This is a sweet story about exploring your own unique talents! The illustrations are wonderful and compliment the text beautifully! I would love to share this story with young people in my life to encourage them to explore their interests and share their talents with the world!

A very cute story about believing in yourself. The message is simple, the text is short and the illustrations are bright and vibrant just like Mara. A wonderful read most kids will relate to and enjoy.

I thought the reveal of the wheelchair fell flat. I understand the intention and I am also coming from an able-bodied perspective, but I was confused more than having a lightbulb moment. It just didn't work for me.

At first this book pissed me off. Maria wants to dance in the school talent show. Her teacher is just one of many trying to talk her out of entering the talent competition at school. That is what pisses me off. That even the teacher is trying to cover up a kids want to be noticed. Halfway through the book, we discovered that Mara is in a wheelchair and that there’s not even a way for her to get up on stage without being lifted up. And what saves this book for me is at the end when you meet the author. The author herself is a wheelchair user, and someone who speaks to children about being different is OK. Knowing that this book was written by somebody with these lived experiences, made me feel better as otherwise it felt like an author picking on a differently abled character. I would hate to think that people had doubted Mara just because of her alternate mode transportation.

Mighty Mara is an own-voices picture book with a disability that ends with a good message about following your dreams despite what others may think and how someone should not be judged because they are different.

It is my understanding that this book is based on or inspired by Carina Ho’s life, written in tandem with Jesse Byrd. I love that this is an own-voices story! *Note: I did a little reading on Carina’s life after finishing this picture book, and she is such an amazing and inspiring person.

Mara truly is mighty! She has such a strong heart and a lot of determination. She knows she is different, but she doesn’t let that stop her, nor does she let the views of others keep her down. For me (and I understand this is coming from a place of privilege), it was difficult to read about Mara facing so much negativity. The interaction with the teacher (who should be part of a child with a disability’s — or any child’s — support system) was particularly tough to read. Unfortunately, it’s also likely a harsh reality that some, maybe even Carina Ho, have experienced.

I really liked how simple and almost bland a lot of the illustrations are, giving a good visual to the idea that everything is similar in Sametown, and how vibrant Mara is depicted. The illustration of her performance in the talent show is stunning! I do have mixed feelings about not seeing Mara’s wheelchair illustrated until nearly the end, but it also allowed that spotlight on the negative interactions and judgement to shine brighter once it is revealed that she is disabled.

Overall, this is an encouraging story that I would recommend! I think it’s so important for own-voices stories like this to be written, especially so children with a disability can see themselves in a character and for everyone to learn that you should never judge someone for being different.

*Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a free copy of this book. This did not affect my opinion or the content of my review.

Hmmm… This is an attractive and well-intentioned book for young audiences, but one I felt cheated by. It starts off brilliantly evoking a grey small town, where everyone thinks and does the same thing. The school talent show has just one craft that people do; the mascot auditions are for the next person to dress up as a brick. But Mara can't sit still and let this humdrumness go by, for she just loves to dance. And so she's going to put her moves out there on the stage for all to see – it's that meaningful for her, and it's so different, and she is proud to be her. Her mother says not to bother, she's the best Mara she could ever get to be, but this book is going to prove that that, which is a sentiment many such books carry, is not enough.

Until then it pulls the rug from under our feet by proving that Mara is a wheelchair user. Now you'll not get the shock of seeing this now I've told you, but then you probably bought into the idea of this book having read the blurb, which is more than I did. If you know it's a book about how differently abled people have identical needs to prove their craft and enjoyment and worth, then this is a high and mighty success, with wonderful visual appeal. If you think it's about a girl breaking out of abnormally 'normal' greyness, come what may, then like I say the sight of the girl in her chair is a shock. Should it be? Well, yes, because it's been tricked out of sight before then. She's forever seen behind things, or on the floor, or by looking in through a window from outdoors. Way to negate that part of her body – I might suggest it's rude to pretend like she doesn't exist below the waist when she does.

Look, this is for a different audience to me, and it's about a child needing to play dodgeball, have friends, and get their jam, or whatever some modern phrase might be. I think anyone coming to this without knowing the disability aspect may well be too surprised to think much about it other than they were mis-sold. I mean it's a fine volume once you know what sort of volume it is – but caveat emptor.

