Review : The Candidate's Daughter - Catherine Lea - May 2013 New Zealand author Catherine Lea’s The Candidate’s Daughter is a gripping thriller that not only delivers high-stakes tension but also provides a moving portrayal of disability representation. Set against a backdrop of crime, politics, and betrayal, the novel weaves an intense and emotional story that keeps readers hooked until the very last page. The novel centers around Kelsey Money, a 22-year-old car thief who gets entangled in a kidnapping gone terribly wrong. What initially seems like a straightforward ransom plan quickly unravels when Kelsey realizes she’s been double-crossed. Now, not only is she being framed for murder, but six-year-old Holly McClaine—who has Down syndrome—is in grave danger. With only 24 hours to save the girl, Kelsey must fight against impossible odds to bring her home safely. At the heart of this novel is the complex dynamic between Kelsey and Holly. Despite being one of the so-called ‘kidn...

Review: Leah Marie and The Bug - Marylin Leinebach and Anne Raymond - November 2021 At the moment, the world is a scary place to be and all sorts of strange things are happening and not just in one country but every country in the world. All these things are happening due to a bug called Covid-19 or Coronavirus. In Leah Marie and the Bug, we meet Leah Marie who has down syndrome and her parents have been talking about the dangerous bug that has infected the world. Leah Marie likens the bug to a cockroach which to me is worst ha-ha. So, on every page, are pictures of cockroaches scurrying around. During this book, we learn about the things that we can no longer do and the way we have to change our everyday lives to adapt from having groceries delivered to wearing masks. Having to wash our hands and learning from home rather than seeing the teacher in the classroom. What I loved about this book is that the main character has down syndrome as someone who grew up in a family where my mum ...