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The Courage to Compete: Living with Cerebral Palsy and Following My Dreams – An Inspiring Story About Making History and Helping Girls with Disabilities
A remarkable memoir by Miss Iowa USA Abbey Curran about living with cerebral palsy, competing in Miss USA, and her inspiring work with young women who have disabilities. Abbey Curran was born with cerebral palsy, but early on she resolved to never let it limit her. Abbey made history when she became the first contestant with a disability to win a major beauty pageant. After earning the title of Miss Iowa, she went on to compete in Miss USA. Growing up on a hog farm in Illinois, Abbey competed in local pageants despite naysayers who told her not to. After realizing her own dream, she went on to help other disabled girls achieve their goals by starting Miss You Can Do It, a national nonprofit pageant for girls and women with special needs and challenges, which became the subject of an HBO documentary with the same name. This is Abbey’s story.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published September 8, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
October 31, 2015
As a girl with a disability, this book was very inspiring and showed me that my disability can't and won't stop me from achieving my dreams.
August 23, 2018
3.5 Stars
I’m not really sure how I feel about this book. While it does show an inspiring journey, from “farm girl” to “Miss Iowa” to “Miss USA contestant” with cerebral palsy, the writing felt more middle grade than YA, even though the content itself was directed more towards YA. I also just didn’t quite feel like I got the full spectrum of “this is hard” and “I did it” from the book; it seemed to me like some of the challenges Abbey Curran faced weren’t really highlighted to give me that feeling of excitement when she reached her goals. However, even though I don’t really agree with the general idea of beauty pageants, I felt like I got something out of the book - a better understanding the reasons why so many girls participate in pageants and a better understanding of what we as a society need to do to to recognize the fact that people with disabilities are people too, with hopes and dreams and thoughts just like us.
I’m not really sure how I feel about this book. While it does show an inspiring journey, from “farm girl” to “Miss Iowa” to “Miss USA contestant” with cerebral palsy, the writing felt more middle grade than YA, even though the content itself was directed more towards YA. I also just didn’t quite feel like I got the full spectrum of “this is hard” and “I did it” from the book; it seemed to me like some of the challenges Abbey Curran faced weren’t really highlighted to give me that feeling of excitement when she reached her goals. However, even though I don’t really agree with the general idea of beauty pageants, I felt like I got something out of the book - a better understanding the reasons why so many girls participate in pageants and a better understanding of what we as a society need to do to to recognize the fact that people with disabilities are people too, with hopes and dreams and thoughts just like us.
July 10, 2017
1.5
Man, I feel like a real grump for raining on the author's "You can do it!" positivity parade, but this was just not good. Curran comes off as a vapid pageant cliche who idolizes princesses and unironically brags about having good typing skills, and the writing is uninteresting and repetitive.
I also thought there was a weird undercurrent in the author's treatment of other folks with disabilities, but maybe that's just me.
Man, I feel like a real grump for raining on the author's "You can do it!" positivity parade, but this was just not good. Curran comes off as a vapid pageant cliche who idolizes princesses and unironically brags about having good typing skills, and the writing is uninteresting and repetitive.
I also thought there was a weird undercurrent in the author's treatment of other folks with disabilities, but maybe that's just me.
January 22, 2022
This book did good in encouraging young girl’s to have confidence to follow their dreams. It also helps people to see that they shouldn’t judge a book by its cover.
However I did not like that she kept saying she “wasn’t as cool” as other people. That just irritated me.
However I did not like that she kept saying she “wasn’t as cool” as other people. That just irritated me.
