Disfigured

5 stars.
As someone who considers themselves within the disabled community, this book seemed right up my alley and had rather strong reviews so I added it to my TBR and read a couple of pages to get an idea on writing style... Since that fateful day, I have picked this book up and devoured it every opportunity I have had. This is a book that should be on all bookshelves. From a psychology point of view it leaves a reader with endless ponderings on how intrinsically ableist our society and environment makes us. This book encourages all readers to try harder. To find the breadcrumbs dotted among our history and cultures that feel so utterly wrong when identified without societies rose-tinted glasses. This book helped me consider how even those within the community fall prey to the inner trappings of society and the changes we must incur. How can the community, not me, not you, but US do better. And also, why we should be aiming to do so. Leduc is incredibly human as a writer and writes with a passion that she aims to keep as open and guided as she can, and although other reviewers found her discussion a whine, I found it an open-conversation we all should be having, in all walks, strolls, runs, swims, wheels, stays of life. Because why is a wheelchair or access dog a phenomenon more so than the idea of a fairy godmother? The world is not a fairy-tale, but fairy tales are this world, and are certainly influenced and vice-versa by the world we reside in. This book addresses a large percentage of the fairy tale and folklore that our children and ourselves encounter in this modern world and presents the views of many in a calculated and clear way that really supports her message.
“Give me stories where disability is synonymous with a different way of seeing the world and a recognition that the world can itself grow as a result of this viewpoint.”