents first start to notice his difficulties with reading and writing, his mum think maybe it is eyesight. Not knowing his left from his right, and his bad headaches are also adding to his problems. Then, with some help from Dr Spot and a specialist teacher, the cause is found to be dyslexia and a range of new and fun solutions help Brian understand the condition and overcome many of the challenges it brings. One of Jenny Leigh’s excellent Doctor Spot series, the book is full of bright illustrations and contains a valuable advice section for adults at the back.
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(RA4+ IL5+)
The Turbulent Time of Tyke Tiler
Author Gene Kemp
Publisher Faber Children's Books Published 1977
Format paperback Price £5.99
ISBN 0571212670
Category fiction
Review by a Professional:
First published in 1977, the story of Tyke Tiler’s last term at Cricklepit Combined School is as fresh and appealing as ever. The plot moves along at a cracking pace following feisty, likeable Tyke and best friend Danny Price through a variety of school-based escapades, including Tyke stealing a copy of the Verbal Reasoning Test in order to save Danny from having to go to a special school.
Kemp doesn’t ignore Danny’s obvious learning difficulties, but her sense of humour and lightness of touch ensure that it’s Danny’s strength of character that shines through. And best of all, every chapter starts with a joke. How do you keep a twit in suspense? I’ll tell you later.
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(RA8+ IL8-12)
The Mum Trap
Author Ruth Symes
Publisher Andersen Press Published 2000
Format paperback Price £3.99
ISBN 0862649331
Category fiction
Review by a Professional:
Thirteen year-old Anna and her younger sister Gemma are determined to find their widowed father a new partner. Together, the girls set their “mum trap” by placing an advertisement in the Lonely Hearts column of a newspaper. The advert is soon answered and the family starts to “audition” the candidates.
Meanwhile, Anna also has her own love life to think about.
A warm and entertaining read, in which one of the main characters is a wheelchair user.
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(RA8+ IL8-11)
Stuck in Neutral
Author Terry Trueman
Publisher Hodder Children's Books Published 2002
Format paperback Price £5.99
ISBN 0340817453
Category fiction
Review by a Professional:
In this deeply compelling book, the author (whose own son is disabled) positions himself inside the mind of a teenage boy with severe cerebral palsy. While Shawn appears – to his father’s increasing distress – to be unconscious of the world around him, the author tells us that he is actually fully aware. His life is one of silent observation, “borrowed” experiences and frequent misunderstandings, as he records everything with his exceptional memory. A moving and extremely thought-provoking book.
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(RA10+ IL11-16)
What’s Wrong with New Girl?
Author Taryn Elise Jacques and Meghan M Reilly
Publisher US only Published 2000
Format hardback Price
ISBN 1413719996
Category fiction
Review by a Professional:
Kamryn moves to a new town and a new school, where she finds herself suddenly treated differently by her fellow students because she wears a brace on her leg.
It takes courage, perseverance and time for Kamryn to find acceptance, but eventually she has the opportunity to demonstrate her artistic talents in an art competition, helping her to achieve the respect of her peers.
Written by a young American woman who has cerebral palsy, this book proficiently portrays the universal challenge of adjusting to a new school, exacerbated in this case by the additional barriers of prejudice and discrimination.
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(RA7+ IL5-9)
Dyslexia
Author Althea Illustrator Frances Cony
Publisher Happy Cat Published 2003
Format hardback Price £4.99
ISBN 1903285550
Category non-fiction
Review by a Professional:
A bright, colourful picture book in the “Talking it Through” series. With characteristic clarity and candour, Althea introduces us to six children and their experiences of dyslexia. Illustrated with bold, lively pictures and enhanced by accessible speech bubbles and a good splash of humour, this book identifies many of the day to day challenges, solutions (and occasional advantages) involved in dyslexia as identified by the children themselves.
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(RA6+ IL4-7)
Trevor Trevor
Author Diane Twachtman-Cullen
Publisher Starfish Press, USA (distributed in UK by JKP) 1998 Published 1998
Format hardback Price
ISBN 0966652908
Category fiction
Review by a Professional:
Trevor’s teacher formulates a plan to help the school win their County Challenge while also involving Trevor, usually isolated and forgotten by the rest of the class, apparently lost in his own ‘dream’ world. However, for a while, it looks like her plot may backfire. Trevor’s autism is left unnamed, allowing the book to be used to discuss a range of different causes of classroom alienation. Delicate and endearing (if slightly ‘dewey-eyed’) illustrations.
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(RA7+ IL4-8)
The Crowstarver
Author Dick Smith-Smith Illustrator Peter Bailey
Publisher Corgi Published 1999
Format paperback Price £4.99
ISBN 0552546038
Category fiction
Review by a Professional:
Set in pre-World War II Britain, this is the story of an abandoned baby, adopted by a childless farming couple. They call him Spider because of the unusual way he scrambles about on his hands and legs when he is young. As Spider grows up, it becomes apparent that he has a remarkable gift for communicating with animals, and he becomes a “crowstarver” – a human scarecrow.
