What do you think?
Rate this book
Pretty for a Crippled Girl: A Memoir of Disability & Mobility
Pretty for a Crippled Girl is an uncensored, honest, at times painfully raw and yet, funny and entertaining memoir. Teri Siri was born with Cerebral Palsy (CP)and her twin sister Tammy did not have any physical disabilities. They are both beautiful.
When Teri was a baby, doctors advised placing her in an institution because she would most likely be a "vegetable." Fortunately, her family did not take that advice.
Over the years, Teri Siri has gone on to live a full, active life as an independent woman of independent means who lives life on her own terms. She achieved financial independence through challenging work. In addition, she has had a love life filled with good sex, heartbreak, marriage, divorce, and now, a long-term meaningful partnership that includes long motorcycle trips. Along the way, Teri has traveled internationally multiple times, skydived, bungy jumped, sailed, and successfully tried just about anything she was told she couldn't do because of her physical limitations. If someone told Teri she couldn't achieve something, she would prove them wrong.
Alongside describing her full productive life, Teri writes about the tremendous prejudice she has faced as a person with a physical disability. She describes the constant oblivious comments, jokes, questions, and downright hurtful things people have said and done because she has physical differences. Thus, the title of her Many people have said directly to Teri she was "pretty for a crippled girl." They've also said this behind her back, but within earshot.
Teri doesn't tell these stories as a victim or a whiner, but rather as someone who wants the world to understand the constant barrage of demeaning and dismissive comments that people with disabilities, both physical and mentally, face on a daily basis. One of Teri's favorite words is "fuck." She embraces this word in all its grammatical forms and in all the places and circumstances where Teri sees fuck as the most appropriate expression.
Teri's memoir is a testament to what an individual can accomplish despite naysayers' discouragement and dismissive societal stereotypes that dehumanize people who face disabilities. Once you read Teri's account you will find insight into what it might be like for a person facing the challenges of a disability. This memoir is the real deal, a firsthand account beyond medical descriptions or assumptions. If you face physical or invisible challenges, you will find camaraderie in this book with someone who knows what it's like.
Teri's memoir is an excellent read for anyone facing the challenges of a disability, whether physical or otherwise. This is an important read for family members, medical professionals, and the world at large.
When Teri was a baby, doctors advised placing her in an institution because she would most likely be a "vegetable." Fortunately, her family did not take that advice.
Over the years, Teri Siri has gone on to live a full, active life as an independent woman of independent means who lives life on her own terms. She achieved financial independence through challenging work. In addition, she has had a love life filled with good sex, heartbreak, marriage, divorce, and now, a long-term meaningful partnership that includes long motorcycle trips. Along the way, Teri has traveled internationally multiple times, skydived, bungy jumped, sailed, and successfully tried just about anything she was told she couldn't do because of her physical limitations. If someone told Teri she couldn't achieve something, she would prove them wrong.
Alongside describing her full productive life, Teri writes about the tremendous prejudice she has faced as a person with a physical disability. She describes the constant oblivious comments, jokes, questions, and downright hurtful things people have said and done because she has physical differences. Thus, the title of her Many people have said directly to Teri she was "pretty for a crippled girl." They've also said this behind her back, but within earshot.
Teri doesn't tell these stories as a victim or a whiner, but rather as someone who wants the world to understand the constant barrage of demeaning and dismissive comments that people with disabilities, both physical and mentally, face on a daily basis. One of Teri's favorite words is "fuck." She embraces this word in all its grammatical forms and in all the places and circumstances where Teri sees fuck as the most appropriate expression.
Teri's memoir is a testament to what an individual can accomplish despite naysayers' discouragement and dismissive societal stereotypes that dehumanize people who face disabilities. Once you read Teri's account you will find insight into what it might be like for a person facing the challenges of a disability. This memoir is the real deal, a firsthand account beyond medical descriptions or assumptions. If you face physical or invisible challenges, you will find camaraderie in this book with someone who knows what it's like.
Teri's memoir is an excellent read for anyone facing the challenges of a disability, whether physical or otherwise. This is an important read for family members, medical professionals, and the world at large.
- GenresMemoir
244 pages, Paperback
Published January 13, 2026
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
January 18, 2026
Please read. It’s worth every moment of your time. Is so fun and light for a book dealing with difficult topics.
January 26, 2026
One of the strongest elements of this book is Teri Siri’s voice. You get the sense of a woman who doesn’t want your pity and doesn’t sugar-coat reality. Her language is direct, at times coarse, and always personal. According to the publisher’s description, “One of Teri’s favorite words is ‘fuck.’ She embraces this word … in all the places and circumstances where Teri sees fuck as the most appropriate expression.” Barnes & Noble That choice of tone isn’t gratuitous—it’s completely consistent with someone who has been told “you can’t” and repeatedly made the decision to do so. It makes the book feel immediate, alive, and real.
Teri’s narrative covers more than just the physical challenges of CP. She writes about schooling, frequent moves, leg-casts and surgeries, but also about love, sex, heartbreak, marriage, divorce, travel, motorcycles, and adventure. She doesn’t shy away from the parts of life that many “disability memoirs” might avoid—the messy, the erotic, the angry, the outrageous. That breadth of experience is one of the memoir’s gifts: to show that living with a disability doesn’t mean living a truncated or sanitized life.
