Rolling Warrior: The Incredible, Sometimes Awkward, True Story of a Rebel Girl on Wheels Who Helped Spark a Revolution

by Judith Heumann, Kristen Joiner Narrated by Ali Stroker

Overview

As featured in the Oscar-nominated documentary Crip Camp, and for readers of I Am Malala, one of the most influential disability rights activists in US history tells her story of fighting to belong.

“If I didn't fight, who would?”

Judy Heumann was only 5 years old when she was first denied her right to attend school. Paralyzed from polio and raised by her Holocaust-surviving parents in New York City, Judy had a drive for equality that was instilled early in life.

In this young readers' edition of her acclaimed memoir, Being Heumann, Judy shares her journey of battling for equal access in an unequal world-from fighting to attend grade school after being described as a “fire hazard” because of her wheelchair, to suing the New York City school system for denying her a teacher's license because of her disability. Judy went on to lead 150 disabled people in the longest sit-in protest in US history at the San Francisco Federal Building. Cut off from the outside world, the group slept on office floors, faced down bomb threats, and risked their lives to win the world's attention and the first civil rights legislation for disabled people.

Judy's bravery, persistence, and signature rebellious streak will speak to every person fighting to belong and fighting for social justice.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Inspiring and wryly humorous . . . Readers will be outraged to read about the treatment disabled individuals have faced and still face and cheer as Heumann persists against incredible odds. Necessary reading.”
—Booklist, Starred Review

“Heumann’s frank accounts of humiliation and dismissal are infuriating, but her conversational narration and snarky chapter titles (‘Sorry, If You Could Just Hide Behind Everyone Else That Would Be Great’) keep the tone encouraging, and her accounts of disabled people’s camaraderie are heartening. A reflective epilogue explores global disability rights, representation, and the importance of telling—and listening to—#ownvoices stories. Insightful and empowering.”
—Kirkus Reviews

"Rolling Warrior is poignant, funny, passionate, angry — and hopeful. And it is a page-turner."
—Rethinking Schools

“A powerful yet tender memoir from one of the most important figures in disability rights history. Judy’s story made me laugh, cringe, and perhaps most importantly, it lit a fire in me to fight harder for disability rights.”
—Shane Burcaw, author of Laughing at My Nightmare

“Many people will say Rolling Warrior is an important read and it is, but it is also fun, exciting, and honest. This isn’t just a story that disabled children will love; it’s a story about what is possible when we fight for ourselves and each other. It is a story about how tenacity, strength, the power of community, and the willingness to fight for what matters can start a revolution.”
—Keah Brown, author of The Pretty One

“Judy Heumann’s journey is told with heart, tenacity, and even humor. Any young person will find inspiration in her story to overcome whatever barrier comes their way and to realize their dreams just as she has. I only wished I had the chance to read her story when I was reaching for my dreams!”
—Marlee Matlin, Academy Award–winning actress and activist

“A marvelous memoir by a disability hero who has paved the way for so many of us. This book will inspire a new generation of disability rights activists and guide future leaders as we work toward a barrier-free world.”
—Haben Girma, author of the bestseller Haben: The Deafblind Woman Who Conquered Harvard Law

“For the first time, I see myself in someone else. Judy’s lifelong fight and fierce advocacy around disability justice have undeniably paved the way for me to achieve what I have today. . . . A must-read for all young people.”
—Ali Stroker, Tony Award–winning actress

“The book I needed growing up . . . has the possibility to inspire a new generation of activists—and if I’m any indication, it most certainly will.”
—Anja, age 14, Rolling Warrior Youth Advisory Board member

“I couldn’t help but feel Judy’s frustration, excitement and passion as she fought for justice and equal rights for disabled people.”
—Will, age 17, Rolling Warrior Youth Advisory Board member

School Library Journal

07/01/2021

Gr 6–9—Heumann was paralyzed after contracting polio as a baby in 1949. Many disabled children were institutionalized at the time, but by age six, she was getting around by herself in a wheelchair. This was tricky not because she wasn't capable but because there were stairs everywhere, there were no wheelchair ramps, and motorized wheelchairs weren't available yet. On the first day of kindergarten, Heumann went home early after the principal told her parents that she was a "fire hazard." She graduated from college with aspirations of teaching but was denied a job after doctors unfairly determined she was medically unfit to teach. Compelled to make a change, Heumann turned to activism. In 1977, she organized a sit-in of a San Francisco federal building that set the groundwork for the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. She seamlessly weaves together her personal journey and the harrowing adventure of her decades-long fight for disability rights as a white disabled woman, while offering clear, accessible explanations of the legislative process. VERDICT Adapted for young readers, this captivating story shines a light on the critical fight for disability rights and will empower aspiring activists to find their own voices.—Allison Staley, Lake Oswego P.L., OR

Product Details

BN ID:	2940173312914
Publisher:	Penguin Random House
Publication date:	06/15/2021
Edition description:	Unabridged
Age Range:	10 - 13 Years

Videos