Edu¬Edge : Book Review
And They Lived … Ever After, enchanting fairy tales retold by disabled women, grew out of a programme organised by Rising Flame that seeks to build an inclusive world.
About the book
Meet a deaf Snow White, a wheelchair-using Rapunzel, a neurodivergent Ugly Duckling.
In a world where fairy tales usually demonize characters who live with disability, these and other fairy-tale characters challenge our understanding of the people around us. The authors of this collection seek to retell classic stories, by weaving in their own everyday experiences — the struggles, joys and frustrations that may not be known to the non-disabled.
And They Lived … Ever After grew out of a programme organized by Rising Flame, an award-winning non-profit that seeks to build an inclusive world in which diverse bodies, minds and voices thrive with dignity and live free of discrimination, abuse and violence. This book is every bit as enchanting as it is important.
Nidhi Ashok Goyal, founder and executive director of Rising Flame, says, “Our book is about bringing unseen and unheard stories to people. It is a place for disabled women and youth to find themselves, their realities, challenges and hopes. But most importantly, this book brings a sense of belonging and love, community and friendship to each person who feels left out, misunderstood or different.”
Prerna Gill, commissioning editor, HarperCollins India, says, “And They Lived…Ever After is, at its heart, a book about people. That is where the magic lives — in the way the stories centre fairy tales around the human experience and its variety. Inclusive, honest and hopeful, this book is for everyone.”
Rising Flame is a national award-winning non-profit organisation based in India, working for the recognition, protection and promotion of human rights of people with disabilities, particularly women and youth with disabilities. Rising Flame’s vision is to build an inclusive world in which diverse bodies, minds and voices thrive with dignity; live free of discrimination, abuse and violence; and enjoy equal opportunities and access.
