Real

This book was so sad and hopeful. It talks about a girl with autism and how she lives with her daily struggles while facing hate from the people around her. We learn how hard it can be if you have autism and how one day can feel like one big struggle. I definitely recommend this book to you. It's a good read for people ages 11-14.

I just finished reading Real by Carol Cujec and Peyton Goddard. This book is authentic, honest and based on the life experiences of Peyton Goddard who has been diagnosed with nonverbal Autism. This book exudes passion, brutal honesty and let's the reader experience the obstacles Charity must face for acceptance in the real world. Diagnosed as Autistic, Charity is nonverbal and has no motor control over her body. She has been placed in an "Academy" for low functioning individuals. However, though Charity can't communicate verbally, she is extremely bright and the reader experiences her frustration as she witnesses the world from a different perspective. Much like Sharon Draper's Out of My Mind,  the reader journeys with Charity and roots for her to be accepted and acknowledged as a contributing member of society. 
This book is perfect for today and teaches diversity, acceptance, self -love and determination. The authors write honestly and vividly. Middle grade readers will learn about acceptance as well as the characters struggle with autism. A must have for any library or classroom collection!

#netgalley #real

This book shows the Real feelings from an autistic point of view. It's eye opening and a game changer for how we can start to understand how autistic children feel. The mystery will always be there, but this helps to bridge the gap.

Wow. I’m actually speechless. Wow. 

It’s rare that you find a book that treats autistic kids (especially nonverbal autistic kids) like people. This book excels in that category 100%. 

I loved that it was inside Charity’s head and that we got to see her thought processes and I truly loved this book. 

Absolutely one of my favorite reads of 2020. 

Perfect for fans of R.J. Palacio’s WONDER and Wesley King’s SARA AND THE SEARCH FOR NORMAL.

This was a fascinating story with a look at autism and other handicaps through the eyes of the autistic person. My heart rose and fell along with Charity. There were some characters I actually wanted to slap in the face. It's rare a story can really make me feel that so strongly. 

This story has a happier ending than many. When a person can't communicate, other people often assume they don't understand what's going on around them. That's not always true—and this story was a great way to show how it could be. I could tell it was well researched. The writing was excellent. 

Recommend it to older middle grade through adult readers.

Real should be required reading for teachers, teachers in training, students, parents...basically everyone. This book opened my eyes and taught me so much about others and about myself. I cried, I laughed, I cringed, I cursed. What a beautiful testament to the human spirit.

"Real" was a beautiful, moving book.

When I first read the first lines of the summary, it strongly reminded me of one of my very favourite books, "Out of my mind", where the main character is tetraplegic due to a neurological disease. Here, our heroine has low-functioning autism, which is very different but similar in the way that it causes her to not be able to use her body in a way she would like, and therefore not be able to communicate... Because of this, she is taken advantage of by unscrupulous people and dismissed by members of her own family. Both situation are extremely sad and inexcusable, but it makes us understand better why some people react as they do with disabled people, and how one can complete misunderstand someone who is not able to communicate. I think this book teaches us first and foremost to be open-minded, not to jump to any conclusion about other people, and to be patient with differently-abled people, who can be just as kind, smart, funny as any other person if we take time to discover their personality.

Charity is a bright kid with likes and dislikes, the desire to be included, have friends, be understood and spoken to directly...like any other person. But she cannot control her body enough to communicate for the first thirteen years of her life - except to a certain extent with her wonderful parents who understand her quite well. Image being caged in your own body!

When Charity finds a way to communicate, with a special keyboard, her whole world changes, and she is at last considered as a "full" person in the eyes of her community. It was very moving to see how such a small thing: a keyboard, and someone who help her type, could change her life so throughly. Like Charity, we can only hope that all those unable to communicate will meet people kind and patient enough to find a way to let them hear their voice.

Would absolutely recommend this wonderful book (inspired by a true story) to anyone and everyone!

Imagine if your body does not cooperate and your mouth cannot speak? How do you communicate? Based on a real story, Real is quite possibly the best book I've read this fall. This story just kept breaking my heart, but Charity prevails.

