Can You See Me?

by Libby Scott, Rebecca Westcott

Overview

A coming-of-age story about learning to celebrate yourself — and teaching the world to recognize you, too — perfect for fans of R. J. Palacio's Wonder!

"This glimpse into the world of a young autistic girl is astonishingly insightful and honest. Tally's struggles to 'fit in' are heart-wrenching, and her victories are glorious." — Ann M. Martin, Newbery Honor and New York Times bestselling author of Rain ReignThings Tally is dreading about sixth grade:— Being in classes without her best friends— New (scratchy) uniforms— Hiding her autismTally isn't ashamed of being autistic — even if it complicates life sometimes, it's part of who she is. But this is her first year at Kingswood Academy, and her best friend, Layla, is the only one who knows. And while a lot of other people are uncomfortable around Tally, Layla has never been one of them . . . until now.Something is different about sixth grade, and Tally now feels like she has to act "normal." But as Tally hides her true self, she starts to wonder what "normal" means after all and whether fitting in is really what matters most.Inspired by young coauthor Libby Scott's own experiences with autism, this is an honest and moving middle-school story of friends, family, and finding one's place.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781338608915
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	03/03/2020
Pages:	368
Sales rank:	494,726
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.30(h) x 1.10(d)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Rebecca Westcott has been a teacher for many years and currently teaches part-time in an elementary school where she is the special educational needs coordinator. Can You See Me? is her US debut. She lives in Dorset, England, with her husband and three children. Find Rebecca on Twitter at @WestcottWriter.
Libby Scott is a young autistic writer who lives in the UK with her family. Since her "Life of a Perfectionist" essay went viral online, she has become an autism advocate, speaking about her own experience at conferences and in interviews. Can You See Me? is her first novel. You can find Libby on Twitter at @BlogLibby.

Read an Excerpt

Tally lowers her face into her knees and waits until she hears the kitchen door closing. Then, as quietly as she can, she tiptoes upstairs and into her bedroom. The tiger mask is hanging from the end of her bed and she pulls it on, inhaling the familiar smell.And then she walks across the room and looks in the mirror, staring at the strong, powerful creature in front of her. At the brave, magnificent Tiger Girl who doesn't feel pain and doesn't get hurt and doesn't worry about what other people think of her. If only she could be this girl all of the time then nobody would ever say unkind things or give each other the look that everybody always gives when she's around. The look that means she's done something wrong again, even if she doesn't know what it is or how not to do it next time.She stares and stares at her reflection until the Tiger Girl goes blurry and then she walks downstairs and along the hallway until she reaches the door to the laundry room. Rupert is lying down behind the stair-gate. He looks different, and the muzzle that is fitted snugly over his face wasn't there this morning."Don't be scared," Tally whispers. "Can you see me?"She used to ask this question all the time when she was younger. Every time she put on the mask. And she was never quite sure what she wanted the answer to be. Whether it was better to be hidden or to be seen. Whether it was better to be Tiger Girl or Tally.Rupert peers at her from above the muzzle and then slowly lumbers into a standing position, keeping his distance from the tiger that is filling the doorway. They stare at each other for a while, both hidden behind their masks.

Editorial Reviews

★ 01/20/2020

An autistic preteen struggles to navigate the demands of an allistic world in this powerful collaboration between Scott, an autistic 11-year-old, and established author Westcott, who is neurotypical. Funny, self-aware Tally is about to start sixth grade, and that means an overwhelming new school with lots of new people. To fit in, she chooses to keep her autism a secret, avoiding her usual coping mechanisms in order to fit in. Bullying and abandonment by her best friend ensue, but just when she can’t take it anymore, people close to Tally—including her sister and a teacher—learn to offer understanding and support in myriad ways. This is a sweetly appealing story of finding oneself in a time of change, and it’s heartening to see an autistic protagonist who finds happiness through the growth of those around her and not via learning to hide herself. Occasional first-person diary entries narrate Tally’s experiences, offering “Autism Facts” about anxiety, demand avoidance, meltdowns, and stimming, among other topics. Alongside a compelling heroine, vividly accurate portrayals ofstressful situations and specific needsoffer a rare and valuable window into one autistic point of view. Ages 8–12. (Mar.)