Written with sensitivity and tenderness, this is quite possibly one of Dick King-Smith’s best novels. It deservedly won the 1998 NASEN Special Needs Book Award for a book that most successfully provides a positive image of children or young people with specific needs.
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(RA9+ IL9-13)
Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key
Author Jack Gantos
Publisher Corgi Published 2000
Format paperback Price £4.99
ISBN 044086433X
Category fiction
Review by a Professional:
Joey Pigza doesn’t set out to be mischievous, but once his medication stops working, he can’t concentrate in class for long without doing something naughty. Joey has Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and after a succession of incidents, which are amusing at first, but gradually become more worrying, it is decided that he needs more help than his school can offer. With the aid of his new friend, Special Ed, and the love and support of his mother, Joey learns to cope with his disorder. This is a sensitive portrayal of a young person with ADHD, but also a thoroughly entertaining insight into the life of an immensely likeable boy, whose escapades are certain to amuse any reader.
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(RA9+ IL8-12)
Bambert's Book of Missing Stories
Author Reinhardt Jung
Translator Anthea Bell
Publisher Mammoth Published 2002
Format paperback Price £4.99
ISBN 0749747056
Category fiction
Review by a Professional:
In a small Austrian town, Bambert lives alone in an attic above Mr Bloom’s grocery shop. Bambert has difficulty in getting out into the world, but he dreams up stories which he writes into his Book of Wishes.
He decides to send ten of these tales off by balloons, hoping that they will be returned from distant lands which will then become their settings. The eleventh story he leaves totally blank, for the recipient to invent.
This book is something quite exceptional: at first, it appears to be a set of fairy tales, yet each story has a pertinence to the life of its author, and all are set within the encompassing relationship between Bambert and Bloom.
The result is a magical book of many layers that will delight readers from age eight to eighty; it also provides endless opportunities for classroom use.
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(RA8+ IL8+)
My Brother Sammy
Author Becky Armitage Illustrator David Armitage
Publisher Bloomsbury Published 2000
Format paperback Price £4.99
ISBN 0747546541
Category fiction
Review by a Professional:
A young boy yearns for someone to play with and talk to; if only his brother was “normal”. Mum says that Sammy is “special” but the narrator doesn’t want a special brother. He describes a roller coaster of different feelings – loneliness and frustration, sadness and anger, embarrassment and guilt.
With beautiful colour-wash artwork, this picture is a gentle, honest and ultimately positive look at life with autism.
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(RA6+ IL5-8)
Saffy's Angel
Author Hilary McKay
Publisher Hodder Children's Books Published 2002
Format paperback Price £5.99
ISBN 0340850809
Category fiction
Review by a Professional:
Families don’t come much stranger than Saffron’s. The children are all named after paints on a colour chart, their mother spends the majority of her time locked in the garden shed, and the family house - inexplicably named “Banana House” - is teeming with guinea pigs.
Saffron found out a few years ago that her brothers and sisters are actually her cousins (her real mother died when she was small), but it is her grandfather’s death that suddenly triggers some distant memories. Aided by her wheelchair-using neighbour, Saffy starts to investigate. An uplifting story about an eccentric family encased in chaos, but also intense warmth and loyalty.
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(RA9+ IL9-13)
Dreaming in Black and White
Author Reinhardt Jung
Translator Anthea Bell
Publisher Mammoth Published 2000
Format paperback Price £3.99
ISBN 0749741570
Category fiction
Review by a Professional:
In his dreams, Hannes is transported to Nazi Germany. His physical disability singles him out for persecution alongside the Jews by those who refuse to tolerate what they view as “imperfection”. This thought-provoking short novel not only explores issues surrounding the holocaust, but also looks at the way in which disability is viewed today. A sensitively written, moving book.
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(RA9+ IL10+)
Secrets in the Fire
Author Henning Mankell
Translator Anne Connie Stukstrud
Publisher Allen & Unwin Published 2000
Format paperback Price £4.99
ISBN 1865081817
Category fiction
Review by a Professional:
When her father is killed by bandits during a raid on their Mozambique village, Sophia and her family are forced to flee. However the dangers of war are never very far away, and tragedy strikes again when Maria and her sister are involved in a landmine explosion.
Based on a true story, Maria’s tale is a harrowing one – she loses her sister, both legs, and - for a time - even the will to live. Yet this is a very readable book, and in spite of the horrific subject matter somehow succeeds in being an eminently positive read. Maria is both reassuringly human in her weaknesses and concerns for the future, and inspirational in her determination and strength of character as she gradually learns to walk again.
