World Made of Glass by Ami Polonsky
Set in the late 80’s, Iris is a young girl trying to navigate a world where AIDS is off limits to talk about, and she desperately wants to talk about it. Her dad is dying of AIDS, and she feels like she has to hide what she is going through.
Once her dad dies, she sees how people she thought were her friends, who she thought were her safe places, feared her. As if she could pass on a disease that she doesn’t even have to them by just being in the same room. It was sad to see how she was grieving her dad and a lot of her close relationships. I do understand that there wasn’t a ton of information out about AIDs at the time, but even people who had the facts were still nervous around her. That has to hurt. But she finds new people who understand what she is going through.
She starts to spend time with her dad’s friends, including his boyfriend. She learns a lot about her dad and how much he clearly talked about her. She also learned about his activism and started getting involved. I like how many people spoke to her as an ally and didn’t try to shield her from anything. She goes to meetings and protests to speak out about what is happening to those with AIDS and HIV. She heals herself as she helps others.
In the author’s note, the author tells about what was true and what was fiction in her book. She also hopes this book will inspire people to use their voices to fight for justice. I spoke with a few teachers at school who remember this time in the US. They remember how some people were truly scared to be around those who were sick. I vaguely remember people talking about this when I was a kid, but I didn’t see it as something that I had to worry about. I wonder if I would have been one of those who feared the sick. I know I am not great around sick people, but if I knew I wasn’t going to get sick from being near them, I think, or at least hope, I would be kind to them.
Five out of Five Magical Coffee Cups
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