Seventeen-year-old Jean has cerebral palsy and gets around in a wheelchair, but she’s always believed she’s just the same as everyone else. She goes to normal school and has normal friends. She’s never really known another disabled person before she arrives at Camp Courage. But there Jean meets Sara, who welcomes her to “Crip Camp” and nicknames her Spazzo. Sara has radical theories about how people fit into society. She’s full of rage and revolution against pitying insults and the lack of respect for people with disabilities. As Jean joins a community unlike any she has ever imagined, she comes to question her old beliefs and look at the world in a new light. The camp session is only ten days long, but that may be all it takes to change a life forever.
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"This book raises awareness about the subculture of young persons with disabilities who often only get to connect at nature camps that are accommodating their needs."
— Lindy (4 out of 5 stars)
" I hate this book! I tried reading this book and managed reading 1 chapter then..... I fell asleep. I've tried reading it several times but I kept going to sleep. LOL! "
— Sonia, 1/24/2014" A sweet book that ends up being more of a character study of a girl with CP who tackles the big questions of her existence during a sojourn at summer camp. What's nice is how the author manages to weave in general teen themes of learning independence and contemplating the future into this particular narrative. "
— Marya, 12/20/2013" This story's about a crippled boy going to special camp and making realizations about others in similar, and worldly different, situations. Writers like push the boundaries with their books, but very few teen authors center their focus on what most teens just think of as "accidents of nature." This book is far from fluff, and is for anyone who wants to really think and put themselves in someone else's shoes. "
— Susannah, 12/19/2013" Really love this book. It's really honest and makes you think differently in terms of others perspectives. "
— Alison, 12/18/2013" this is really really good. it makes me think alot about people with disabilities and how i think of them. "
— Jael, 11/17/2013" Yay - I'm going on summer vacation with a young adult book about summer camp. Thanks for the recommendation, Al. "
— Amanda, 11/13/2013" It's about a girl who is a cripple, and has cerebral palsy. She goes to camp and it completely changes her. "
— Rhiannon, 9/13/2013" At a summer camp in the 1970's, a girl learns what it is like to be around other people with disabilities. "
— Ann, 8/18/2013" Try the audio book. The reader does a great job! "
— Anja, 6/16/2013" Speaking from a handicapped person's perspective, especially in a time fueled by such discrimination, is innovative and unique. Loved the style and plot! I just wasn't the biggest fan of the way it was written. "
— Lucy, 4/24/2012" Meh. This book was okay, but in the end nothing had really been resolved. None of the characters had changed. I wanted to know what Sara was doing the things she was doing, but nothing was ever explained. "
— Liz, 7/17/2011" In 1970 Jean went to Camp Courage it changed her life (Cerebral Palsy). "
— Ronda, 5/10/2011" I really loved the unique point of view from someone with disabilities, showing they human, too, and live their lives like we live ours. "
— Susannah, 9/9/2010" At a summer camp in the 1970's, a girl learns what it is like to be around other people with disabilities. "
— Ann, 9/7/2010" This book was an important eye opener for me the first time I read it. And I loved it again second time around. "
— Kathleen, 8/6/2009" this is really really good. it makes me think alot about people with disabilities and how i think of them. "
— Jael, 7/24/2009" In 1970 Jean went to Camp Courage it changed her life (Cerebral Palsy). "
— Ronda, 6/20/2009January LaVoy, winner of numerous awards for narration, was named a Golden Voice by AudioFile magazine in 2019. She is an American actress best known for her character Noelle Ortiz on the ABC daytime drama One Life to Live. In addition to working extensively in narration and television, including roles on Law & Order and All My Children, she has worked on and off Broadway as well as in regional theater.