Cath, our Penguin NZ Children's Publisher on what makes STEPPING UP by David Hill a very special book
- The quality of the writing. This isn’t just a story well told, it’s a story BRILLIANTLY, COMPELLINGLY TOLD. Content that could otherwise be too confronting or painful with David Hill’s words becomes engrossing, engaging and empowering.
- BUILDS EMPATHY & UNDERSTANDING - readers get a real-time journey inside the mind of a teenager whose accident takes him from able-bodied to disabled in an instant. He grapples with a range of very relatable emotions as he deals with the loss of his old identity (also his ideas about what his worth is based on), the birth of his new self, and the coming together of the two. Through all of this, Ben finds he’s still himself.
- AN EYE-OPENER FOR THE ABLE-BODIED - a fantastic way for readers to see all the challenges of a world that’s designed for the able-bodied, and for people living with disability to feel seen and heard.
- GRIPPING MEDICAL DRAMA ABOUT UNSUNG HEROES - Readers will be struck by the amazing professional skill and knowledge of those working in injury recovery, physio and prosthetics. The author’s depth of research really shows! Also, David has spent the last years living with chronic pain and his first-hand experience of the health system and the incredible people who staff it really shines through.
Stepping Up David Hill
When a sporty teen's leg is crushed in a mountain accident, he has to face new challenges one tiny but huge step at a time.
A fast-paced, powerfully told novel for middle-grade readers about limb loss, resilience and becoming excited about the future again.
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The highest quality books in five genres published between August 2022 and November 2023.
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