I’m not sure I’ll be able to write an actual review of this book without it turning into a gush fest. I loved everything about this book. It is SO good. It does an amazing job of getting the reader into the head of a non-verbal autistic teenage girl and helps you really feel along with her. This is due to the fact that this is inspired by the life of one of the co-authors. It is both heart-wrenching and triumphant with a unique and distinct voice and a message of paramount importance. I will gladly recommend this to any and all.

#Real #NetGalley 

This book was so tender and touching, based on a true story. Charity is thirteen years old, but she isn't a typical teenager, she can't talk and her body doesn't always do what she wants it to. Charity is autistic, she has thoughts and feelings, just like everyone one else. She can't tell her parents how she is treated by teachers at the school she goes to, a school she has been at for three years. Then circumstances change, and Charity is given a chance to go to a regular junior high school , a school with teachers that care and understand her. But will she lose her chances because of things her body can't control? This book needs to be read and shared far and wide.

This book was received as an ARC from Shadow Mountain Publishing in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

Wow, the feeling of shock throughout my body, awareness of non verbal autism, and the diversity shown in this book really captivated me. Hearing this story of Charity and her struggle with non verbal autism not only brings awareness to me professionally as a librarian but personally as someone who knows a friend who is autistic and now is more aware of the struggles he goes through. Despite the struggle of Charity, she also is a real inspiration to anyone who reads this book whether or not they have a personal connection with autism or want to learn more about it. Every library, school and institution must have this book in their collection and in my personal opinion, should be on summer reading lists or a curriculum requirement. 

We will consider adding this title to our JFiction collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.

I knew nothing about Peyton Goddard, the inspiration for this children’s fiction offering ( ages 8-11) before reading Real, but I have since learned she is a young woman diagnosed as autistic due to her inability to speak or control her body. What was not known was that inside this prison was a brilliant mind. At age 22 she was given the chance to communicate by typing and within a few years she graduated from college as valedictorian. She and her mother chronicled her struggle in a memoir published in 2012. Real takes this story and adapts it for a young audience. The narrator is Charity a 12 year old representing Peyton herself. The setting is the isolated world of a young girl who knows she is capable of so much more.
The decision to adapt the story so Charity finds salvation so much younger than Peyton actually did, is a good choice. Readers can experience her struggles in a setting much like their own school and family and they can develop empathy as they see the shocking mistreatment she and other disabled children experienced as well as the amazing love and support provided by her family.
This book will be disturbing to children who put great stock in fairness but it is ultimately so uplifting that young readers will see for themselves the importance of valuing every individual. Although the suggested audience is preteen, the writing does not condescend and I read every page with interest and enjoyment. Three cheers to Authors Peyton Goddard and Carol Cujek.

I shall be honest to say that at first, i was very VERY unsure i`d even like this book. It sounded interesting by the blurb, but i wasn`t sure it was something i`d like anyhow. Boy was i wrong, i was so moved it hurt. I felt so many emotions through the book, with Charity. I smiled, i cried, i felt an ache in my chest and stomach for the unfairness and how Charity struggled...but i also felt so much joy when she was heard and seen as a real person not as an object, a thing and a word i really really hate: retard. She grew, found her voice and found friends who supported her and loved her for who she was. I also adored how her parents never gave up on her, that was really beautiful.

This book totally as what the title are. Even though it was inspired by true story, the story been told and written beautifully. 

I can feel what Charity have to go through. 😭😭. The story that the people , the community and her surrounding can’t accept or being harsh on how she is different from others. She never asked to be different . She wish people should learn to know a person like her . They should send love and treat her like other people that so called “perfect”.

Person like Charity also a human being . She is intelligent but people think that she is incapable. 

I love this book. It gives awareness what is autism . How an autism person / child action or character or react . The book also share about parenting . I totally take note on how Charity parent really know how to calm down Charity whenever she’s done something that other people don’t understand.

I love the last afterword part : 
“ She would like all readers to understand the value of friendship, especially for kids who are different. To have friends is the most important thing for all people. Without friends, a person cannot have fun. It is hard to live. There is no joy, just sadness. I have felt this, because I look different and I am labeled autistic. I cannot always control my body. It does not do what my mind tells it. My face cannot show my feelings. For most of my life, I had to speak through behaviors and most people misunderstood. I need help to do most things. But I can open my heart. Can you? “ .  It shed me tears when read it . 😭

Seriously , if this book available in physical copy . I really wish the author could send to me as I want to hold this gem physically. 

