The Pretty One

July 1, 2019
You might recognize the name Keah Brown from her articles in Teen Vogue, Lenny Letter, Glamour, or Essence, but if not, you can be sure you'll be looking her up after this entertaining, frank, and educational collection of essays. Born with cerebral palsy, Brown has spent her last few years honing her message as an activist for disabled representation in media, creating the viral campaign #DisabledAndCute to empower people with disabilities to own their cuteness. In her witty and insightful tone, she covers topics from politics and race to her obsession with pop culture and her relationships with her family (Brown is a twin). Brown is not afraid to say what she feels?and why should she be? She is doing important work by sharing her personal experiences in coming to terms with her disability?and expecting the world to come to terms with it, too. This book would be a great choice for anyone interested in social justice, disability rights, or just interested in learning more about a fun, funny, beautiful woman.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2019

Journalist/activist Brown begins her coming-of-age story by outlining how her Twitter hashtag, #DisabledAndCute, changed the course of her life and brought her a book deal, along with other successes. This frankness may feel overly confessional at first, but readers will come to appreciate the author's voice, as a young black woman living with disability. Brown's narrative is a bright and delicious exercise in transparency. Her desire to be beautiful, her angst about not yet knowing romantic love, and her longing for designer clothes intermingle with stark stories about life with cerebral palsy. By collaging pop cultural dictums alongside experiences of physical pain and encounters with the world's disregard for her disabled body, Brown presents herself for what she is--a radical amalgam of vulnerable girlishness and wizened strength. All in all, this title details lovingly and unsparingly how Brown's life has sputtered and roared along the way to result in the budding author she is today. VERDICT Readers with lives like Brown's will find solace in this debut; others will be similarly moved by her honesty and carbonated wit.--Sierra Dickey, Ctr. for New Americans, Northampton, MA

Copyright 2019 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2019

Creator of the #DisabledAndCute viral campaign, journalist/activist Brown relates what it's like to be disabled and African American in a mostly abled, mostly white America. She was born with cerebral palsy and had to learn to love herself, as she explains in essays that range from her passion for pop culture to her relationship with her able-bodied identical twin. With a 60,000-copy first printing; featured at BookExpo.

Copyright 2019 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.