Mighty Mara is an own-voices picture book with a disability that ends with a good message about following your dreams despite what others may think and how someone should not be judged because they are different.

It is my understanding that this book is based on or inspired by Carina Ho’s life, written in tandem with Jesse Byrd. I love that this is an own-voices story! *Note: I did a little reading on Carina’s life after finishing this picture book, and she is such an amazing and inspiring person.

Mara truly is mighty! She has such a strong heart and a lot of determination. She knows she is different, but she doesn’t let that stop her, nor does she let the views of others keep her down. For me (and I understand this is coming from a place of privilege), it was difficult to read about Mara facing so much negativity. The interaction with the teacher (who should be part of a child with a disability’s — or any child’s — support system) was particularly tough to read. Unfortunately, it’s also likely a harsh reality that some, maybe even Carina Ho, have experienced.

I really liked how simple and almost bland a lot of the illustrations are, giving a good visual to the idea that everything is similar in Sametown, and how vibrant Mara is depicted. The illustration of her performance in the talent show is stunning! I do have mixed feelings about not seeing Mara’s wheelchair illustrated until nearly the end, but it also allowed that spotlight on the negative interactions and judgement to shine brighter once it is revealed that she is disabled.

Overall, this is an encouraging story that I would recommend! I think it’s so important for own-voices stories like this to be written, especially so children with a disability can see themselves in a character and for everyone to learn that you should never judge someone for being different.

*Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a free copy of this book. This did not affect my opinion or the content of my review.