This story taught us to have knowledge about autism before judge . Please be kind to everyone even the person is different. Please treat people with love not hatred. 

Thanks Netgalley for the e-ARC . ❤️

If I only have two words to describe this book, I would use: Powerful and Impactful.

Real is based on a true story, about a thirteen year old girl who has Autism. With no voice of her own and no control of her body, she sets out on a mission to be heard and make sure the voices of children like her be heard too. Her family and new friends alongside her, Charity tells her story. Starting from when she attended her aunt's wedding, then her days at Borden - where she and her classmates gets mistreated and abused daily, to her journey at a new school filled with support and unfortunately bullying too. 

This book makes you think more about what other people are going through and books like this needs to be shared and recommended more. If people know that people with a disability - whatever it is: Down Syndrome, Autism, ADHD, etc. are people just like them too, maybe it would make life easier for everyone. 

It doesn't mean that a person who in this case, a girl with Autism is stupid. In fact, Charity debunked this rumor once she started using a tablet to talk, with her first sentence being "I am Intelligent". Not only did she overcome what people where saying about her and how they treated her but also showed them that she was a genius at school, a great basketball player and an intellectual person.

This book took me on an emotional ride, from happy, to sad, angry and frustrated, to being proud.

This is by far my favourite book I've read this year and I will forever cherish it. I highly recommend this, it is a great way to open your mind!

Can I just say "WOW!"? This book was based on a true story, and one of the authors is who the true story was about! This book had a lot of echoes of [book:Out of My Mind|6609765] which I already really loved, but this one had even more purpose! Charity, a low-functioning autistic girl has been through SO much in her life, including abuse in a school that was supposed to provide loving educational opportunities, and when her mother discovers what has been going on there, she pulls her out immediately and arranges (with much difficulty) to get her into a regular public school with an amazing SpEd department. It is there that she finds her voice, and ultimately her mission in life. She goes through MUCH more there, suffering cyberbullying, mocking, and general non-acceptance, but she also finds a voice and a support system that provides her with a momentum in life that will take her all the way. I could hardly put the book down! Maybe my favorite read this year.  Just WOW. I think every educator should read this book, and this librarian will be recommending it to a lot of students as well!

I received a prerelease version from NetGalley for an honest review. #Real #NetGalley

I received an electronic ARC from Shadow Mountain Publishing through NetGalley.
Powerful story told by an Own Voices author. Readers see the world through Charity's eyes and experiences. She is diagnosed as low-functioning autistic. Since she has no voice, she is regarded as unable to learn or unintelligent. Her struggles to be recognized come through clearly. I felt anger at several of the people in this young girl's life - extended family members, educators. It was appalling to see their actions through the protagonist's eyes. Highly recommend this book for those who work with differently abled students.

Wow. Have some tissues handy. And cancel all of your other plans, because you won't want to put this book down until you finish it. At least that's what happened with me, anyway. 
What a captivating, heartbreaking, heartwarming, all of the emotions rolled in to one story. There was such a contrast between how Charity's parents treated her, and how most other people treated her, especially at first. I LOVED her dad. He was amazing and such an example on how to treat people who have differences. 
This story shows how people can change and continually learn  - and I'm not referring to Charity here, although she did do both. I'm referring to her peers and teachers, who were given that chance to change as well. 
This is a book that everyone should read.

My Rating: 5 Stars

"I AM INTELLIGENT"

Charity is 13 years old, loves strawberry milkshakes, learning new facts about animals, and hanging out with her dad and grandpa. She also cannot control her body,  cannot speak, and, although people on the outside don't realize it, she cannot stand that she receives constant judgment and pity from everyone around her. She wants to be seen as the real person that she is. When she enrolls in public school, she must choose to either be defeated by the judgement of peers and faculty, or persevere to show them how she, despite her physical challenges, is real--just like them.

Wow. Wow! This book was incredible. It's a short read, but it conveys a powerful message! I found myself re-evaluating how I interact with people who are physically and neurologically different from me. Charity has so much soul, and yet people assume that she is mentally inferior and incapable of learning because, despite all her efforts and willpower, she is unable to control her body. This book brings so much to light about what people with neurological or physical challenges are dealt by other people. Pity, neglect, lack of respect, embarrassment, even abuse. It also highlights how simple kindness and just trying to understand can literally make all the difference, especially when backed by the support of loving family and a few good friends.