Translated from its original Swedish, Secrets in the Fire is a story of disaster and hope, delivered with sensitivity but without sentimentality. (Reviewed by Alexandra Strick)
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(RA12+ IL12+)
Jinx
Author Margaret Wild
Publisher Allen & Unwin Published 2002
Format paperback Price £5.99
ISBN 1865082643
Category fiction
Review by a Professional:
Following the deaths of two boyfriends in succession, Jen concludes she must be in some way responsible and nicknames herself Jinx. The events are depicted through the eyes of all those affected - Jen, her friends, their families, her parents and her sister who has Down’s Syndrome (and whose view of the world often proves the most lucid and insightful). The free verse format is highly effective and surprisingly easy to acclimatise to. A powerful book which gets under your skin and stays there, generating a multitude of emotions and leaving you craving a sequel. (Reviewed by Alexandra Strick)
Review by a Reader:
Jen is a typical teenager but her life is anything but ordinary. Living with her sister Grace (who has Downs Syndrome) and her mother, she longed for a bit of excitement. However when excitement comes it is not what she was expecting. The focus of the book is Jen’s analysis of the situations and people she encounters. However, it soon becomes clear that it is grace sees things as they really are. This book is written an innovative format of poetry. This does not take away the flow or emotion of story. The format allows you to experience the events from many characters perspectives. Possibly the best thing about this book is the way deals with grace’s down syndrome it would be so easy to make her an object of pity but this book makes her the tower of strength as she behaves how the other characters wish they could. A moving personal journey in which one girl has to overcome grief, bitterness and self blame to find inner peace and forgiveness. (Review by Zara Todd)
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(RA14+ IL14+)
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time
Author Mark Haddon
Publisher Red Fox Published 2003
Format paperback Price £10.99
ISBN 0099456761
Category fiction
Review by a Professional:
The discovery of his neighbour’s dog, killed with a garden fork, starts 15 year-old Christopher (who has Asperger’s Syndrome) on a one-man crusade to track down the murderer, modelling his investigation on the style of his hero Sherlock Holmes. However his enquiry uncovers more than he expects, and Christopher finds himself having to face some confusing and distressing truths.
The novel presents an utterly absorbing depiction of what it might be like to be confronted with the social niceties, confusing messages, ignorance and hostility of a society which does not understand autism. The simplicity of language and narration gives the book a sense of freedom and freshness, as well as making it extremely readable and accessible to a wide reading audience. (Reviewed by Alexandra Strick)
Review by a Professional:
I have read this book and I thought it gave a real insight into how people with aspergers syndrome order their thoughts. I work in a profession where I have regular contact with disabled people and think that it is really important that there are book such as this widely available to encourage understanding and recognition from the wider public. Not only was this book informative but extremely entertaining too. (Reviewed by Tracy Glenister)
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(RA12+ IL12+)
Looking After Louis
Author Lesley Ely and Polly Dunbar
Publisher Frances Lincoln Published 2004
Format hardback Price £10.99
ISBN 1845070119
Category picture book
Review by a Professional:
Louis, the new boy, is 'not quite like the rest of us'. He gazes at the wall, he draws beautiful but strange pictures and he talks when he isn’t supposed to in class - without getting told off.
At first the other students find it difficult to comprehend. Why doesn’t he play football properly and how come he is allowed to get away with things that they would get into trouble for? This is the beautifully delivered story of children learning to understand their autistic classmate, gradually discovering how they can involve him in their activities.
An important message delivered with originality and sensitivity and brought to life with distinctive illustrations.
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(RA7+ IL4-7)
The Bottle-top King
Author Jonathan Kebbe
Publisher Corgi Yearling Published 2001
Format paperback Price
ISBN 0440864674
Category fiction
Review by a Professional:
The nearest Lewis usually gets to playing football is in his fantasy games between teams of bottle tops – when it comes to the real thing, his legs turn to jelly and his brain to mush if the ball comes near him. But Lewis knows he has a talent. His mathematical brain can calculate the angle of a pass or the curve on a ball – he just needs a chance to prove himself. Lewis’ passion for football and a desperate desire to be accepted by his peers provide the impetus he needs to stand up to his overbearing mother.
Although you could guess from the start that Lewis, a vertically challenged wimp with a stammer, will learn to stand up for himself and end up a hero, there are enough surprises and humour in the plot to keep a young reader hooked.
This excellent book will appeal to both sexes, whether football fans or not. It uses challenging vocabulary, has a delightful cast of characters and includes protagonists from both sexes and a variety of racial backgrounds.
Review by a Reader:
12 year old Lewis ‘sparrow’ Overfeld dreams of football and becoming a somebody. However, he is a nobody, at school even his friends don’t believe in him and he’s an object of humour for the school bullies because of his stammer. Home is not much better - the over-protective mum who cares too much and the part time father who doesn’t care enough. Everything changes when one friend takes a risk which has surprising consequences. Lewis has a tough decision to make – will he follow his dreams and disobey his mother or keep everyone else happy except himself?
