I Am Not a Label

June 1, 2020

Gr 3 Up-This anthology spotlights 34 notable individuals with a range of disabilities and backgrounds. Profiles include Terry Fox, a Canadian athlete and amputee, and Aaron Philip, a Black trans girl and model with cerebral palsy. Other public figures include Lady Gaga, Frida Kahlo, Stephen Hawking, and Lil Wayne. The text is straightforward and brief. Burnell focuses on the accomplishments of her subjects rather than strictly defining them by their ability differences. Readers who want to dive deeply into the lives of the highlighted people will need to seek out additional information. However, the accessibility of the prose offers an inviting introduction to these changemakers and their stories. Back matter features a glossary, an index, and a few suggested sources for additional reading. With intricately illustrated spreads by Baldo, this title is a good addition to other biographical anthologies like Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls and Vashti Harrison's "Little Legends" and "Little Dreamers" series. There is an art-deco sensibility to many of the illustrations, which include a portrait of each individual rendered in bright colors and carefully embellished page designs. VERDICT An inclusive and upbeat collection ideal for classrooms and libraries.-Jen McConnel, Queen's Univ., Ont.

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

June 15, 2020
English actor Burnell highlights the accomplishments of disabled people past and present. "Everyone deserves to see someone like them in a story or achieving something great," notes the author, who was born with one hand. To that end, she introduces a multiracial group of 34 noteworthy disabled people--with disabilities ranging from Down syndrome and spina bifida to depression and Crohn's disease--from around the world, using identity-first language and a straightforward, upbeat tone. Subjects include such historical figures as Deaf and blind American author Helen Keller and such contemporary trailblazers as fashion model Aaron Philip, a Caribbean trans woman with cerebral palsy, and Indian mountaineer Arunima Sinha, the first female amputee to scale Mount Everest. Their faces radiate joy and determination in Baldo's energetic, warmly hued illustrations. However, the layout is somewhat busy and uneven. Each name is announced in a different typeface, ranging from stylized block letters to ornate script. Though most subjects receive an individual page of text and a full-page facing illustration, those grouped under the separate headings of "Mental Health," "Hidden Disabilities," and "Paralympic Stars" share two pages per category, sporting shorter profiles and smaller illustrations. Though the book's wide geographical range provides much-needed intersectional representation, keeping track of such a large group may tax some readers' attention spans. Nonetheless, readers with and without disabilities will enjoy meeting talented disabled people who've thrived in eclectic occupations. Though brief, these optimistic profiles will encourage readers to "shine [their] own light." (glossary, index, resources) (Collective biography. 7-10)

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