Even though Balfe identifies as a cisgender woman, her interests have always cut across gender stereotypes.īathrooms play a major role in Balfe’s life story. Girls and women are less likely to be diagnosed because they often don’t share these traits. ![]() In the past, autism was studied primarily among males, leading to the familiar stereotypes of social isolation, repetitive behavior, lack of eye contact, and obsession with numbers and trains. She observes that autistic individuals are more likely to be gender nonconforming because their neurological wiring is different. Allistic readers learn how to interact with their autistic family members, classmates and (hopefully) friends.Įarly on, Balfe draws a pie chart of autism and its relationship to the gender spectrum. Autistic readers get pointers on navigating the neurotypical world. Along with vignettes from her own life - from the memory of an overstimulating birthday party at age 4 to school, “big school” and college - she defines autism in all its dimensions and offers tips for both autistic and allistic (non-autistic) readers. Her explanation comes with a caveat, though: “I’ve never really felt like an ‘adult’ and I don’t think I ever will.” Illustrated with lively doodles, her debut children’s book is part memoir and part handbook. Their books provide information, guidance and hope to young readers who do not feel “normal,” whatever their differences may be.īalfe, who works in the TV and film industry in the United Kingdom, always knew she didn’t fit in but was only diagnosed as autistic in adulthood. Nonetheless, the two survived and thrived. ![]() Their brains work differently in ways that are often at odds with how schools are organized. The interaction between text and illustrations makes the former more accessible while offering models for self-expression to young people who may struggle with reading and writing.Ībigail Balfe’s A DIFFERENT KIND OF NORMAL: My Real-Life Completely True Story About Being Unique (Random House Children’s, 240 pp., $22.99, ages 8 to 12) and Liz Montague’s MAYBE AN ARTIST (Random House Children’s, 176 pp., $24.99, ages 12 and up) are graphic memoirs that follow their author-illustrators from early childhood to early adulthood. Graphic novels and nonfiction, one of the fastest-growing segments of books for children and teens, have unique appeal to readers with learning differences.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |