Book Description:
Inspired by a true story, Real speaks to all those who've ever felt
they didn't belong and reminds readers that all people are worthy of
being included.
My name is Charity. I am thirteen years
old. Actually, thirteen years plus eighty-seven days. I love sour
gummies and pepperoni pizza. That last part no one knows because I have
not spoken a sentence since I was born. Each dawning day, I live in
terror of my unpredictable body that no one understands.
Charity may have mad math skills and a near-perfect memory, but with a
mouth that can't speak and a body that jumps, rocks, and howls
unpredictably, most people incorrectly assume she cannot learn.
Charity's brain works differently from most people's because of her
autism, but she's still funny, determined, and kind. So why do people
treat her like a disease or ignore her like she's invisible?
When Charity's parents enroll her in a public junior high school, she
faces her greatest fears. Will kids make fun of her? Will her behavior
get her kicked out? Will her million thoughts stay locked in her head
forever? With the support of teachers and newfound friends, Charity will
have to fight to be treated like a real student.
Rorie’s Review:
Wow. Have some tissues handy. And cancel all of your other plans, because you won't want to put this book down until you finish it. At least that's what happened with me, anyway. What a captivating, heartbreaking, heartwarming, all of the emotions rolled in to one story. There was such a contrast between how Charity's parents treated her, and how most other people treated her, especially at first. I LOVED her dad. He was amazing and such an example on how to treat people who have differences.
This story shows how people can change and continually learn - and I'm not referring to Charity here, although she did do both. I'm referring to her peers and teachers, who were given that chance to change as well.
After I finished the book, I gave it to my 15-year-old son to read. He finished it in 2 or 3 days. He was kind of skeptical when I first gave it to him, (and to be honest, I didn't think he'd actually read it) but after he started reading, he was hooked and couldn't put it down. This is not the type of book that he gravitates towards at all, but he really enjoyed it.
I highly recommend this book to anyone.
Tarah's Review:
You absolutely need to have a box of Kleenex next to you when you read this book. I missed that memo, and tears were pouring down my face. My kids kept asking me what was wrong and why I was reading a book that was making me cry. After I finished it I told my 15 year old daughter to read it and she looked at me like I was crazy and said, "I don't want to cry." Honestly though, even though the crying gives me a headache, if ever a book was worth it to read, this is it. Can you even imagine not being able to communicate in a way that people understand, and then to have that all unlocked after 13 years, 3 of which were tortured and abusive? My hat goes off to all the people in this novel, and I hope these characters were based off real people (not the horrible people, although I'm almost positive they were), but the friends, the teachers, and Charity's parents. Especially her mother. Oh, her mother. The love and the time and effort she put into her child. One of the touching moments for me was when Charity was feeling like a charity case, and said as much to her mother. Her mom said, "Don't you know what your name really means?...The definition of charity is 'benevolent love of humanity." She goes one to say more beautiful stuff to her daughter, but wow, isn't that what the world needs now? A whole heaping dose of Charity.
I don't care what age you are, or what type of book you normally read. Real needs to be on your to read today list. And then discussions need to happen about inclusion, and all of God's children.
About the Author:
Carol Cujec, PhD, has worked as a writer and educator for more than two decades. Her own teaching and parenting experiences have given her welcomed insights into celebrating neurodiversity. Carol lives in San Diego with her husband, three children, and a mischievous orange tabby.
Peyton Goddard knows how it feels to be labeled as incapable of learning. For twenty-two years, her unpredictable body and inability to speak led people to assume she was mentally challenged. Once she gained a dependable mode of communication, not only did she learn, she graduated from college as valedictorian. Today, she is an advocate for inclusion who writes and presents about valuing all people and protecting those most vulnerable from abuse. Her message centers on “changing this worrisome world” through compassionate understanding and support for all. Peyton lives with support in her own apartment, adjacent to her parents’ home in San Diego.
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