Actress praises local author’s upcoming book
It’s based on a real-life rock band made up of students with disabilities.
A local author’s book about a rockbandmadeupof people with disabilities has made an Amazon bestseller list with help from a well-known actress.
“TheKidsofWidneyJuniorHigh Take Over theWorld!,” written by MathewKlickstein, a recent Dayton transplant, will be released Sept. 28.
Aimed at middle- grade readers, the entertaining story offers lessons on interacting with people with disabilities.
The fictional book is based on students Klickstein met 21 years ago at J.P. Widney High School, a special education magnet in Los Angeles.
The real-life Kids of Widney High are talented singer- songwriters with mental and physical challenges. They record albums, createmusic videos and tour live.
Klickstein first met the band in 1999 as a freshman at the University of Southern California film school, He spent 10 years making a documentary film about them.
“AKids ofWidney High showis an experience and youhave to see them live,” he said. “The music is only part of it. They’re funny
on stage and run around giving high fives and hugs. It’s pure jubilance.”
The author credits actress Mayim Bialik will helping to push his book to Amazon’s list of best-selling new releases in children’s books on disability.
B i a l i c k , who most recently appeared on the television sitcom “The Big Bang Theory” and “Blossom” in the 1990s, posted a selfie with the book on her Facebook page.
“This book is tender, it’s funny, it’s perfect to read with your junior high or high schoolers, and it givesme such hope. I LOVE
THESEKIDS!!!!!” shewrote."
Klickstein said society struggleswith talking about people with developmental disabilities and the book can start a dialogue.
“It’s a way to broaden our perspective, it’s a way to hear and see experiences we might not be familiar with in our own little bubble.”
Autism and blindness are among the challenges for the book’s characters who navigate life with kindness, tenacity and humor.
Klickstein consulted with the real kids ofWidneyHigh School while writing. He hopes readers get the message to take the time to talk with people with disabilities and realize they are individuals.
“This is not just a book for people without disabilities to read about people with disabilities,” he said. “I wrote it to be a book for persons with disabilities as well, to finally experience themselves represented in a book.”