Eliza Dee's Universes

by Rebecca Finch Vitsmun, Victoria Mikki (illustrator)

"A vibrant depiction of the exquisite imagination of an underrepresented child."
- 𝐾𝑖𝑟𝑘𝑢𝑠 𝑅𝑒𝑣𝑖𝑒𝑤𝑠 (𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑑 𝑟𝑒𝑣𝑖𝑒𝑤)

Eliza Dee loves astronomy and pondering the universe’s greatest mysteries. Along the way, she discovers where science ends, imagination begins.

Like author Rebecca Vitsmun, Eliza Dee is autistic and lives with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and night blindness.

This book depicts Eliza experiencing hyperphantasia as the sun sets and her vision fades.

Genres: Childrens

38 pages, Paperback

First published April 4, 2024

About the author

I’m an autistic author living with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS), co-morbid conditions, and Congenital Stationary Night Blindness (CSNB from a mutation at the SLC24a1) that causes visual snow.

I had a significant impairment in interoception and had a broken bone in the middle of my head for 35 years; I just thought bone on bone pain was what it felt like to have a head. This impairment ended January 8, 2025.

In high school, I lettered in math and two mental health professionals later labeled me a “savant” in physics.

I graduated from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette with Honors curriculum in 2005 and chose a Bachelor of General of Studies (B.G.S.) in Arts and Humanities to create a degree in Humanities coursework.

Reviews

[Sierra| HooksxBooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so beautifully done. The illustrations, the story, and even the educational portion about the physical conditions and the neurodivergence she lives with. This book was so vivid and beautiful, and even the gentle ways it depicts the invisible disabilities that she faces, from the sun setting, and even how she sits.

This book gave us a look into Eliza's world, into her creative mind. I would recommend this book to anyone with children, it can help them understand the people around them, so that they can continue to be compassionate people.


I volunteered to read a copy of this ARC through NetGalley.

[Tempest Reign · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book with my children.

We loved this book! The bright and whimsical illustrations were beautiful, and we enjoyed every single page.

The story was also lovely, and we enjoyed the imaginative tale.

Highly recommend!

☆I received an ARC of this book from the author and NetGalley. All thoughts are my own honest opinions.☆

[Tyra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so much fun and a beautiful look into how there is no limit to your creativity which I think is a perfect lesson to make sure to teach any child, as well as this, the art style and writing were both engaging, it didn't have much story but I loved it anyway.

I was sent this e-Arc on Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[Louise Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

'Eliza Dee's Universes’ is not just a book, it's a magical journey that will delight readers of all ages. The author's wonderfully creative storytelling transports you to enchanting places filled with wonder and excitement. From the very first page, you'll be drawn into a world where anything is possible, where the boundaries of reality are pushed aside, and where the power of imagination knows no limits.

What makes this book truly special is not only its captivating storyline but also the author's distinct writing style. The words flow effortlessly, beautifully complementing the vibrant illustrations that bring the story to life. The talent they possess for crafting such enchanting and immersive settings will leave young readers completely mesmerised.

The representation of invisible disabilities in literature is an infrequently ventured into subject, yet this spirited read portrays Eliza's conditions in an accessible, comprehensible way, with details efficiently woven in at the beginning and end of the book. This portrayal carries immense importance for individuals with hidden disabilities, as it brings their experiences to the forefront and motivates readers to develop a more profound understanding and empathy.
In essence, this is an incredibly remarkable and indispensable addition to the literary world that I think would be of great value when included in classrooms and libraries.

[Donna Maguire · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book - it was a pleasure to read.

The story was great and it was very well written, I loved the natural slow to the story.

The illustrations really suit the story and they are perfect to bring the book to life.

The messages from the story and brilliant and it is a really positive story.

I have a friend that has Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) and I worked with a lady that has it too and made sure that she had the adjustments in place to be comfortable and able to work pain free and without feeling she was "different".

EDS is really something that is not well known so it was genuinely wonderful to see a book that has this and hyperphantasia. The additional details at the end were a really great too touch.

It is 5 stars from me for this one - very highly recommended!

[Ankit Saxena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author created the character of Eliza Dee to represent her world. Eliza is a girl who's autistic and having hEDS. In addition, she has Hyperphantasia. She made her own world to learn things.
What matters most in such cases is the parenting. How Parents get their child prepare for the world out there. And by the way it has been explained, it seems that she got her parents in a best manner to took care of her. Author depicted her disabilities as her power by not letting one down, very gently.

She is fond of astronomy and universal mysteries, but she learned that where science ends, imagination starts.

Illustrations by Victoria Mikki were so fantasizing and colorful.

My NetGalley review

[LaBibliodeCaro · Rating 4 out of 5]

The bright colours and the contrasts give such a magical feeling to the book, it's visually gorgeous! Regarding the content, I thought it was a wonderful idea to bring awareness to the Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and night-blindness, but it felt as though the story didn't delve enough into that part. I know nothing about that and it would have been even greater to watch the main character's daily struggles in a less abstract way. At the end, the author mentions some issues with holding some positions, it would've made more sense to include that directly in the story. In any case, it's a fun adventure!

[Erica Robyn Metcalf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eliza Dee’s Universes by Rebecca Finch Vitsmun, Illustrated by Victoria Mikki is a beautiful book that is centered around the wonderful imagination of the main character, Eliza. As the night approaches and her eyesight fades, the colors of her imagination are just getting started! This tale is just stunning and the storyline itself is fun to read out loud to a kiddo. You can tell how much care the author and illustrator put into this book as the author herself is just like Eliza Dee; they are both autistic and live with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS) and night-blindness. Thank you to everyone involved for bringing this invisible illness to the page <3

[Mallory Schaafsma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eliza Dee is autistic and lives with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS) and night blindness. The illustrations are beautiful, colorful, and captivating. Eliza’s imagination is truly inspiring! I want to express my gratitude to the author for creating awareness about these invisible conditions and for helping children and adults with these disabilities feel represented in literature.

I volunteered to read a copy of this ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Sharlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.45 - Mediocre
Vivid colouring. Story lacks plot and is centered around describing certain experiences. Coherent narration that feels like a masterful storyteller. Generic images of imagination. The book's underlying message and main purpose is hard to discern. Autism, hEDS, and night-blindness are important subject-matters for families to have discussions about. Symbolism could be emphasised more.

[Mary Smrek · Rating 4 out of 5]

The pictures in this book are absolutely gorgeous. There is so much color! The storyline is great in that it showcases how imagination can be unlimited. The information at the beginning and end of the story inform the reader of the lens that is to be used while reading the book. I learned about a disorder that I previously knew nothing about and while I didn't feel the story showcased that disorder, it did allow me to view the story from a different perspective.

[Justine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I grabbed this book from Net Galley because it looked cute for my daughter. We enjoyed the read and the artwork. We liked that you can make your own universe with your imagination. My favourite part of the book is the purple zebra ahha.
We would recommend this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and Smith Publicity for allowing to read this book.

[Michael David · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Eliza Dee's Universes" is a book written and illustrated with a love for children and children's books at its core. While it is a book about a child suffering from disabilities, it's also a book that all children can relate to, in its world of imagination. My personal favorite part is the universe made of spaghetti!

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved how inclusive this book was. I personally didn't know much about the syndromes Eliza had in this book, but after reading it I am definitely find out more about them. The book was very well written and beautifully illustrated. A great book to give your child or get for the local library.

Thank you netgalley & the publisher for the ARC.