A light hearted look at one boy's struggle to over come his stammer and stand up for himself. This is a great modern read which shows anyone can overcome anything if they want to achieve their dreams. (Reviewed by Zara Todd)
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(RA10+ IL9-13)
A Different Life
Author Lois Keith
Publisher Livewire Published 2000
Format paperback Price £5.99
ISBN 0704349469
Category fiction
Review by a Professional:
Following a swim in polluted water on a school trip, a teenage girl finds herself in a wheelchair. Her life is turned upside down, as she has to adapt to her new situation and to the views and attitudes of those around her. The book never resorts to cheap sentimentalism or pity; instead, it is a gritty read, in which the reader quickly recognises that Libby (just like any other teenager) is a complex, strong-willed and sometimes difficult character. Lois Keith is a firm favourite with disabled and able-bodied readers alike.
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(RA12+ IL12-16)
The Night Garden
Author Jenny Marlowe
Publisher Honno Published 2001
Format paperback Price £4.99
ISBN 187020641X
Category fiction
Review by a Professional:
Ever since it became apparent that she had epilepsy, PJ has assumed that everyone will always consider a 'freak'. Only Mr Bonetti, a fellow loner, seems to understand her.
Then a third misfit comes into her life and PJ finds herself with a mission and a new sense of direction.
An unusual but effective teenage read in which a girl is surprised to learn that there is life beyond epilepsy.
Review by a Reader:
PJ feels as if epilepsy is ruling her life. At school people think she’s a freak at home she thinks she caused her parents to split. Her only real friend in world is her elderly next-door neighbour. Her mum is about to rock her world and she has to escape. It’s here the mystery starts: PJ sees something happen in the garden - or does she? That moment will change the way she sees her life.
This book covers a personal journey from selfishness to selflessness. It starts slowly but picks up the pace; by the end, you realise the importance of the extra details in the story. (Reviewed by Zara Todd)
> Have you read this book? tell us what you think
(RA12+ IL12-15)
Face
Author Benjamin Zephaniah
Publisher Bloomsbury Published 1999
Format paperback Price £5.99
ISBN 074754154X
Category fiction
Review by a Professional:
Martin and his friends are much like any other lads of their age. They spend the school day looking forward to the evening and the weeks looking forward to the summer holidays. Life is about being seen in the right places and wearing the right (Armani) jeans.
Then a joy-riding accident results in tragedy, with Martin left in hospital, his face permanently disfigured. As he tries to re-build his life, Martin finds out that learning to deal with his new face is just the beginning of his problems – there is also the outside world to deal with.
Review by a Reader:
The book presents a good contrast between people’s attitudes towards Martin, the main character, before and after a car accident. When even his closest friends find out that he was injured in this serious way, they start to feel uncomfortable and somehow don’t want to be around him.
However, the main character deals with the situation in quite a positive way, as he accepts what has happened to him and just gets on with his life, regardless of what people might think. This is obvious when he decides to go back to school, even though he was told by his teachers that 'the other children may not be ready to handle it' the way they probably would have been able to, had he stayed at home a bit longer.
Face deals with reality, without making it too depressing or too negative. The reader sees things from Martin’s perspective as he adapts to the changes in his life, and feels a real sense of annoyance, especially towards his girlfriend, who no longer wants to be with him because of the effects of the accident. (Reviewed by Madissa Asgari)
> Have you read this book? tell us what you think
(RA12+ IL12-15)
Crazy
Author Benjamin Lebert
Translator Carol Brown Janeway
Publisher Puffin Published 2001
Format paperback Price £4.99
ISBN 0141307412
Category fiction
Review by a Reader:
This is the story of a partially-paralysed 16 year old boy trying to fit in at a new school. It is written in the language of a teenage boy (translated from German) so it sounds neither condescending nor patronising - there are even a few swear words.
The name of the main character is the same as
that of the author's, which suggests that 'Crazy' is at least partly autobiographical. Quite visual sexual images mean that this book is not for the faint-hearted! (Reviewed by Joanne Evans)
> Have you read this book? tell us what you think
(RA14+ IL14+)
Stoner and Spaz
Author Ron Koertge
Publisher Walker Published 2002
Format paperback Price £4.99
ISBN 0744590558
Category fiction
Review by a Professional:
16-year-old Ben is a U S high school student with cerebral palsy. With no parents and only his well-meaning but domineering grandmother for company, he’s not used to anyone taking an interest in him – especially anyone of the opposite sex. So no one is more surprised than Ben himself when he starts to develop a friendship with Colleen, a weed-smoking Goth (‘Stoner’ of the title).
Through this unlikely alliance, he seems to have found someone with whom he can share his feelings and especially his passion for films. Colleen in return is willing to share her own passions and experience with Ben, much to his grandmother’ s distaste.
