Can You See Me?
Authors: Libby Scott and Rebecca Westcott
Age range: 8-12
Reviewer: Jeanette Perkins aka Beeba
I could not put this tween book down. It is the story of an eleven year old girl with autism who is entering the sixth grade. One of the co-authors is an eleven year old autistic student. It is based on Libby’s experiences but the story is fictional. The subject of Can You See Me? is Tally who lives with her older sister Nell and mom and dad.
Things Tally is dreading about sixth grade:
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Being in classes without her best friends
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New (scratchy) uniforms
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Hiding her autism
Tally isn’t ashamed of being autistic. It is who she is and how she lives. However, she is not eager for the kids at Kingswood Academy to find out. Her best friend, Layla, is the only one who knows. As school starts, Tally can tell sixth grade is different and she feels the need to act “normal” around her new classmates.
Can You See Me? addresses bullying, changing friendships, and family challenges, all told from Tally’s viewpoint. There is a side story about Tally and a handicapped dog that will make you happy. Inspired by young coauthor Libby Scott’s own experiences with autism, this is an honest middle-school story that will educate and entertain your tween grand.
BUY IT HERE
About the authors:
Libby Scott is a young autistic writer who lives in the UK with her family. Since her “Life of a Perfectionist” essay went viral online, she has become an autism advocate, speaking about her own experience at conferences and in interviews. Can You See Me? is her first novel. You can find Libby on Twitter at @BlogLibby.
Rebecca Westcott has been a teacher for many years and currently teaches part-time in an elementary school where she is the special educational needs coordinator. Can You See Me? is her US debut. She lives in Dorset, England, with her husband and three children. Find Rebecca on Twitter @WestcottWriter.
About the reviewer:.
Jeanette Perkins is the grandmother of two adorable grandsons. She lives in beautiful St Pete Beach, FL. Jeanette is a product reviewer for GRAND and is looking forward to reviewing lots of new and useful products for all us grandparents.
If you have a product for boomer grandparents and or their grandkids, tell us all about it in an email to editor@grandmagazine.com.
