SuitabookSpeechless
Kate Darbishire
- Reading
- Consider reading alongside Harriet’s experiences rather than treating her as inspirational simply because she is disabled. Pause after school or family scenes to ask whose viewpoint is missing, how assumptions shape behaviour and what respectful communication might look like.
- Themes
- Being understood beyond appearance: Harriet has cerebral palsy, uses a wheelchair and has a dysarthric voice that leads others to make assumptions about her abilities and thoughts. The novel’s critical reading says it rejects dehumanising assumptions and presents Harriet as fully human, ordinary and dignified rather than heroic because of hardship.
- School belonging and friendship: At a new secondary school, classmates ignore or laugh at Harriet, while Charlotte tries to communicate with her; their relationship is presented as uncertain at first. Ridicule and exclusion are framed as obstacles, while attempts to engage with Harriet are treated as potentially meaningful rather than automatically successful.
- Family strain and changing responsibilities: The book addresses family strain and changing responsibilities; the detail of how it is developed remains unclear. The book’s stance on this remains unclear.
- Worth knowing
- Ridicule and exclusion at school, communication frustration, a parent’s hospitalisation and a family member acting unusually are all worth noting.