5 stars
I loved this book. The writing was perfect. From the first page, I was instantly caught up in the narration. It was so casual and friendly. Even though the plot was not very complex, I was never bored or in a hurry to finish a section. I also thought the pacing was very good. Some books really drag in the middle, but this one kept a steady pace.
I personally don’t know a lot about CP so it was awesome to see a perspective of it, especially from an author who has a son with CP. It’s always wonderful to see more representation in books and this one did a great job.
I really liked the focus on Ellie’s abilities. Yes, there are things that she can’t do in the same way as others, but she has many talents and just because she’s in a wheelchair doesn’t mean she can’t do something. The book showed a great range of people’s views of her, from Hutch who doesn’t let her out of gym class with the other students to those who view her as a little kid because of her wheelchair. It’s a great way to make the reader think about how they treat people and question their preconceived notions about others’ abilities.
Various aspects of Alzheimer’s are also brought up as well as a brief touch on autism spectrum disorders. I thought the author did a good job bringing things together to really get to the heart of what we consider “normal” and how we treat people who don’t fit into that mold.
A truly wonderful book that explores the concept of normal and shows the power of individual differences. This was a delight to read with its lovable characters and feel-good ending.