Sarah Lagan Review 3

[Sarah]

For my third book under the “graphic novel” category, I decided to read “The Oracle Code” written by Marieke Nijkamp. This book was super fascinating to read as the author can personally relate to the main character in the book. In a short summary, the book is mainly about a young girl named Barbara who ends up getting shot trying to help someone and becomes disabled from the waist down. She deals with heavy trauma both emotionally and physically and finds herself at a really low point in her life. Six months after the injury, her father sends her to a rehabilitation facility that she was not fond of. She had no interest in making friends or talking to anyone there but later meets a girl with who she becomes friends through ghost storytelling. Closely after befriending this girl, she disappears and goes on a mission to figure out what exactly happens at this facility. Throughout the story, Barbara learns how to accept herself and the new challenges and positive experiences she will have. Overall this book definitely had more of an emotional meaning I found it very moving and eye-opening thinking about how difficult it can be when someone experiences such a life-changing event. I think it’s super important to bring attention and awareness to the importance of both mental health and self-acceptance for people with disabilities. Although I can’t personally relate to experiencing as heavy of a life-changing event like that, I can try to understand how difficult and frustrating learning to make such drastic changes in your life can be.

[Fatima]

Hi Sarah,
I've been wanting to read something like this and I know this be informative for children. After a minor surgery during the summer, I wasn't able to walk for 7 weeks and I realized how much I took my health for granted. I think this book can help children empathize with disabled people and learning to also treat them as normal people because they are normal but with different experiences and challenges.