UPWARD BOUND

My very favorite books are the ones that reshape how you see someone who is different from you: their struggles, triumphs, and sometimes, a part of their soul. This is one of those books. Add it to your shelf!

Upward Bound tells the interwoven stories of life at a center for adults with disabilities, including Walter, a nonverbal autistic man (like author Woody Brown), Tom, a movie-star-handsome young man in a wheelchair who has a crush on the center’s lifeguard, gentle giant Jorge who remains a mystery to everyone but his caregiver, Carlos, who has his own POV. Each glimpse into their lives is a powerful reminder that with all human beings, you can never truly know all they are capable of if given the chance.

If you’ve read anything about this book, then you know that the author is the first nonspeaking autistic graduate of UCLA, earned a creative writing MFA from Columbia, and communicates with the aid of a card where he points at letters. The book’s existence feels a bit like a little miracle - but the real reason to read it is its poignant storytelling about a population of individuals who are often overlooked, misunderstood or underestimated. It reveals with heart, humor and sometimes tears what they can see, understand and know, even if they can’t tell us. The lessons we can find here are not limited to disabled people - opening our minds and hearts is something we can do for everyone, including ourselves. I know this one will stay with me always!

Trains are a source of calm for Walter when the world feels chaotic or overwhelming. They represent predictability and order. For this book, I made vanilla train mini cakes, which did cause a bit of UNpredictability in my kitchen, with multiple batches and candy store runs! I loved decorating them with my intern - Thanks Gab!