Anna a special child by Urvashi Tandon

Blurb (as on Amazon):

Anna is a very bright child who unfortunately meets with an accident that changes her life. A bright, cheerful, and once active child, she is confined to a wheelchair. She learns to deal with the sudden switch from “Normal” to “Handicapped” but struggles to be accepted in regular society. She faces hurdles at her new school like bullying, ridicule, and pity, but manages to overcome these effectively. The story highlights her trials and tribulations until she is finally accepted wholeheartedly amongst her teachers and peers. The story is an attempt at increasing sensitivity amongst adolescents and young adults and has a vision of a more inclusive society.

Genre: Fiction/Children’s Literature

Pages: 70

Format: Kindle eBook/Paperback

Price:

• Kindle eBook: 69 INR/$2.99
• Paperback (available only on Amazon India): 124 INR

My Rating: 4.2/5

Anna is a bright and talented child, whose world turns upside down when she meets with an accident. She is determined to bounce back from this tragedy, not letting it limit her life and her ability to excel in the things she loves doing. What kind of challenges does she face and does she manage to come out stronger or weaker at the end?

What I liked about the book:
-> A story that shows children and adults alike, the right way to live life, irrespective of any physical or mental drawbacks. It would make differently-abled people feel like they can move ahead in their life without getting frustrated or having self-doubt.
-> It highlights the positive influence that the support of a strong circle can have on a teenager. The way Anna’s parents motivate and support her, how accepted the teachers make her feel, and even the effect Anna herself has on her new set of friends.
-> It tells us how important it is to make differently-abled children feel a part of the normal society and especially the vital role a regular school can play in boosting their confidence. I love how without making it obvious, the story subtly lets us know that we need regular schools to be more open towards accepting such students rather than having them enroll in special needs’ schools where they might feel alienated.
-> The book is a short read that forays into the theme of how we all need to be empathetic to people with disabilities and encourage them. It is a feel-good read that gives lessons in inclusivity and is a must-read for both children and adults as most of us need to learn and incorporate values of empathy and inclusivity.
-> It was out an out nostalgic ride for me as I was reminded of my school days and even those books (Enid Blyton, Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew) I held close to my heart during my childhood.

What I did not like about the book:
-> It was a fairly straightforward story without much to offer in terms of any twists and turns. Probably showing Anna facing some struggles and how she overcame them might have made the story a bit more interesting.

Quotable quotes:
-> A masterpiece can be created out of disaster too.
-> All good things must necessarily come to an end.
-> Why is it that time seems to fly when you want it to slow down?
-> You win some, you lose some. But that’s okay.

Check out the book on:

• Amazon.in
• Amazon.com

Author’s social media links:

• Website
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• Facebook
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