Publishers Weekly

Praise for Can You See Me?:"This glimpse into the world of a young autistic girl is astonishingly insightful and honest. Tally's struggles to 'fit in' are heart-wrenching, and her victories are glorious." -- Ann M. Martin, Newbery Honor and New York Times bestselling author of Rain Reign"Tally is smart, compassionate, and she has a superpower: autism. This own voices story is wonderfully authentic and informing. It doesn't portray an 'autistic girl'; rather, we get to meet a well-defined, relatable character who also has autism. I hope this book finds its way into the hands of readers everywhere as a reminder that our perceived weaknesses can also be our greatest strengths." -- Wesley King, bestselling author of OCDaniel* "Give [this book] to everyone, because a little understanding can go a long way." -- School Library Journal, starred review* "This is a sweetly appealing story of finding oneself in a time of change, and it's heartening to see an autistic protagonist who finds happiness through the growth of those around her and not via learning to hide herself . . . Alongside a compelling heroine, vividly accurate portrayals of stressful situations and specific needs offer a rare and valuable window into one autistic point of view." -- Publishers Weekly, starred review"Tally's story -- based on Scott (herself 11 and autistic) and co-written with the neurotypical Westcott -- shines with authenticity. The deceptively simple prose sticks tightly to Tally's point of view, conveying her courage and quirky charm while rendering with painful acuity her struggles with anxiety and sensory overload. Her triumph comes in her resolve to present as her own unique, different 'normal.'" -- Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

02/28/2020

Gr 4–8—Starting sixth grade can be a little scary for anyone. For Tally, hiding her autism while trying to adapt to a whole new set of middle school expectations is especially challenging. Adapting isn't really Tally's thing. Her new uniform itches, her shoes pinch, and the crowded, noisy hallways are impossible to navigate. It would be easier if she could be Tiger Girl, but she knows that disappearing behind her rubber tiger mask is something she can't do if she wants to fit in. She also pushes down stimming behaviors like flapping her hands because, while they help her cope, they also make her stand out. Her elementary school friends are all in different classes, making new friends and developing new interests, leaving Tally feeling abandoned. She pours out her frustrations in journal entries that are interspersed throughout the narrative. Each entry is broken down with a situation, Tally's anxiety rating, Tally's Autism Facts, and how they affected the situation. She sometimes offers the pros and cons of having a particular spectrum-associated behavior. The narrative and journal entries combine to give readers an authentic depiction of what it is like to walk in Tally's shoes. The ending offers hope that there is space for children like Tally to be themselves. Author notes are included from co-authors Westcott, a teacher and special needs coordinator, and Scott, a writer, blogger, and autistic student. VERDICT Give this to children on the spectrum and families, teachers, and classmates of children on the spectrum. In short, give to everyone, because a little understanding can go a long way.—Kelly Roth, Bartow County Public Library, Cartersville, GA

School Library Journal

2019-11-10
A girl with autism confronts the terrors of sixth grade.

Eleven-year-old Tally is fierce, brave, funny, and kind; but she also wants desperately to fit in, so she keeps her autism secret from her new classmates at Kingswood Academy. But the harder she tries to act "normal," the more the bullies call her "weirdo" until even her friends start to pull away. Tally's story—based on Scott (herself 11 and autistic) and co-written with the neurotypical Westcott—shines with authenticity. Even the lengthy "Autism Facts" in Tally's interspersed diary entries avoid didacticism via their un-self-conscious honesty. The deceptively simple prose sticks tightly to Tally's point of view, conveying her courage and quirky charm while rendering with painful acuity her struggles with anxiety and sensory overload. It also portrays compassionately the sometimes-stressful effects of her particular needs and odd-seeming behaviors on her loving, supportive family. There are no villains here: Her teachers are (mostly) receptive and sympathetic, and even the bullies come off as more clueless than cruel. Nor is there any magic resolution: Tally's situation may improve but only at the cost of her privacy; and her social relationships remain tentative. Instead, her triumph comes in her resolve to present as her own unique, different "normal."

Recommended for readers with autism who will feel genuinely seen and for those desiring to see others more clearly. (Fiction. 9-12)

Kirkus Reviews