Review: You’re Welcome, Universe by Whitney Gardner
Julia is a Deaf teen girl who is creative, artistic, and passionate. And she is an authentic portrayal of deafness.
Author Andrea Shettle
Author bio
Andrea Shettle
Andrea Shettle, a program manager at the U.S. International Council on Disabilities (USICD), is passionate about disability rights both domestically and internationally. At USICD, she coordinates an internship program for students and recent graduates who aspire to careers in international development. USICD is part of a consortium of US-based organizations supporting the RightsNow! project, which partners with disabled people’s organizations abroad to provide technical assistance in improving implementation of the international disability rights treaty Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) in their countries. For this project, Andrea helps curate knowledge and resources for promoting disability rights in societies around the world. In her free time, she reads voraciously. She blogs about disability rights, various social justice issues, and disability representation in books and other media. She published a fantasy novel in 1990, Flute Song Magic, which is out of print.
Their posts
Interview with Whitney Gardner about You’re Welcome, Universe
You’re Welcome, Universe author Whitney Gardner sits down with Andrea Shettle and site editor Natasha Razi to discuss her debut novel!
Discussion: Fictional Disabilities
In science-fiction and fantasy, you invariably run into fictional disabilities and allegories. Do these “count” as disability? What makes them work successfully in a book?
Review: Hurt Go Happy by Ginny Rorby
One of the more authentic reflections I have seen of what it can be like to grow up deaf—this is the kind of book I wish I could have had when I was younger.
Review: Five Flavors of Dumb by Anthony John
Despite some flaws, it is clear the author did his research. I enjoyed this book and recommend it.