LOUISA'S STORY

A girl with quadriplegia shows off her impressive versatility in Wyman’s middle-grade chapter book.

Louisa Duvall is almost 12 years old and nervous about starting a new summer camp where she doesn’t know anyone. As a girl who uses a wheelchair for mobility, she’s grown used to stares and whispers—but it still hurts when one especially mean girl dismisses her (“Go away. We don’t talk to defectives”). While an upset Louisa is inclined to agree with that callous description, her mother encourages her to think about the most important thing she’s done at the end of each day. Her first opportunity comes when Louisa’s younger brother Drew is desperate to buy a video game. He’s short on funds, so Louisa suggests he sell some of his toys. As the week goes on, she also helps her same-aged neighbor, an elderly lady at the grocery store, and a lost little girl. Louisa may have physical disabilities, but she proves herself “superabled” in so many ways when selflessly coming to the aid of others. Wyman’s charming story is chock-full of teachable moments regarding empathy; Louisa sympathizes with a person ignored by most other people (which Louisa occasionally experiences herself) and deals with someone who thoughtlessly (not maliciously) underestimates her abilities. Though the eponymous tween’s personal goal fuels the narrative, the cast of supporting characters and their relationships add plenty of depth. (Drew hilariously keeps his money in an empty shampoo bottle that he marks as “poison,” andthere’s also the possibility that one boy Louisa knows “like-likes” her.) Leisha Wyman’s cartoon-style artwork delivers such memorable images as a lopsided backyard fort and Louisa’s large, expressive eyes. Supplementary materials at the book’s end cover each chapter, posing discussion questions, defining some big words (including a few that don’t appear in the story), and providing space for readers to jot down their own thoughts.

An enlightening and educational tale of self-discovery.