This Kid Can Fly: It's About Ability (NOT Disability)

"At once beautiful and heartbreaking, Aaron Philip found a way to make me laugh even as I choked up, found a way to bring on my empathy without ever allowing me to feel sorry for him. An eye-opening debut." —Jacqueline Woodson, National Book Award winner and Newbery Honor author of Brown Girl Dreaming In this heartbreaking and ultimately uplifting memoir, Aaron Philip, a fourteen-year-old boy with cerebral palsy, shows how he isn't defined so much by his disability as he is by his abilities. Written with award-winning author Tonya Bolden, This Kid Can Fly chronicles Aaron's extraordinary journey from happy baby in Antigua to confident teen artist in New York City. His honest, often funny stories of triumph—despite physical difficulties, poverty, and other challenges—are as inspiring as they are eye-opening. Includes photos and original illustrations from Aaron's personal collection. Aaron’s honest, funny, and inspiring journey is a powerful testament to the idea that what makes you different is what makes you strong. Overcoming Adversity: Follow Aaron's path from a happy baby in Antigua to a confident teen artist in New York City, facing every challenge from poverty to navigating the city in a wheelchair with honesty and humor. Inspirational True Story: Written for a middle grade audience, this memoir shows what's possible when you focus on ability, not disability, and refuse to let others define you. Disability Awareness: An eye-opening account of life with cerebral palsy that brings readers into Aaron's world, sharing his daily triumphs and frustrations with a voice that builds empathy, not pity. Finding Your Voice: Discover how Aaron used his passion for art and his Tumblr blog, Aaronverse, to connect with the world, share his story, and become an activist for himself and others.