BOOK REVIEW: Maysoon Zayid, the Girl Who Can Can

 

MAYSOON ZAYID, THE GIRL WHO CAN CAN
by Dr. Seema Yasmin
Available February 10

I'm going to be honest — two things I know next to nothing about are cerebral palsy (CP) and General Hospital. But they are two of the most influential things in comedian Maysoon Zayid's life... one whether she likes it or not. And I got a lot more insight into this condition, and into Maysoon's dreams of stardom, in this nonfiction chapter book for young readers.

The book is a quick read, covering the high (and low points) of Zayid's childhood as she dreamed of becoming a multitalented star. CP didn't stand in her way, at least not directly. But indirectly, it led to many people around her deciding for her what she could and couldn't do. This book does a great job of explaining, in terms young people can understand, that disability is not a monolith, even for people with the same disability.

Better still is the fact that this book addresses the other extreme of living with a disability: being deemed "inspirational" and having everything you do viewed through the lens of what you live with. It's something I've encountered both in my own life and while working with medical school applicants, and it's reassuring to see it addressed so plainly for young people. 

While I personally am unfamiliar with Zayid's work, I did enjoy this couching of her childhood and first major role as a story that's inspirational for the right reasons. It's a reminder that, while we can't necessarily have everything we want at all times, we can still push to accomplish our dreams. And for every person who decides for us what we can and can't do, there's someone else out there with actual helpful advice.

TEA PAIRING: At the Waterfront
Inspired by Little Women, about a loving and supportive family, this herbal tea feels like a good fit for the story of another woman whose family was equally supportive. Use my code KARA15 for 15% off this and other teas from Chapters Tea & Co.!