Anyone who wants to learn about a true hero

John Lewis was arrested five times as a congressperson, protesting whenever he thought people were being treated unfairly.

He was not afraid to get in good trouble.

I know the name John Lewis, but I didn’t know his story until reading this book.

Along with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Rosa Parks, and Gandhi, John Lewis is now one of many civil rights activists featured in this series. All four of them practiced methods of civil disobedience through peaceful protests.

It makes me sad how hard and long Black people had to fight to be treated with basic decency. I hope the kids who read this book understand that treating people like they are less than human is wrong.

Because of her ability to think unconventionally, Temple Grandin has done extraordinary work as a scientist, animal behaviorist, and neurodiversity advocate.

She is proud to be different.

“I hope this book inspires you to overcome challenges and make a positive difference in the world.” – Temple Grandin

It makes sense that the first autism-based ‘Ordinary People Change the World’ book would be about Temple Grandin. She is the poster child for autism.

I love the Temple Grandin episode of Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum. My favorite part was when the kids snuck up on her, and she got scared and dove under the couch cushions. I found the action adorable, and it made me wonder why I never did that as a kid. Probably because when I’m overwhelmed, my instinct is to freeze, not run.

I have never related more to anyone in this series as much as Temple Grandin. So many autistic kids are going to see themselves in Temple Grandin. I really could have used this book as a kid. It would have helped me find the words to explain my feelings instead of suffering in silence.

With all that said, I would like to share with you my favorite Temple Grandin quote:

“What would happen if the autism gene was eliminated from the gene pool? You would have a bunch of people standing around in a cave, chatting and socializing and not getting anything done.” – Temple Grandin, The Way I See It: A Personal Look at Autism & Asperger’s

This is so true.