An honest and often humorous depiction of a teenager’s passage towards self-discovery and acceptance. (Reviewed by Alexandra Strick)
Review by a Reader:
Ben is one of life's loners. He doesn't seem to fit in at school, and his grandmother - with whom he lives - is over-protective. To escape the loneliness he feels, he spends most of his time at the Rialto Theatre watching movies. This is a story of first relationships, fitting in and of self-achievement. (Reviewed by Joanne Evans)
> Have you read this book? tell us what you think
(RA14+ IL14+)
Buster and the Amazing Daisy
Author Nancy Ogaz
Publisher Jessica Kingsley Publishers Published 2003
Format hardback Price
ISBN 184310721X
Category baby book
Review by a Professional:
The enchanting story of Daisy, a girl coming to terms with Asperger Syndrome. When not trying to deal with the class bullies, Daisy is fixed on training Buster, the school rabbit. Some excellent messages to help people understand the condition and challenge preconceptions.
Daisy makes an endearing heroine - bright, thoughtful, forgiving, articulate and imaginative, and yet thoroughly human and convincing in her insecurity and frustration.
> Have you read this book? tell us what you think
(RA8+ IL8-11)
Can I tell you about Asperger Syndrome?
Author Jude Welton
Publisher Jessica Kingsley Publishers Published 2004
Format hardback Price
ISBN 1843102064
Category non-fiction
Review by a Professional:
This 'guide for friends and family' is written from the point of view of Adam, who has Asperger Syndrome.
Many of the common traits are described, along with the challenges and ideas and pointers for understanding and managing the condition. An accessible and practical introduction.
> Have you read this book? tell us what you think
(RA9+ IL7-12)
Bungee Hero
Author Julie Bertagna
Publisher Barrington Stoke Published 1999
Format paperback Price £3.99
ISBN 1902260236
Category fiction
Review by a Professional:
Adam reluctantly helps his Mum at the nursing home, but can’t wait to escape to meet his friends. However, when he meets wheelchair-user Mr Haddock and reads his war diary, Adam sees the grumpy old man in a new light and tries to think of a way to give him back the freedom he gave up for his country fifty years earlier. A well-written, thought-provoking tale.
> Have you read this book? tell us what you think
(RA7+ IL7-12)
Whispers in the Graveyard
Author Theresa Breslin
Publisher Mammoth Published 2000
Format paperback Price £4.99
ISBN 0749744804
Category fiction
Review by a Professional:
Solomon, frustrated by his dyslexia and angry that his parents have separated, spends much time alone in the old graveyard. When the site is threatened by redevelopers, he finds himself in a chain of events that effectively shows that having learning difficulties need not necessarily be a handicap. Winner of the Carnegie Medal, this is a challenging read with a positive message.
> Have you read this book? tell us what you think
(RA11-14 IL11-14)
Me and My Electric
Author Elizabeth Laird
Publisher Mammoth Published 2000
Format paperback Price £4.99
ISBN 0749729228
Category other
Review by a Professional:
Jacqueline Wilson and Rose Impey are among the authors who teamed up with eight disabled children in order to tell their stories. The result is a lively, honest and enlightening collection of stories, funny, heart-wrenching, serious and sad. The inspiration for the book came from the Children, Images and Disability conference.
> Have you read this book? tell us what you think
(RA8+ IL7-11)
Calling a Dead Man
Author Gillian Cross
Publisher Oxford University Press Published 2001
Format paperback Price £6.99
ISBN 0192718274
Category fiction
Review by a Professional:
This is a thriller, which adults as well as older adolescents should find absorbing and powerful. The narrative is told from several points of view; Hayley is more or less forced by wheelchair-using Annie, fiancee of Hayley's brother (a demolition expert who has apparently died in a building he was blowing), to go with her to Russia to investigate his death; the people of an almost abandoned village in Siberia, including simple but invaluable Frosya, take care of a sick man who emerges from the forest; and, in a different typeface, the reader encounters the thoughts of a man on the run. the reader soon begins to put these aspects together and to fear for the two young Englishwomen and the running man, though the death which comes is not theirs. Hayley learns that defeating some gangsters may not be enough as well as other valuable life lessons.
> Have you read this book? tell us what you think
(RA13+ IL13+)
Monkey
Author Veronica Bennett
Publisher Walker Books Published 2000
Format paperback Price £3.99
ISBN 0744560454
Category fiction
Review by a Professional:
Teenager Harry is horrified when his mother asks him to spend some time with one of her paraplegic patients. However, Simon turns out to be an intelligent, talented man, and together he and Harry explore their common interest of drama. This is a sensitively written book which tackles the important issues of bullying and disability
> Have you read this book? tell us what you think
(RA11+ IL10-14)
Fighting Back
Author Wendy Orr
Publisher Orchard Books Published 1998
Format paperback Price £4.99
ISBN 1860395503
Category fiction
Review by a Professional:
When 17-year-old karate enthusiast Anna is involved in a serious car accident, her whole world is shattered. This is a powerful portrayal of both the physical and the psychological effects of a devastating accident, exploring feelings of pain, anger, guilt and dependency. A moving and thought-provoking read.