November 1, 2015
The Courage to Compete by Elizabeth Kaye is an impressive memoir about Abbey Curran living with cerebral palsy. She promised herself to never come up with excuses, only because of a disability. Abbey always proved others wrong when they would say that she cannot do a certain thing because of her challenge. When she grew up on a hog farm in Iowa, she always used to compete in local pageants. When realizing things she wanted to achieve in her own lifetime, she started the Miss You Can Do It pageant for girls and women with challenges like herself. This pageant became a prime topic of an HBO documentary. Along with that, Abbey became the first contestant with a disability to win a huge beauty pageant. She earned the title of Miss Iowa, moving on to compete in the Miss USA pageant. Abbey Curran shows how brave and honest she really is in this story. This story did not only show her struggles, people who bully against her, and finding within herself to blaze a path, but to look for other ways to help and encourage others with disabilities or challenges.
September 18, 2015
I wanted to read The Courage to Compete because I admired Abbey's strength and motto to try. I am drawn to books with illness or disability, and although I normally shy away from nonfiction, this one just caught my eye.
I think that she is extremely brave, and I love how open and honest she is. About her struggles, about people who bully against her, about her disability, and about finding within herself to not only blaze a path, but look for other ways to help and encourage other's with disabilities or challenges.
Bottom Line: Heartfelt look into one young woman's life, facing down her disability and rising above.
I think that she is extremely brave, and I love how open and honest she is. About her struggles, about people who bully against her, about her disability, and about finding within herself to not only blaze a path, but look for other ways to help and encourage other's with disabilities or challenges.
Bottom Line: Heartfelt look into one young woman's life, facing down her disability and rising above.
Did Not Finish
May 24, 2016Ugh! Just one cliche and overused theme after another. Abbey Curan actually has a really inspiring story, but the writing felt like one really long, unremarkable school essay.
July 1, 2021
For anyone who knows me will understand why I love this! I have mild CP and feel the same way in some of the things she had to say.
July 30, 2018
Every child and teenager has challenges when growing up. There is always friend drama, relationship problems, and family issues. Now imagine having these life difficulties combined with cerebral palsy. This is Abbey Curran’s life, which she shares in her memoir, The Courage to Compete. She starts the book by beginning with her childhood and the difficulties she had to overcome living on a farm in rural Illinois with cerebral palsy. Abbey went to a Catholic school for elementary and middle school, but in high school, she began attending the local, public one. This caused many problems when dealing with students who did not know she had cerebral palsy. Abbey continued her story by explaining how she got into beauty pageants, and even created her own. Finally, Abbey wins Miss Iowa and tells the story of her Miss USA competition, HBO special, and her very own Miss You Can Do It pageant, the entire time explaining how her CP never held her back.
Throughout the entire book, Abbey is extremely positive, repeating that she has never and will never allow her cerebral palsy to limit her in any way. The message was strong and through a variety of examples, she showed how she has overcome lots of obstacles that many people, including her family, thought she could never achieve. Initially, there were many unnecessary details that made the storyline drag on. Additionally, Abbey repeated that she is 110% independent and does not need help- I feel that since this book is focused on teenagers, they should know that it is ok to ask for help, and needing assistance is not a sign of weakness. In one chapter, Abbey discussed the special education room of her high school and how bad she felt for the students that had to be in that room. If Abbey does not want anyone feeling bad for her and her challenges, I found it hypocritical that she felt bad for others who also had difficulties. Seeing Abbey accomplish all of her dreams and more was inspiring and she should be proud of how she represents the community of girls with disabilities.
Throughout the entire book, Abbey is extremely positive, repeating that she has never and will never allow her cerebral palsy to limit her in any way. The message was strong and through a variety of examples, she showed how she has overcome lots of obstacles that many people, including her family, thought she could never achieve. Initially, there were many unnecessary details that made the storyline drag on. Additionally, Abbey repeated that she is 110% independent and does not need help- I feel that since this book is focused on teenagers, they should know that it is ok to ask for help, and needing assistance is not a sign of weakness. In one chapter, Abbey discussed the special education room of her high school and how bad she felt for the students that had to be in that room. If Abbey does not want anyone feeling bad for her and her challenges, I found it hypocritical that she felt bad for others who also had difficulties. Seeing Abbey accomplish all of her dreams and more was inspiring and she should be proud of how she represents the community of girls with disabilities.
