something unique to the reader, she has been particularly inspired by Lucindha Lhathini Lawson – born profoundly deaf and rejected by her family, her love of football helped her develop talents and a career that saw her represent Great Britain in the Deaflympics in 2013. Manisha says: “I knew about Lucindha, but I did not know the depth of her story. When I was interviewing her, there was so much that I learned about her courage and grit. She explains how she didn’t feel included as a person who was Sri Lankan and deaf, was disowned
by her own family and went through foster care.
“She has had success as a footballer, and recently became a European Champion in the Deaf Futsal Championships, but the important thing for me was inspiring deaf children out there reading that story.
“The message throughout the book is to not be limited – dream big and take inspiration from all of these stories, whatever you want to be.” PEN&INC.
l Dream Like Me, published by HopeRoad, is out now.
journalists – as well as the players. I knew that it needed that diversity. “Children tell me that they have been inspired by the stories, but also that they did not know that some of these jobs exist – it confirmed that I had taken the right approach to the book.”
With more than 40 stories, there is plenty of scope to find one that appeals – but does Manisha have a favourite? She says that while all of them offer
Spring-Summer 2023
PEN&INC. 23
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60
