Tally is 11 years old and has autism. She tries hard to "fit in" with her neurotypical friends but this usually leads down a path of uncomfortable exchanges and even meltdowns. Her sister, Nell, loves Tally even though Tally doesn't think so. Nell often gets frustrated with Tally and her need to wear a tiger mask in public, her need to save every worm she finds on the sidewalk amongst other things. As Tally starts Year 7, her friendship group has gotten a little bit older and a little bit more concerned with fitting in with the cool kids rather than accepting Tally's behaviour which they often find embarrassing. Also at her new school is Luke, a boy seemingly determined to make her life miserable. Interspersed throughout the book are Tally's diary entries which serve as informational pieces for the reader. These are extremely helpful, especially to anyone who has autism or works or lives with someone who does have autism. Can You See Me? Is a beautifully written story that in my opinion should be required reading for staff at any high school. It's difficult to measure the amount of empathy this wonderful novel will instil into those who read it because we are all experiencing the world differently but I can guarantee it will open eyes and hearts. What I love about this novel is that it describes autism in a very honest, raw way that never feels heavy handed. It should be noted that girls portray autism differently and Tally herself says at the end of the novel that she doesn't speak for anyone, that the story is her experience. Throughout the story the reader learns things that can affect people with autism. These are things like: breaks in routine, even slight ones, can cause an increase in anxiety and even bring on panic attacks and meltdowns. A meltdown is not a temper tantrum. It is not some display of poor behaviour just for attention. A meltdown is when someone with autism is feeling completely overwhelmed and cannot express it through verbal methods alone. Tally describes her meltdowns through shouting words that she has no control over, losing her sense of hearing temporarily and repetitively singing or making noises. Tally also uses stimming to express excitement or even stress. Stimming can present itself in many different ways but for Tally she flaps her hands repeatedly. She also relies heavily on a rubber tiger mask when she's out in public, unfortunately she can't wear this to school, something that increases her anxiety. Feeling overwhelmed presents itself many times throughout the novel, this occurs when teachers give her demands or deadlines that she has trouble processing, loud noises in the corridors or classrooms disrupt her thinking to a point where she has trouble refocusing and not interpreting body language or "hidden meanings" in people's actions and words. The ignorance of the general public is handled expertly in this story, Tally and her family must deal with rude patrons at a restaurant, teachers who don't care or understand what autism even is (although luckily, Tally does have a teacher who does care) and even members of Tally's own family who sometimes feel stressed or fed up with Tally's occasional demanding behaviour (not leaving the house until the episode of Peppa Pig is over, for instance). Once again, I can't recommend this book enough, especially to teaching staff, it's a beautfiul story sprinkled with powerful insight into the world of autism. No wonder, it was co-written by Libby Scott, an 11 year old with autism. Do yourself a favour and get this book asap.
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Eighteen months ago Raxter School for Girls was put under quarantine. The Tox, as they call it, started in the woods on their isolated little island. The trees and other plants started growing at a phenomenal rate, then it got into the teachers, then the students. It turned their bodies into something bizarre, extra spines, two heartbeats, everyone gets affected differently. What they all suffer is an eventual death, slow and painful. Hetty is infected, she lost her eye to the Tox. With her friend Byatt, they wait for a cure to come from the mainland. When Hetty is given the coveted boat shift, the opportunity to go out beyond the fence and pick up the supplies provided from those on the mainland, she learns a dark secret. A secret she can't contain. Soon. Raxter starts to fall apart, and when Byatt goes missing, Hetty embarks on a mission to find her friend before the Tox destroys everything she knows. I really got into the world of Wilder Girls, it's dark and at times terrifying and Rory Power's writing is at times razor sharp. I have no idea if a sequel is being written but there definitely could be one, or a prequel for that matter. I know i'd definitely read it. I loved Hetty and thought she was a very strong character right to the last page. I've already got a few students in mind that I know will want to pick this up, great dystopia thriller! Danny Lazio doesn't have any friends, he doesn't have the coolest new clothes, phone or other accessories deemed vital by the high school