Such a Pretty Girl: A Story of Struggle, Empowerment, and Disability Pride - Hardcover

"In this insightful memoir, disability activist LaSpina effortlessly shares how her personal experiences led to her activism, creating a compelling story that is both instructive and moving. ... readers will encounter her successes and set-backs, both personal and political, and learn about the U.S. medical system and its treatment of individuals with disabilities. ... LaSpina's story of determination and hard-won independence is engaging, informative, and ultimately, inarguably, inspiring." -- STARRED Booklist "From the first vivid chapter set in Sicily to her gutsy activism in the U.S., LaSpinas triumphant memoir of a richly lived life held me rapt." -- Alix Kates Shulman "A memoir fueled by passion and grounded in history. Nadina LaSpina's beautifully written narrative reveals a conscientious citizen and an exuberant and vibrant woman. Such a Pretty Girl is ultimately a love story." -- Simi Linton, author of My Body Politic "From pity to empowerment, a woman born with polio illuminates her personal changes in attitude and accomplishment amid sweeping societal changes in rights for the disabled. . . . `I was the luckiest woman in the world,' insists the author in this revelatory and deeply moving memoir that clearly shows how and why she came to feel that way." -- STARRED Kirkus Review "The author skillfully ties her personal experiences into a broader social and historical context ... an empowering and feminist book. It shows an immigrant, writer, teacher, and activist's perspective on pivotal moments in history. In an intimate way, Such a Pretty Girl shows how far disability rights have come in the past 70 years and touches on inequalities that still exist." -- Book Riot "A feminist, personal perspective on disability. One of the main themes is the author's developing ability to claim and enjoy her own beauty and sexuality." -- Gillian Kendall, coauthor of How I Became a Human Being