Review of Canaries Among Us

[Rebecca Gray 3]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Canaries Among Us" by Kayla Taylor.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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Canaries Among Us by Kayla Taylor is a riveting memoire which expertly includes the author’s ongoing and related research along with her anecdotes. Taylor regularly evokes emotions in the reader including rage, disappointment, hope and sorrow. She acknowledges that she cannot speak for her daughter and does not wish to, but still manages to convey her view of the story without taking away her daughter’s voice.
Taylor provides actionable strategies and steps for parents of children facing bullying and neurodivergent diagnosis as well as big topics such as forgiveness, gaslighting and friendship. However, the ideal audience does not stop at parents as this book is ideal for teachers, caregivers, school administrators and can even be ideal for some young adults facing these challenges themselves.
Taylor takes a strong person first approach to her views throughout the book. Throughout, readers can see her struggle to come to terms with research and professionals in the medical or educational field as she discusses terms such as ‘disability.’ She uses a plethora of research to support her stories but also to find answers to questions that she struggles with throughout the book.
Taylor’s writing is impeccable and captivating. While she speaks frequently throughout the novel about ‘neurodiversity,’ she is instead referring to individuals who are ‘neurodivergent.’ These neurodivergent individuals, for example, autistic or dyslexic children or those with ADHD, are not ‘neurotypical.’ A group of people, which can include those who are ‘neurotypical’, would be considered ‘neurodiverse.’ However when speaking of only one individual’s atypical neurotype, the author should have used the term ‘neurodivergent.’
Canaries Among Us is a 4 out of 5 book that explores the key themes of forgiveness, uniqueness and power struggles. It has some strong advice for individuals going through these situations or supporting others through them without interrupting the flow of the story.

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Canaries Among Us
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