Why Representation Matters in Fiction

My 18 year old daughter and I just picked up The Final Flaw, a science fiction book about the importance of neurodiversity that released this week. She has Tourette’s syndrome and immediately upon seeing the main character had it too, we purchased it.I was honestly floored. Often times books written about characters with disabilities use them as a way for the reader to feel pity. This one was the opposite. The book takes place ~25 years in the future where genetic manipulation is becoming mainstream and society is just beginning to remove traits like autism and Tourette’s syndrome. The main character, despite his disadvantages, has really positive self-talk and loves himself despite his imperfections. He is deeply conflicted about removing these traits from society and is put in a position where he is at the center of the conflict.The book was great, but the best part is the way that it has impacted my daughter. It’s the fastest I’ve ever seen her read a book, and she kept bothering me to finish it so we could talk about the story. I could tell that she loved reading a book where the main character that had Tourette’s, and where genetic differences where at the core of the story.For me it was eye opening in a different way. The book is set in the first person, and reading about the main character describe their tics provided me a way to see the world through her eyes for a little while. We’ve talked more openly about her condition in the last couple days than we have in years.The book was fantastic, but it has me a little bit sad and wishing there were more books like it out there! We need more representation like this in fiction. If you’ve got anything else like it, please let me know. via /r/books https://ift.tt/FKPbpVY