I am not a label 34 disabled artists, thinkers, athletes and activists from past and present

Cerrie Burnell

Book - 2020

This book brings together 34 disabled artists, thinkers, athletes and activists from past and present. Find out how these iconic figures have overcome obstacles, owned their differences and paved the way for others by making their bodies and minds work for them. These short biographies tell the stories of people who have faced unique challenges which have not stopped them from becoming trailblazers, innovators, advocates and makers. Each person is a leading figure in their field, be it sport, science, maths, art, breakdance or the world of pop. Challenge your preconceptions of disability and mental health with the eye-opening stories of these remarkable people.

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Subjects
Genres
Biographies
Informational works
Published
Beverly, MA : Wide Eyed Editions, an imprint of The Quarto Group 2020.
Language
English
Main Author
Cerrie Burnell (author)
Other Authors
Lauren Baldo (illustrator)
Item Description
Title from cover.
Physical Description
59 pages : color illustrations ; 29 cm
Bibliography
Includes bibliographical references (page [63]) and index.
ISBN
9780711247451
  • Ludwig van Beethoven
  • Gustav Kirchoff
  • Henri Matisse
  • Eliza Suggs
  • Helen Keller
  • Frida Kahlo
  • John Nash
  • Stephen Hawking
  • Temple Grandin
  • Stevie Wonder
  • Nabil Shaban
  • Terry Fox
  • Peter Dinklage
  • Catalina Devandas
  • Wanda Díaz Merced
  • Victor Pineda
  • Arunima Sinha
  • Mental health. Abraham Lincoln ; Matt Haig ; Demi Lovato
  • Redouan Ait Chitt
  • Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah
  • Farida Bedwei
  • Paralympic stars. Jonas Jacobsson ; Trischa Zorn ; Ade Adepitan
  • Stella Young
  • Lady Gaga
  • Naoki Higashida
  • Isabella Spingmuhl Tejada
  • Aaron Philip
  • Hidden disabilities. Michelle Akers ; Lil Wayne ; Dynamo [Steven Frayne].
Review by Kirkus Book Review

English actor Burnell highlights the accomplishments of disabled people past and present. "Everyone deserves to see someone like them in a story or achieving something great," notes the author, who was born with one hand. To that end, she introduces a multiracial group of 34 noteworthy disabled people--with disabilities ranging from Down syndrome and spina bifida to depression and Crohn's disease--from around the world, using identity-first language and a straightforward, upbeat tone. Subjects include such historical figures as Deaf and blind American author Helen Keller and such contemporary trailblazers as fashion model Aaron Philip, a Caribbean trans woman with cerebral palsy, and Indian mountaineer Arunima Sinha, the first female amputee to scale Mount Everest. Their faces radiate joy and determination in Baldo's energetic, warmly hued illustrations. However, the layout is somewhat busy and uneven. Each name is announced in a different typeface, ranging from stylized block letters to ornate script. Though most subjects receive an individual page of text and a full-page facing illustration, those grouped under the separate headings of "Mental Health," "Hidden Disabilities," and "Paralympic Stars" share two pages per category, sporting shorter profiles and smaller illustrations. Though the book's wide geographical range provides much-needed intersectional representation, keeping track of such a large group may tax some readers' attention spans. Nonetheless, readers with and without disabilities will enjoy meeting talented disabled people who've thrived in eclectic occupations. Though brief, these optimistic profiles will encourage readers to "shine [their] own light." (glossary, index, resources) (Collective biography. 7-10) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.