crowd. Danny also never really sees his father, which is fine by him. His mother works tirelessly as a nurse, leaving him alone most of the time to play his favourite online game, Land X. Eric is the new kid at school, and Danny thinks there's something off with him. He doesn't understand basic humour, he takes everything literally and he seems obsessed with the latest brands and gadgets. At first, Danny thinks Eric is just another jerk at his school, someone who will bully him in the future no doubt. But when they find a shared interest in Land X, the boys become friends. When Danny witnesses a bizarre interaction between Danny and his parents, he starts to wonder what's really going on with him. After some digging, spying and with a little help from his cousin Vito, they come to a startling conclusion: Eric is a robot. This is not a spoiler as it's written on the cover of the novel, but it's great to see the realisation appear in the characters around Eric. With this newfound information, Danny, Vito and Eric set out to discover who made him and why. What they discover is fascinating, terrifying and potentially dangerous for everyone involved. I really loved this novel, it's a very smart MG/YA sci fi adventure that you won't be able to stop reading. Vaughan has created a world that is so believable you can't help but wonder when it will become a reality. I loved the attention to detail she inserts into the products, games and toys that the characters engage with. I am very excited to give this to our students in September, I'll have to buy multiple copies! This is the 5th book in my sponsored read in memory of my brother. For more information on this fundraising event, click here. Neena's life is quickly unravelling. Ever since her brother Akash vanished, she's been having trouble connecting the dots, not just with his disappearance, but with everyday, mundane things. She's desperate to hunt down clues as to where her brother is, but she can't seem to get a grip on reality. She loses trust in people, she becomes paranoid, she loses time. Her parents, frantic that she's slipping into a life of danger, become even more strict, which pushes Neena farther away. As her life crumbles into a paranoid frenzy, Neena tries to hold on to her sanity by finding her brother and her true self. A Million Pieces of Neena Gill is a harrowing look at mental illness, peer pressure, angst and desperation. It's a sad but important book that I highly recommend to teens who feel like they've got nobody listening to them. It's important that they know there is help out there, Emma Smith-Barton deals with delicate topics in a well researched and beautifully written way. Teens who are in need of help don't always ask for it, books like this can be the catalyst, something to give them a nudge in the right direction. I'm glad it exists, I wish I had a book like this when I was a teen, I'm excited to talk about it with our teens this coming school year. This is the 4th book in my sponsored read in memory of my brother. For all of the details about this fundraising event, you can click here. Cameron Post has just lost her parents in a tragic accident. Just prior to this, she was kissing a girl for the first time. Her first feeling is one of relief, knowing her parents will never discover her secret. Then she's moved to Miles City, Montana to live with her aunt Ruth and her grandmother. Ruth is conservative, religious and misguided in her intentions for Cameron. Cameron learns to survive the boredom of a small town and the depression, anxiety and ruin that her loss has left her. When Coley moves to town, something in Cameron ignites, she's never met someone like Coley, a beautiful girl who seems perfect in every way. Her and Coley become friends and just as their bond becomes close, Ruth decides to send Cameron to an ultra-religious camp in order to "fix" her homosexuality. In the camp, Cameron meets some teens who are genuinely on board for their "fixing" and others who see the camp for what it is, a denial of the basic human rights of the people who are forced to go there. Together, Cameron and her friends hatch a plan, one that will bring them closer together or potentially tear them apart. This is a beautiful novel that touches upon loss, grief, depression, substance abuse, the dangers of forcing religious beliefs onto others and so much more. Cameron wants to be herself, but she's not really sure who that is. I strongly identified with her struggles in her small town. The boredom, the toxic masculinity, the gossip, all of it were things that were to be overcome otherwise they would swallow you up. Cameron doesn't let it swallow her up, she takes things head on and pays a price for it but in my opinion it's a price worth paying. Cameron is someone I wish existed in my town, I think she would have been a great friend. This novel has received tons of accolades already so I'm not writing anything new here, but check it out if you haven't already. I'd happily give it to a Year 10 or 11 students at Glenthorne. |
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