With gentle humor and unflinching realism, Gail Giles tells the gritty, ultimately hopeful story of two special ed teenagers entering the adult world. We understand stuff. We just learn it slow. And most of what we understand is that people what ain’t Speddies think we too stupid to get out our own way. And that makes me mad. Quincy and Biddy are both graduates of their high school’s special ed program, but they couldn’t be more different: suspicious Quincy faces the world with her fists up, while gentle Biddy is frightened to step outside her front door. When they’re thrown together as roommates in their first "real world" apartment, it initially seems to be an uneasy fit. But as Biddy’s past resurfaces and Quincy faces a harrowing experience that no one should have to go through alone, the two of them realize that they might have more in common than they thought — and more important, that they might be able to help each other move forward.Hard-hitting and compassionate, Girls Like Us is a story about growing up in a world that can be cruel, and finding the strength — and the support — to carry on.
Publication Year: 2014
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0 0Biddy and Quincy feel like they have nothing in common, the two girls are both "Speddies" short for special education students, but besides that they do not feel they can relate to one another at all. Now that they are graduating from high school, Biddy can no longer live with her grandmother and Quincy, who had been a ward of the state, is on her own as well. The two eventually find themselves not only cooking and cleaning for an elderly woman, but living together too. What starts an awkward living arrangement, soon leads to an unlikely friendship. Biddy and Quincy both learn a lot from one another, helping each other to grow and thrive in a scary, intimidating, and exciting new world.
Girls Like Us is a quick read with chapters alternating between Biddy and Quincy told from their journals which they recorded using a tape recorder. Readers are able to learn about each young woman's special needs told from their own perspective and voice, as well as get an inside look into how each girl feels and deals with their insecurities, grief, and daily life. Both Biddy and Quincy had never taken the time to learn about each other before they were thrown together living and working for Miss Lizzy, but the two quickly realize that they can learn and help one another in ways they never thought possible. This is a great read that deals with a lot of really tough situations including rape, teen pregnancy, domestic violence, and more. Giles navigates these tough topics nicely, giving them a real voice that readers will understand and learn from. She is also successful in giving special education students a voice, which in turn allows readers to learn and grow just like Biddy and Quincy learned from one another. This may not appeal to all readers, but it is a solid addition to all library collections.
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