I was so skeptical of this book because I tend to get frustrated when authors depict disabilities that they have no direct connection to. I was expecting a lot of stereotypes and some surface level feel-good platitudes. But I was completely wrong. After reading some interviews, it seems like this author did her due diligence to make sure that she was representing these communities well and that they welcomed this story and these characters.
I loved this story. There was so much humor, but there were also deep heartfelt moments that had me in my feels. It covered a lot of heavy topics with grace and humor and authenticity. This is an excellent book for kids and parents to read, and to use as a way to dialogue about ways to treat friends - and to make friends with people who look different from us and to appreciate different abilities. I wasn’t expecting to love this book, but now I can’t wait for my son to read this, and I’m already looking forward to reading the sequel.