Introduction

“riveting … powerful … brilliant … necessary” —Kirkus Reviews

For those drawn to both Tara Westover’s moving account of a difficult childhood and Susan Cain’s research on underappreciated traits … Canaries Among Us reveals the exquisite joy and tender heartache inherent in raising a child who is undervalued by a community.

A lifeline to those struggling with learning differences, bullying, and anxiety, Canaries Among Us explores one of the most widespread threats to child well-being: a lack of acceptance. This heart-rending exposé provides a candid view of the ways unique children are regularly misunderstood and mistreated. Fortunately, through raw storytelling and ground-breaking science, Taylor points to an inspirational alternative: supporting, and even celebrating, the dazzling variety of our humanity. 

The author is donating her profits to organizations promoting mental health, neurodiversity, and bullying prevention.

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Excerpt

Chapter 1: Goldfish


I join the other adults at the curb and wait. Students from various grades shuffle away, but second-grade parents remain, rechecking watches and raising eyebrows at one another.
We are annoyed.
Then curious.
And now we are worried.
I’m grateful my two boys are on playdates so I don’t have to contend with their impatience in addition to my own.
After about ten minutes, the missing class finally bounds toward its assigned bench to await pickup. My daughter is released from her seat, and we walk to the car hand-in-hand. She’s still
young enough to reach for me out of habit.
“Sorry I’m late, Mom.” She explains, “Some kids created an ‘I Hate Hannah Club’ today, and the teacher needed to talk about kindness.” She reminds me of a reporter, objectively conveying the news of her community. ... view entire excerpt...

Discussion Questions

From the author:

* Do you remember a child who was bullied when you were young? How did you respond? What do you wish you'd known then?

* Do you know unique children who aren't valued? How do you think schools can support them better?

* What can we as community members do to help one another in our times of greatest need?

* What do you think of Hannah’s need for an apology? Are there other ways to move on from injustice and betrayal?

* How can we learn to repair harm and be accountable for our mistakes? Why is this so hard?

* Can you recall an experience in which an organization demonstrated institutional courage to support individuals who were victimized or who reported wrongdoing (the whistleblowers)?

Weblinks

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