I am so excited to share two new books, both of them novels, and both featuring a main character who uses typing/spelling to communicate. I don't want to give away too much of the plots, so let me just say I couldn't put them down once I got started.
(1) "Happiness Falls" by Angie Kim.
One reviewer had this to say: "A brilliant novel that has everything I want in fiction --- great writing, fascinating characters, suspenseful storytelling, and thought-provoking themes."
Author Angie Kim: "The primary thing I hope all readers take away from this story is that we shouldn't equate oral fluency with intelligence. A person's inability to speak (or perceived deficits, like accents, syntax irregularities, stuttering, dyspraxia) often as nothing to do with that person's cognitive abilities; just because you can't speak doesn't mean you can't think or understand."
An interview with the author: https://www.npr.org/2023/09/05/1196977062/in-happiness-falls-a-father-gone-missing-brings-family-tensions-to-the-surface
(2) "I Never Get Lost in the Woods" by Aaron Jepson
From the back cover: "(This) is a story of the hidden courage and unquenchable desire of a young woman to overcome the barriers of her disability and assume control of her own destiny."
Author Aaron Jepson has autism and very limited oral speech. He learned to communicate using RPM, and typed this amazing book one letter at a time with his father at his side. He writes: "I hope that this story helps the readers to pause when they meet someone who is labeled as "disabled," whether it be through physical, emotional, or intellectual challenges, and consider instead their strengths, their abilities, their capacities and yes, even their power to change the world around them for the better."
*****************************************You might also enjoy following some of these bloggers:
Gregory Tino: The Autistic Mind Finally Speaks https://inautism.wordpress.com/
Aaron Jepson: www.aaronjepson.com
Jordyn Pallett: Jordyn's Rocky Journey https://jordynsrockyjourney.wordpress.com/
******************************************
For a MUCH more comprehensive list of sites to visit and things to read, check this out:
https://neuroclastic.com/directory-of-nonspeaker-pages-blogs-media/
This link should also work for an earlier version of resources:
https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/3841739978768061069/6486118124939092301