I highly recommend this book. I wish I had read this book when I was a teenager myself, because I think it would have changed the way I saw people. I would recommend this book for upper elementary through middle school students, although it would benefit everyone of every age to read this book or understand its message: everyone deserves to have opportunities to learn and to be included, even if they are different.

Content guide:

Sex & Affection: A girl and a boy hold hands, tokens of affection exchanged between family members (i.e. hugs, kisses on the cheek, handshakes, etc.)

Language: One character says "h**l," insults and unkind remarks are directed toward a character.

Drugs, Alcohol, and Substance Use: Coffee is consumed.

Crime & Violence: Children experience abuse or neglect at the hands of their educators, cyber bullying is directed toward a character.

I received a free ARC from the publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.

This book compels you to keep reading without taking breaks and when you read the last page, it stays with you. There are so many good life lessons in this book that your brain will ponder over for a long time. This is fitting because the book is about autism and the inner workings of the brain. Charity is the protagonist and she is defined by doctors (the Thinkers as they are referred to) as a non-verbal girl with low-functioning autism.  She attends one public school as a very young child and then a private school. When she is expelled from the private school, the Thinkers want to put her in an institution but by a miracle she is enrolled in a special program at Jefferson Middle School. 

It is a beautiful story about Charity learning how to be verbal through typing and overcoming her out-of-control body. She shows how she is more than than her physical limitations. Even more, the story tells about all the relationships she develops with people and how those relationships impact her and others. From her parents, her grandparents, her aunt and cousin to the teachers and other students at school, Charity develops and grows in her relationships. Some relationships are not good at all and some relationships are healed. It makes you realize the impact you have on others and how others impact you. This is what stays with you long after you finish reading the last page.

Real is a book that I always wanted. Not to get too personal, but I am on the Spectrum with NLD (Nonverbal Learning Disorder). A therapist told me that it is like Autism and Aspergers (more on the Aspergers side) put together.   Charity and I have variations of differences (i.e. experiences, characteristics. ) _ I was horrible at math (for example) _ I felt so connected to her. It is so wonderful to see a book bring representation and the authentic emotion of what it is like to feel different, an outsider, to others. The book itself is beautifully hopefully. I wish I had this book when I was younger, but I am so glad that people like Charity and Me could recognize themselves with such sensitivity and warmth. Plus,  I feel like kids and families alike would get a better understanding of how people are different and that's perfectly okay. More than okay. As you could see, I really loved the book. 
Big thanks to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain for this book for my Honest Review.

An amazing story.
This book tells us a very moving story, the story of Charity, a thirteen year old girl who suffers from autism. She is super smart, but because of her problem, she cannot show the world all she can do. Everyone thinks she doesn't understand, that her mind is useless, but they have no idea how much she can do.
The truth is that there are few books that deal with mental health and disorders. And the fact that this story tells us this, and even more so that it is based on a true story, brings us closer to the idea of all that these people go through because they are the way they are.
It was a book that I enjoyed very much. The truth is that Charity's story left me super moved, all that she had to go through. It gave me a lot of courage every time she was treated like a baby or a creature incapable of reasoning. 
It is quite an experience reading this book. The way it is written catches you and makes you connect more and more with Charity. 
It's a book that's worth reading, so that we can become a little more aware and begin to put ourselves in the shoes of these people, to try to understand them, not to push them aside. 
I highly recommend that you give this book a chance.

"I AM INTELLIGENT." 

As an educator and one-time inclusion teacher, I have had first-hand experiences with children like Charity. I have always felt that many of these children were "locked", for lack of a better word, in a body that would not cooperate with their mind. Reading Real only solidified that thought. The fact that it was based on a true story solidified it even more. Seeing the world through Charity's eyes was often heartbreaking at times, but as the story progressed, that feeling changed to triumph. I feel that anybody thinking of going into education, whether you choose to specialize in Special Education or not, should read this story. I feel that the story is also appropriate for upper elementary through high school students. Putting yourself in someone else's shoes is one of the benefits of reading a variety of stories. This book can help us deepen our understandings of those who may not have the ability to speak to us in traditional ways. We just have to learn how to listen.