National Network for Equitable Library Service

The vividly told, gloriously illustrated memoir of an artist born with disabilities who searches for freedom and connection in a society afraid of strange bodies. “Golem Girl is luminous; a profound portrait of the artist as a young—and mature—woman; an unflinching social history of disability over the last six decades; and a hymn to life, love, family, and spirit.” —David Mitchell, author of Cloud Atlas. In 1958, Riva Lehrer is born with spina bifida and expected not to survive. Her parents and doctors are determined to “fix” her, reinforcing the idea that she is broken and will never live a full life. Enduring countless medical interventions, she strives to be a good patient in pursuit of normalcy. Everything shifts when she discovers a community of disabled artists, writers, and performers who reject stereotypes and celebrate Disability Culture as a force of creativity and resistance. Riva begins to paint their portraits, inventing an intimate, collaborative process that reshapes how she sees herself and others. Through these portraits, she reclaims her body, sexuality, and story. Golem Girl is a cinematic, deeply personal narrative woven with wit, love, and resilience, accompanied by the author's stunning artwork. This memoir invites readers to imagine a world where all bodies are worthy and belonging transcends normal. Includes a PDF of illustrations and photographs, also uniquely described in the audiobook. Praise for Golem Girl: “Lehrer’s story is a revelation of an inner subjective life—full of tragedy, love, and creativity—pushing against the external social stigmas, cultural narratives, and prejudices surrounding disability. She admits a felt kinship with other ‘monsters’ because their bodies were also ‘built by human hands,’ but unlike them, she is her own purpose, her own meaning, her own unstoppable golem.” —Stephen Asma, author of On Monsters: An Unnatural History of Our Worst Fears.