> Have you read this book? tell us what you think
(RA14+ IL14+)
Mama Zooms
Author Jane Cowen-Fletcher
Publisher Scholastic Published 2002
Format paperback Price £6.99
ISBN 0613035542
Category picture book
Review by a Professional:
A young boy "zooms" with his mother in her wheelchair. The pictures capture their exhilaration and his glorious flights of fancy. (Reviewed by Andrea Bennington and Deb Siviter)
> Have you read this book? tell us what you think
(RA5+ IL4+)
Top Biker
Author Ruth Dowley Illustrator Strawberrie Donnelly
Publisher Hodder Children's Books Published 2001
Format paperback Price
ISBN 0750232838
Category fiction
Review by a Professional:
Spina Bifida doesn't stop Steve from riding a bike, with the help of his friends. Dan prefers to tease Steve, but when Dan has an accident it's up to Steve to help Dan. (Reviewed by Andrea Bennington and Deb Siviter)
> Have you read this book? tell us what you think
(RA7+ IL7+)
Seal Surfer
Author Michael Foreman Illustrator Michael Foreman
Publisher Andersen Press Published 2006
Format paperback Price £5.99
ISBN 0862646855
Category baby book
Review by a Professional:
As the season's change, we follow the special relationship that develops between a boy and a seal. An imaginative, gentle story in which the central character is disabled. (Reviewed by Andrea Bennington and Deb Siviter) NB: No mention of disability in the text, only the illustrations
> Have you read this book? tell us what you think
(RA5+ IL4+)
Freak the Mighty
Author Rodman Philbrick
Publisher Usborne Published 2004
Format paperback Price £4.99
ISBN 0746062532
Category fiction
Review by a Professional:
Max and Freak make an unconventional partnership. Max is big, very strong, and finds it hard to express himself effectively to the world around him. Freak is small, extremely well-read and fiercely intelligent. Both are subjected to hostility and apprehension on the part of the community. However, as the two become friends, they discover that they have their combined strengths give them the confidence and clout they need to handle almost any situation. An unusual and highly memorable story of lasting friendship and, as Freak would say, unvanquished truth.
> Have you read this book? tell us what you think
(RA10+ IL11+)
The Gift
Author James Riordan
Publisher Oxford University Press Published 2004
Format paperback Price £4.99
ISBN 0192753606
Category fiction
Review by a Professional:
Fee and Bee are twins, but that's just about where the similarity ends. According to narrator Fee, her sister (who has Cerebral Palsy) is the pretty and intelligent one, with a particular gift for poetry. Fee, on the other hand, considers herself to have no talent in any area. She wouldn't have time for it anyway - she is far too busy struggling to balance schoolwork with household chores and relucantly playing carer to her siblings. Their mother, meanwhile, is busy in a rather different way - exploring every possible means of avoiding an honest living, from shoplifting and credit card scams to plain old emotional blackmail. The balance finally starts to shift when Bee helps Fee with an overdue poetry assignment, and both girls find they have new challenges on their hands. This is a readable and thought-provoking book, which was shortlisted for the NASEN children's book award. June Craven, a young writer (and herself a wheelchair user) provides the poetic voice of Bee.
> Have you read this book? tell us what you think
(RA11+ IL11+)
The Boys Who Ate Stars
Author Kochka
Translator Sarah Adams
Publisher Egmont Children’s Books Published 2004
Format paperback Price £4.99
ISBN 1405211296
Category fiction
> Have you read this book? tell us what you think
(RA9+ IL9+)
Spoofer Rooney
Author Jonathan Kebbe
Publisher Corgi Yearling Published 2002
Format paperback Price £4.99
ISBN 0440864682
Category fiction
> Have you read this book? tell us what you think
(RA10+ IL10+)
Playing With Fire
Author Henning Mankell
Translator Anna Paterson
Publisher Allen and Unwin Published 2001
Format paperback Price £5.99
ISBN 1865087149
Category other
> Have you read this book? tell us what you think
(RA13+ IL13+)
Author
Publisher Published 2000
Format paperback Price
ISBN
Category picture book
> Have you read this book? tell us what you think
(RA IL)
The Day Ravi Smiled
Author Gillian Lobel Illustrator Kim Harley
Publisher Tamarind Published 2005
Format paperback Price £4.99
ISBN 1870516761
Category fiction
Review by a Professional:
Joy enthusiastically talks us through her typical activity-packed week of piano lessons, drama club, table tennis - and Penniwells. Penniwells is a riding centre for disabled riders (based on a real centre in Hertfordshire), and it is at this stage we realise that Joy happens to be a wheelchair-user. This is a touching story (with ethnically diverse characters) in which Joy learns to understand the behaviour of one of her Penniwell friends.
> Have you read this book? tell us what you think
(RA6-9 IL6-9)
Wist
Author Jackie Gay
Publisher Tindal Street Press Published 2003
Format paperback Price £7.99
ISBN 0954130340
Category fiction
Review by a Professional:
Teenagers Romany and Kate, sisters through adoption, are connected by a mysterious and overpowering bond. However, since Romany has decided to see the world, it is a long-distance manifestation of this relationship that the reader witnesses. Through their respective letters, Kate obliquely shares Romany’s colourful and intense experiences of travelling across India to the Himalayas, and Romany in turn realises that her absence has coincided with a time of immense change for the family and friends she left behind in Birmingham. This is a piercingly poignant and thought-provoking novel, with as many questions raised and emotions stirred by what Gay doesn’t say, as those found in the written text. The wist will remain with you long after you have turned the final page.
