My name is Charity. I am thirteen years old. I love sour gummies and pepperoni pizza. That last part no one knows because I have not spoken a sentence since I was born. Each dawning day, I live in terror of my unpredictable body movements which no one understands.
Even with incredible math skills and a memory for perfect details, Charity is a person with disabilities. She can't speak and struggles to control her body but with the help of her teachers, Charity is finally able to communicate one sentence that will change everything: I am intelligent.
Her stunning declaration marks her entry into public school where she faces enormous learning difficulties and must deal with the other students and their parents who don't understand her challenges and subject her to relentless bullying as they try to get her sent back to a special ed school. With the support of teachers and newfound friends, Charity will have to fight hard to be accepted.
Real is a middle-grade novel that encourages compassion and understanding to regard all people as valuable.
