Keah Brown

Something Like Possible meets She Gets the Girl in this sun soaked summer YA. Andrea is finally ready to have the best summer of her life now that she’s fully recovered from her cerebral palsy surgery. And she’s got the whole thing planned out. Including Drew Barrymore movie marathons, art shows, and even skinny dipping. Between her perfectly crafted bucket list and her ride-or-die crew of besties, there’s nothing that could possibly stop her from having the summer of her dreams. show more Except maybe the fact that she’s in love with her best friend.

So when the most popular guy in school asks Andrea out it seems like the perfect distraction. I mean there’s no way Hailee could love her back, right? Until dating the golden boy turns out to be more trouble than it’s worth. And to top it off her ex-best friend Olivia has been secretly talking to her mom. What could that be about? Is Andrea’s summer of laughs transforming into a summer of secrets or will she be able to confront her feelings before the start of the new school year?

What a fun book! This was such a cozy read honestly. Perfect for some light summer reading by the pool. Andrea is a confident and fun teen who is just an absolute blast to experience. I loved the “low-stakes” adventures she went on.

I think we can all relate to the world-ending feelings of your first real crush. Especially us queer women crushing on our best friends. Which are often fraught with anxiety due to their inherently delicate nature. However, this book brought me back to all the good feelings without having to relive any of the trauma. It kept the essence of a first crush without the soul-crushing terror that comes alongside it.
A part that really stood out to me was Andreas' interactions with her parents. They were so full of unconditional love and honesty. It made my heart feel so happy and full to imagine a teenage hood that was so healthy. What a treat to be able to experience parental love as a teen through Andrea's eyes. Very healing honestly.

The representation in this book was also something to note. Although I must warn I am not a person with a disability so take my opinion on this with a grain of salt. But Andrea is not only queer and black, she also has cerebral palsy. However, her disability is far from the center of her story. You honestly completely forget during the majority of the book. And when it is brought up it’s never seen as a hindrance to Andrea or her loved ones.

All in all, if you’re looking for a fun, relaxing read with low stakes, this book is for you. Anybody interested in healing their inner teen and having some serious nostalgia read this asap. It’s not groundbreaking or the most literary book but it also doesn’t promise to be. It delivers exactly what it says and I love that. Enjoy!

Thank you to NetGalley and Levine Querido for sending this eARC for review consideration. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

CW: ableism, bullying, mention of racism show less

"Keah Brown loves herself, but that hadn’t always been the case. Born with cerebral palsy, her greatest desire used to be normalcy and refuge from the steady stream of self-hate society strengthened inside her. But after years of introspection and reaching out to others in her community, she has reclaimed herself and changed her perspective.

In The Pretty One, Brown gives a contemporary and relatable voice to the disabled—so often portrayed as mute, weak, or isolated. With clear, fresh, show more and light-hearted prose, these essays explore everything from her relationship with her able-bodied identical twin (called “the pretty one” by friends) to navigating romance; her deep affinity for all things pop culture—and her disappointment with the media’s distorted view of disability; and her declaration of self-love with the viral hashtag #DisabledAndCute.

By “smashing stigmas, empowering her community, and celebrating herself” (Teen Vogue), Brown and The Pretty One aims to expand the conversation about disability and inspire self-love for people of all backgrounds." www.amazon.com show less

Sam is excited to go back-to-school shopping with her mom and two best friends, Sarah and Sydney. Sam has cerebral palsy and needs to sit and rest when her legs get tired and tingly; she gives her favorite seats (the family couch, the backseat of the car) names and personalities. At the mall, a wooden bench serves as a seat, and Sam's mom and friends wait patiently, people-watching until Sam is ready to walk again.

Age appropriate for both Primary and Intermediate students.

This book follows Sam, a girl who has cerebral palsy. She goes about her day with her friends and family at home, at the mall, and in the car, and from time to time needs to rest her legs. She does so by sitting in various 'super seats', and the importance of rest and accessible seating for all is emphasized.

I love how this book brings awareness to disabilities, specifically cerebral palsy, in a way that shows what a typical day show more might look like for a child that has that condition. The illustrations are entertaining, and the positive outlook and normalization of disabilities would be super helpful for students in any classroom. show less