I’m always on the lookout this time of the year to start my holiday shopping. These two books would make a great gift for the young reader in your family.
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First up is a realistic and informative look at successful individuals who are labeled as Neurodivergent. This wide encompassing label includes conditions such as ADHD, autism, dyslexia, and Tourette syndrome.
Twenty-three separate stories are included. Read them in any order. A full page black and white illustration is followed by several pages about each person’s successes, struggles in life, and how they have dealt with their condition. Many of the names you will be familiar with like Simone Biles, Billie Eilish, Selena Gomez, David Beckham, and Daniel Radcliffe. Others won’t be so familiar. There’s Satoshi Tajiri the creator of Pokemon, Professor Jason Arday, and Magazine editor Atoosa Rubenstein to name a few.
Regardless of their level of recognition, each story in EVERYTHING BUT TYPICAL is compelling and heartfelt. You begin to understand the difficulties they faced and how they found success. The result is readers gain a deeper understanding of Neurodivergency,. The knowledge gained just may inspire them to face the roadblocks and find even greater success in their own life.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Margeaux is an author and editor living in Louisiana. Her book, Malcolm X and Muhammad Ali:The Fatal Friendship, received a star review from the School Library Journal. The book is a young readers’ adaptation of Blood Brothers, an adult novel and inspiration for the Netflix biopic of the same name. She is the author of 20th Century African American History for Kids, co-author of We Are the United State, as well as several non-fiction books for young readers. Her most recent book, Everything But Typical (Bloomsbury), a middle grade book exploring influential neurodivergent people who have shaped the world, received a star review from the School Library Journal.
A budding horror writer, Margeaux’s Substack Original horror anthology, Haintland, has been in the Top 40 Rising Fiction category several times.
Margeaux is the former non-fiction editor of Hugo award-winning FIYAH literary magazine of Black Speculative fiction. She has also written for brands such as Ebony, Paste Magazine, and The ScriptLab. Margeaux enjoys Louisiana food and festivals, spending time with her family, and reading a great book.
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Many non-readers changed their way after diving into The Choose Your Own Adventure series beginning back in 1979. A similar reading experience with a survival focus is the enjoyable CAN YOU SURVIVE THE WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ? This CHOOSE YOUR PATH book is a part of the Interactive Classic Literature series where readers interact with modern stories. It’s not a replacement for the original but a fun way to navigate through a familiar tale.
The journey begins with the arrival of the cyclone and after a few pages you are asked to make a decision based on two choices. Each one sends you to a different part of the story. I began making some poor choices and soon ended up at a dead end where I was encouraged to try again. The second time through was much better and I survived. It was an engaging way to navigate through the story and will appeal to 9-13 year old readers. CAN YOU SURVIVE THE WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ? is also a perfect gift to tuck away on those future car or plane trips.
Other books in the series include CAN YOU SURVIVE DRACULA?, CAN YOU SURVIVE THE ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES?, and CAN YOU SURVIVE THE CALL OF THE WILD?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ryan Jacobson is a successful author and presenter. He has written more than 50 children’s books–including picture books, graphic novels, chapter books, and choose-your-path books. He has presented at dozens of schools, organizations, and special events. Ryan lives in Minnesota with his wife and two sons.
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Always in the Middle... 