> Have you read this book? tell us what you think
(RA13+ IL14+)
Anna's New Friend
Author Gill Duckworth Illustrator Mike Crispin
Publisher Spud Books - 01254 832011 Published 2000
Format paperback Price on enquiry
ISBN 0954990803
Category picture book
Review by a Professional:
Anna comes home every day with fresh stories of the fun she has had at nursery. More often than not, her tales revolve around new friend ‘Spesh’. When her parents suggest she invite her friend to visit, we see that he happens to be a wheelchair user, but as Anna is quick to point out, this is definitely not the reason for the nickname she has granted him. An original book, which not only takes a refreshingly un-selfconscious and ‘normalising’ approach to disability but also subtly opens the door for a plethora of other discussions on subjects from divorce and bereavement to safety and animal welfare. Ideal for reading aloud and group discussion, there is also a section of additional advice notes for nursery teachers and parents
at the back.
> Have you read this book? tell us what you think
(RA6+ IL3+)
Summer with Mary-Lou
Author Stefan Casta
Translator Tom Geddes
Publisher Andersen Press Published 1997
Format paperback Price £5.99
ISBN 1842702467
Category fiction
Review by a Professional:
Translated from Swedish, this book reunites two teenagers, Adam and Mary-Lou, three years after a tragedy which resulted in the latter now using a wheelchair. Adam and Mary-Lou's friendship is a powerful and emotionally turbulent one. Finding themselves with the summer alone together at Adam’s family house by the lake, the couple alternate between facing up to the challenges of life and trying to escape or ignore them. Stefan Casta has an enviable talent for expressing the beauty and simplicity of daily life, whilst also reminding us of the complexity and unpredictability of human nature. The setting and the characters are so convincingly rendered that at times the reader feels as connected as a third member of the trio. Ultimately, the book has no choice but to leave certain questions unanswered and to caution the reader that life simply does not come with a ‘happy ever after’ guarantee. NB: The only disappointment with this beautiful and memorable book may be the glimpses of rather dated terminology such as ‘handicapped’ and ‘confined to a wheelchair’.
> Have you read this book? tell us what you think
(RA11+ IL12+)
Bridge to the Stars, A
Author Henning Mankell
Translator Laurie Thompson
Publisher Andersen Press Published 2005
Format hardback Price £5.99
ISBN 1842704397
Category fiction
Review by a Professional:
Joel has a lot of thoughts in his head that ‘he would prefer not to be there’. Why did his mother desert him? What if his father leaves him too? And why does his father insist on spending so much time with the loud, smiley, voluptuous Sara? Then there is also the eleven-year-old’s fear that he may end up being the only boy in school not to own a bicycle. And there is the solitary dog he sees running along the road one night (onto whom he transposes some of his anxieties). His unorthodox response to this emotional turbulence is to set up a secret society which involves sneaking out of the house in the dead of night. It’s an activity which leads to a number of unexpected encounters. These new influences bring with them their own set of dilemmas, offering Joel different alternatives to dealing with life. Some of the new friendships he makes are more positive than others and Joel soon discovers that the most rewarding are those he finds in less ‘obvious’ candidates – an old man generally deemed to be mad and a young woman whose face is missing a nose (both characters experiencing a degree of exclusion from society for their differences from the norm, and both of whom offer some valuable new perspectives to the challenges of existing). This is a captivating study of a boy trying to make sense of life and ultimately recognising that it ‘consists of far too many perhapses’. Henning Mankell again demonstrates his enviable gift for understanding young minds in this highly memorable story, seamlessly translated from the original Swedish.
> Have you read this book? tell us what you think
(RA10+ IL10+)
Funny Business
Author Steve Barlow Illustrator Steve Skidmore
Publisher Barrington Stoke Published 2006
Format paperback Price £4.99
ISBN 1842993747
Category fiction
Review by a Professional:
Ben is on the hunt for material to help him enter a competition at a local comedy club. Consulting his college peers, it soon becomes apparent that people have very different ideas about what constitutes humour. Before he knows it, there is a second tier to the competition – the rivalry with his friend Des, whose taste in jokes is rather different from Ben's own. Whilst Ben decides to make jokes about himself, a typical Des joke invariably starts with a Blonde or an Irishman. The book firmly establishes a great rapport with the key characters and a good hook of a plot so that it is well into chapter two before the reader notices that Ben happens to be a wheelchair user. A lot of writers would shy away from attempting a book like this – and few would achieve it so successfully, with so many subtle comments about attitudes to disability.
