Owning It: Our Disabled Childhoods In Our Own Words, edited by Jen Campbell, James and Lucy Catchpole

Owning It is a powerful anthology containing 22 stories from important voices in the writing community. What unites these authors is their experience of growing up disabled. Their stories are unique and told from their own point of view. This provides readers with an incredibly valuable opportunity – a chance to learn from someone with experiences different from their own. For those readers who are also growing up with a disability, this book is an opportunity for them to feel seen and understood.

These recounts are honest, touching and, at times, humorous. But most importantly, they are real. They give insight into parts of life we may not know. Thoughts and feelings pour off the page, whether they’re fears, dreams or learning to change and adapt. Each author reveals what it means to be empowered in being themselves – being true to themselves and believing in their futures.

Owning It is an important book for Key Stage 2 and secondary school libraries. Its short stories may be used as class read alouds, prompts for PSHE discussions, or as catalysts for students’ own writing. There is also much value in teachers reading these eye-opening stories themselves. They will gain empathy and understanding by examining the adults in these memoirs and how their actions impacted the young people in their care.

Thank you to Faber and Bethany Carter for this incredibly important book.

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