I accessed a digital review copy of this book from the publisher.
I liked the story showing how Mara could do anything she wanted, however, I did not like how the author treated Mara's abilities as a twist to reveal.

I received an electronic ARC from Baker & Taylor, Paw Prints Publishing through NetGalley.
Encouraging story for those who may feel different from everyone around them. Mara certainly does. She is not interested in being identical to everyone in Sametown and is happy to dance in her own style. She finds the courage to sign up for the annual Talent Show even though most people discourage her from being on stage. As the story progresses, we see why people think she can't dance and why they don't want her to perform in front of everyone. I think one of the most meaningful pages is her approaching the stage with no way to get up the stairs. This statement echoes through for so many who are limited by buildings and insensitivity. The beautiful free flowing illustrations of her dancing show how confident she has become in herself.
I felt the overall story was difficult as so many who should have been boosting Mara sat back and seemed to do nothing.

Mara takes us through the motion of being different than the rest. The book was an easy read and would be good for young readers and young children. The message of the book is wonderful. The only thing that I didn’t like was that Mara appeared to be able to walk in the first half but then some how she ended up being wheelchair bound at the talent show. I think you should either make her able bodied or not throughout the whole book. The illustrations were great and depicted the story well. I thought overall the book was good!

Thank you to Baker & Taylor, Paw Prints Publishing, and Net Galley for an e-ARC of this title to read and review. This is a lovely-illustrated story with a great message about following your dreams and not letting others damper your excitement of the things you love. But I don't know how much I like that Mara's wheelchair was hidden from the story until it was a late plot twist. I don't like it at all, I think, even if it illuminates some of the treatment she receives earlier in the story. (I'm even marking my review for spoilers which feels... not correct?) For the whole beginning of the book, I was so confused about why everyone (and predominantly adults!) were being so overtly rude about Mara wanting to dance in the school talent show. Of course, then the reveal happens, and it shines a big spotlight on how extra not okay this treatment was. I love Mara though, she's a true ray of sunshine and knows she's a star!

I serious doubt what’s with the teacher and what’s wrong with the kids in this book.

I love the illustrations l. L

Just because she’s differently abled no one has the right to bully her or discourage her. Well, things got better in the end but I got hurt in the first few pages and it cannot be undone.

Thank you, Baker & Taylor/Paw Prints Publishing, for the advance reading copy.

It was a cute book with gorgeous illustrations and bright colours, with an important theme and I feel like it could be explored more in the book.
The story seemed a bit haphazard and I was hoping for more especially with the ending.

Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for this digital review copy.

We are more than just our bodies.

That hits so hard, but also that being different is special. Being true to yourself and not apologizing for it is a wonderful lesson that children should learn, but also adults. This is a beautifully written and illustrated book that I can't wait for. It is moving in its simplicity and will definitely keep younger audiences engaged.

Mara certainly is mighty! This story is heartfelt and moving, and the colorful illustrations absolutely enhance the text. The reveal at the end lends itself to important conversations about biases and ableism.

Mara is unique, but in Same-Town, that isn't always a good thing. Mara wants to enter the school's Talent Competition doing her own thing: dancing! Though discouraged by teachers and peers, Mara persists and enters the talent show. A surprising ending reminds readers that we are all unique and capable and the only limitations we have are the ones we place on ourselves. This book helps develop empathy and would be a good addition to social/emotional collection. Diverse characters emphasize inclusivity.

At the end, authors and illustrator all answer what makes them feel different from others. LOVE this added feature!!

Mighty Mara is a sweet story about believing in yourself, going against the grain and that it is okay to be different. Both my 4 and 8 year olds liked this story, and I really enjoyed that the ending was realistic, however it seemed to end too soon? It was rather abrupt. I also think it could've been entirely speech bubbles OR text.. both made it a bit hard to follow.

Thank you to Baker & Taylor, Paw Prints Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC!

Adorable story! Such a great way to discuss trying something different and allowing yourself to shine. I'd happily read this to my children over and over.

Wow this book is so cool! I really like the idea of the story and of course the illustrations. It's not easy to be in a place where everything looks the same and then one person is different. Being a little different sometimes gets us into a bit of trouble. I really liked the ending because the writer made the story more realistic. I think many people will love this book as much as I did.

This was such a cute book that I read with my three year old. We read it over and over again. This was such a heart warming story

Mighty Mara is a wonderful children's book about daring to be different. I enjoyed reading Mighty Mara.