> Have you read this book? tell us what you think
(RA8+ IL12+)
The Boy Who Grew Flowers
Author Jen Wojtowicz Illustrator Steve Adams
Publisher Barefoot Books Published 2005
Format hardback Price £10.99
ISBN 1841484970
Category picture book
Review by a Professional:
This is the story of Rink, a quiet, thoughtful boy with an assortment of rather unusual relatives. It is the fervent community gossip about this unconventional family which causes the other children to give him a wide berth. So it is unsurprising that Rink chooses to keep his own rather unusual ability (that of sprouting flowers all over his body when there is a full moon) to himself. Then the enchanting Angelina Quiz arrives at school, and Rink and his peers are all captivated. When a school dance is announced, Angelina states that she won’t be participating, since one of her legs is an inch shorter than the other. It is Rink who quietly and painstakingly creates a solution – a stunning pair of snakeskin shoes with one sole an inch thicker than the other. This is a powerful reminder that we can all find ways to remove many of the physical and social barriers which disable individuals. Particularly effective is the moment when Angelina’s evident concern for Rink’s isolated status starts to prick the other children’s consciences. Striking in both narrative and illustration, this is a beautiful and timeless picture book about kindness, friendship, acceptance and self-acceptance.
> Have you read this book? tell us what you think
(RA6+ IL5+)
Pat-a-Cake!
Author Annie Kubler Illustrator Annie Kubler
Publisher Child's Play Published 2005
Format board Price
ISBN 190455082
Category baby book
Review by a Professional:
One of a series of exquisite board books, each featuring occasional (and highly effective) inclusive images - in this case a wheelchair ‘parked’ by a child’s bedside and a child on a supported mat. Traditional and modern nursery rhymes, with the accompanying movements. An ideal baby book for any and every child.
> Have you read this book? tell us what you think
(RA IL0-3)
Peek-a-Boo!
Author Annie Kubler Illustrator Annie Kubler
Publisher Child's Play Published 2000
Format board Price
ISBN 190455083
Category baby book
Review by a Professional:
One of a series of exquisite board books, each featuring occasional (and highly effective) inclusive images, this time featuring rhymes with games to involve and entertain small children. The exuberant characters include children on supported mats, a child with a leg splint and a parent with a hearing aid.
> Have you read this book? tell us what you think
(RA IL0-3)
See-Saw!
Author Annie Kubler Illustrator Annie Kubler
Publisher Child's Play Published 2005
Format board Price
ISBN 190455081
Category baby book
Review by a Professional:
One of a series which represent a model for the ideal baby book - lively, colourful and durable, whilst including subtle inclusive images. This book offers nursery songs and amongst the many vibrant illustrations is a signing child with a hearing aid.
> Have you read this book? tell us what you think
(RA IL0-3)
The Animal Boogie
Author Stella Blackstone Illustrator Debbie Harter
Publisher Barefoot Books Published 2005
Format paperback Price
ISBN 1905236212
Category picture book
Review by a Professional:
Boogie along with the jungle inhabitants who flap, shake, flap and slide their way through this colourful book which contains positive messages and various characters including a wheelchair-using child. Available also in dual language and now also with an accompanying music CD.
> Have you read this book? tell us what you think
(RA3+ IL2-6)
I Am the Music Man
Author Illustrator Debra Potter
Publisher Child's Play Published 2005
Format paperback Price £3.99
ISBN 1904550347
Category picture book
Review by a Professional:
A large book featuring holes through which you can peek to spot which of the thoroughly inclusive band of musicians is playing each instrument. Stylish artwork and great for sharing with a group. Includes a wheelchair user on the front cover.
> Have you read this book? tell us what you think
(RA IL0-5)
The Mulberry Bush
Author Illustrator Annie Kubler
Publisher Child’s Play Published 2001
Format paperback Price
ISBN 0 85953 88
Category picture book
Review by a Professional:
A large paperback book with numerous differently shaped holes and a multitude of different characters busy enjoying day to day activities and including many wheelchair users.
> Have you read this book? tell us what you think
(RA IL0-5)
Hamish
Author Moira Munro Illustrator Moira Munro
Publisher Piccadilly Press Published 2003
Format paperback Price £4.99
ISBN 85340772 0
Category picture book
Review by a Professional:
A picture book about a teddy bear finding the perfect owner. Wheelchair-using teddies (quite rightly) blend effortlessly into the landscape,as the toys have fun while the humans aren't looking in this book. Also recommended is the subsequent Hamish and the Missing Teddy.
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(RA5+ IL3-6)
The Ding-Dong Bag
Author Polly Peters Illustrator Jess Stockham
Publisher Child’s Play Published 2006
Format paperback Price
ISBN 1 84643 01
Category picture book
Review by a Professional:
Two boys set off to catch a great big noise! The fast-moving and rhythmic text make this great book perfect for reading aloud, and a subtle arm splint on one of the boys is typical of Child’s Play’s inclusive approach to books.
> Have you read this book? tell us what you think
(RA5+ IL3-6)