A recurrent theme is how society views people with disabilities—and the small (and large) ways those views impose limits. Siri recounts the demeaning things people have said—remarks like “pretty for a crippled girl.” The title of the book itself is a cruel reflection of the backhanded compliment she has heard. In doing so, she calls attention to the fact that society often defines disabled people by what they lack or what they aren’t, rather than who they are. She holds that mirror up and invites the reader to see how pervasive and casual ableism can be.
But the memoir is far from victim-hood. Teri repeatedly rejects being defined by others’ expectations. She chooses independence, challenge, and risk. She skydives, bungy jumps, sails, and travels internationally. Barnes & Noble These episodes aren’t just thrills—though they are thrilling—but anchors for a larger argument: the person with a physical disability is not inherently lesser, not inherently limited. The book invites us to reimagine “normal,” to see living with difference not as “less than” but as simply different, with its own possibilities.
Teri’s narrative covers more than just the physical challenges of CP. She writes about schooling, frequent moves, leg-casts and surgeries, but also about love, sex, heartbreak, marriage, divorce, travel, motorcycles, and adventure. She doesn’t shy away from the parts of life that many “disability memoirs” might avoid—the messy, the erotic, the angry, the outrageous. That breadth of experience is one of the memoir’s gifts: to show that living with a disability doesn’t mean living a truncated or sanitized life.
A recurrent theme is how society views people with disabilities—and the small (and large) ways those views impose limits. Siri recounts the demeaning things people have said—remarks like “pretty for a crippled girl.” The title of the book itself is a cruel reflection of the backhanded compliment she has heard. In doing so, she calls attention to the fact that society often defines disabled people by what they lack or what they aren’t, rather than who they are. She holds that mirror up and invites the reader to see how pervasive and casual ableism can be.
But the memoir is far from victim-hood. Teri repeatedly rejects being defined by others’ expectations. She chooses independence, challenge, and risk. She skydives, bungy jumps, sails, and travels internationally. Barnes & Noble These episodes aren’t just thrills—though they are thrilling—but anchors for a larger argument: the person with a physical disability is not inherently lesser, not inherently limited. The book invites us to reimagine “normal,” to see living with difference not as “less than” but as simply different, with its own possibilities.
May 9, 2026
Pretty for a Crippled Girl is a book that I encourage all adult readers to read. The author writes about challenges she faced and how she was determined to make a great life! With an intelligent mindset to have a career, travel, seek adventures, fall in love and provide for herself being financially independent. From her highs (skydiving!) to her lows which included unfair discrimination, unkind treatment and people who were ignorant to her capabilities or how to communicate appropriately. Throughout the book, the readers will experience so many emotions. Laughter, sadness, amazement and sometimes pain for what this "Pretty Girl " endured! It will inspire and encourage so many readers with or without physical disabilities to not let other people's doubts in us cause us to doubt ourselves!
February 5, 2026
I absolutely loved this book!
Forget the” inspirational” fluff you usually see. Pretty for a crippled girl is a gut- punch of a memoir that refuses to play the victim. Teri Siri’s story of living with cerebral palsy is loud, funny, and incredibly raw (yes she uses the F -word exactly when it’s needed). From skydiving to navigating a world that still can’t figure out accessible bathroom. She shreds every stereotype about what a “disabled life looks like. Read this if you want the real deal, not a pity party.”
Forget the” inspirational” fluff you usually see. Pretty for a crippled girl is a gut- punch of a memoir that refuses to play the victim. Teri Siri’s story of living with cerebral palsy is loud, funny, and incredibly raw (yes she uses the F -word exactly when it’s needed). From skydiving to navigating a world that still can’t figure out accessible bathroom. She shreds every stereotype about what a “disabled life looks like. Read this if you want the real deal, not a pity party.”
May 19, 2026
Brava, Teri! I applaud the courage and inner resilience you’ve shown in the recounting of your life-long — and continuing — journey with such impressive candor. Your book is bound to have a much needed and welcomed ripple effect as readers share the enlightening insights and challenging lessons you’ve related. Your story will touch and resonate with many, regardless of whether or not they live with similar physical and/or emotional challenges. Thank you for your bravery, your empathy, for reaching beyond and turning the light on for others.
January 19, 2026
5 stars.
Pretty for a Crippled Girl is fearless, hilarious, and brutally honest. Teri Siri doesn’t ask for pity, she demands respect, and she earns it on every page. Her stories expose the everyday prejudice disabled people face while celebrating a life lived boldly, independently, and unapologetically. This book will make you laugh, cringe, get angry, and rethink how you see disability. Required reading.
Pretty for a Crippled Girl is fearless, hilarious, and brutally honest. Teri Siri doesn’t ask for pity, she demands respect, and she earns it on every page. Her stories expose the everyday prejudice disabled people face while celebrating a life lived boldly, independently, and unapologetically. This book will make you laugh, cringe, get angry, and rethink how you see disability. Required reading.
July 8, 2026
This is one awesome book every one should read it to understand that life can be normal for anyone with a disability as long as this world will allow it. She can do a lot more than people think she can and her stories are so touching. Awesome read.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews