Portrayals of Disabled Characters

[editoronwheels]

Adrift includes several characters who are disabled, either through natural circumstance, because of accidents or by reason of advanced age. I love how all of them, Heather, the diabetic steward from the Seattle Express Pete Wise, Tom, and Steve's son Jimmie, take opportunities to rise above their situations.

Jimmie gets to move out of a long-term care facility and live with Steve.

Heather undertakes the daunting task of hunting seal to feed her group of marooned survivors from the Seattle Express.

Pete is hired as a park ranger, a job that allows him to keep custody of his young son. It starts out as a desk job, so his knee can heal from a gunshot wound.

Despite a pronounced limp, elderly Tom Olsen braves rugged Pacific Northwest terrain to save William. his best friend.

These characters really resonated with me. I wondered if they resonated with anybody else. If so, why?

[Ekta Kumari]

I also resonated with these characters, especially Pete. In spite of his unsettled personal life and hopeless circumstances, he didn't quit and found a job to get the custody of his son. I also liked Jimmie for his determination in making the best use of what he had. He didn't let his disability stop him from learning and trying to progress his career. I think all of the characters in the book are so rich and diverse. Charlie Sheldon really gave his time to flesh out the characters.

[lisalynn]

It's really great to see such diversity in a novel. It reflects everyday life and allows everyone to see themselves in one of the characters.

[Lhisa]

Everyone loves the story of someone underestimated rising above all expectations and achieving goals that others thought impossible, especially me. I love seeing dreams becoming a reality and I love happy surprises the most.

[Juliana_Isabella]

I really appreciated the way the author included disabled people who still had agency and the will and ability to take action to change their lives.

[angiejack456]

All of us have our limitations. Books like this, that cast a variety of characters with their own struggles, come across as authentic and genuine. It's great to read about others overcoming their own obstacles. It gives hope that perhaps we too can rise above our challenges.

[ArriettyClock]

I think that often in stories disabilities are often overlooked. There are so many stories where there are no disabilities in the whole novel, which is ridiculously unrealistic. I like that there are so many characters in this novel with disabilities, and that they are not sidelined, that they actually are positively viewed.

[Connie Otwani]

I loved there was no pity-partying with any of these characters. We heard more on Heather's limited medication from others, never herself. Pete's determination to provide for his son warmed my heart. And Jimmy's resilience was noteworthy.

[Kristy Khem]

I really like when authors include diversity in their characters. No one likes reading about 'perfect' characters. So I liked that the characters in this book had disabilities and illnesses that affected various parts of their life. This made them realistic and relatable.

[Kelyn]

I started out teaching Special Education and I always became deeply attached to "my" kids. I've always felt this "resonance" with people with disabilities, whether in RL, books, or film, perhaps because I am slightly hard of hearing and my best friend growing up was clinically deaf. I admire authors who take on the challenge of accurately depicting characters with disabilities. To do it accurately, as Sheldon did, is a sign of a truly dedicated author.

[Kristin Ransome]

I liked how disability was not seen as something that automatically put characters on the sideline; they were allowed to function at their best and not confined because of it.

[Stephanie Elizabeth]

I agree with the other commenters, it was nice to see people of all abilities represented in Adrift. The author did a great job identifying these differences without making the disabilities all-encompassing to the character's identity.

[Kibet Hillary]

The fact that they did not allow their conditions to keep them from being productive was amazing. This ranged from them working to helping to offer help to their colleagues.

[Swat3737]

I really enjoyed Tom Olsen's character, he seemed persistent and dogged. I work with retirees so I have a soft spot for the elderly and I just connected with him. Despite his limp, he was determined.

[Dawud Adaviruku]

One of the reasons why I love this book is because the author crafted the characters of the disabled people in an impressive and a fascinating manner. It motivates me to read about their struggles.