This is a ghostly novel in verse I absolutely LOVED! Neshama by Marcella Pixley is an incredible story on writing poems to ghosts, grief, reconciliation, generational trauma, and being different. Pixley tells such an incredible story here that as soon as I finished, I picked it right back up to start again! I don't remember ever doing this with a book. I hope you'll check it out for yourself and enjoy it as much as I did!!!
“This is real for you today, but Blackness is not your reality. And look, I am not judging. I have been Black all my life, but until recently, autism has been my whole reality. I never paid attention to how my Blackness made autism much more dangerous until now. And now I see it. I see it, and Marcia, I cannot unsee it. You see something. Do not close your eyes. Do not try to unsee it. “
I LOVE this book. I love Aiden. I deeply relate to aspects of Aiden and appreciate so much things he articulates that I lack the awareness to describe. There is incredible thoughtfulness and nuance in this story as it tackles such critical and necessary conversations on continued injustice in this country and world in regards to race, power and privilege--and particularly the intersection of race and neurodivergence. This should be required reading.
This is quite a backlist title--published in the 90s--but as a workaholic, I found it so incredibly insightful, constructive and hopeful. I knew some of these things, but the exercises it gives to examine the why behind our drivenness, and how to helpfully address the past and look to the future empowered me so much, and gave me so many ideas of how to address these themes in my future novels.
Or at least, she feels like one. And she finally figured out how to spread her wings and soar.
Armed with her sensory tools, her notebooks and poems, and her newfound knowledge about her autism, Selah is heading to writing camp for the summer. She’s excited to work on her writing, perform at the final showcase, and to meet more kids like her.
Things aren't so simple though. As soon as she arrives, she realizes that her bully from home is there too. Ezra is chaotic, attention-seeking, and always teasing her.
Selah is determined not to let him ruin her summer. But soon it turns out that it’s not just Ezra causing problems. . . . As kind and enthusiastic as Selah’s new friends are, they don’t fully understand her autism and how overwhelming this new environment is for her.
Friend drama, classes, overstimulation, and her relationship with Ezra all start to feel like a lot. But surely Selah can make it through just a few weeks without reaching her breaking point again . . . right?