April 29, 2024
I have Cerebral Palsy as well as Hydrocephalus and visual disabilities. I love fashion, so I really wanted to listen to this. I have heard of pageants and do know some people with CP who take part in them.
I liked Abbey's backstory and how supportive her family were. I know what it's like growing up in a town as a person with CP and the other disabilities I have: places aren't always accessible, and that adds more difficulties. I was fascinated by her life on the farm where she grew up.
From Abbey's descriptions of her movement and balance difficulties and from knowing others with her type of CP, it was easy to imagine what she goes through daily.
I have a different kind of CP and am in a powered wheelchair and rely on others for daily care and support.
The world of pageants has always fascinated me. I think there's a good side where participants are encouraged to love their bodies how they are, but I also worry about whether the organizers will respect each and every participant.
This was something I was concerned about with Abbey. She always did her best in every test and task. It was interesting witnessing how she went from one pageant to another and was constantly searching for a different pageant experience.
I felt caught up in the writing, and it felt like a cross between a memoir and a journal, which is what I liked.
It was immersive and easy to listen to.
I did feel, however, that she glossed over the real exhaustion a person with CP feels during the day, or at the end of the day. I know everyone with CP is different, as one thing doctors and therapists always say is "No two people with CP are affected the same." This is true even if they have the same type of CP.
I know people with CP also have different levels of strength, stamina and pain tolerance. I was interested to find out how she met other girls in pageants and eventually organized her own.
Overall, The Courage to Compete: Living with Cerebral Palsy and Following My Dreams was an interesting and informative memoir. Abbey shows determination, strength and, as the title says, courage.
4.5 stars
I liked Abbey's backstory and how supportive her family were. I know what it's like growing up in a town as a person with CP and the other disabilities I have: places aren't always accessible, and that adds more difficulties. I was fascinated by her life on the farm where she grew up.
From Abbey's descriptions of her movement and balance difficulties and from knowing others with her type of CP, it was easy to imagine what she goes through daily.
I have a different kind of CP and am in a powered wheelchair and rely on others for daily care and support.
The world of pageants has always fascinated me. I think there's a good side where participants are encouraged to love their bodies how they are, but I also worry about whether the organizers will respect each and every participant.
This was something I was concerned about with Abbey. She always did her best in every test and task. It was interesting witnessing how she went from one pageant to another and was constantly searching for a different pageant experience.
I felt caught up in the writing, and it felt like a cross between a memoir and a journal, which is what I liked.
It was immersive and easy to listen to.
I did feel, however, that she glossed over the real exhaustion a person with CP feels during the day, or at the end of the day. I know everyone with CP is different, as one thing doctors and therapists always say is "No two people with CP are affected the same." This is true even if they have the same type of CP.
I know people with CP also have different levels of strength, stamina and pain tolerance. I was interested to find out how she met other girls in pageants and eventually organized her own.
Overall, The Courage to Compete: Living with Cerebral Palsy and Following My Dreams was an interesting and informative memoir. Abbey shows determination, strength and, as the title says, courage.
4.5 stars
May 8, 2017
I enjoyed the book The Courage to Compete by Abbey Curran, because it is a story about a girl who has Cerebral Palsy and how she lives with it. People judge her because she is different and also they would laugh at her and not invite her to parties or talk to her. She gets the courage that she needs, and that she doesn't have to worry about how different she is and that she could do anything that people can do, like winning a pageant. She learns so much through it all and creates an idea that would make everyone feel like they can accomplish and make a difference in the world, even when you have a disability. My favorite part is when Abby, was the pageant and won because that made me feel like that no one should be judged about who they are, even if they are people with disabilities or anyone in the world today. I would recommend this book to people who like to hear about her life because she describes her life and makes you feel like that you were with her every step of her journey and following her dreams.
October 23, 2018
As a pageant girl myself, I was drawn to reading an incredible story. Such a sweet girl who grew up with a disability that she didn’t let stop her. She followed her dreams and in the process made the dreams of others come true as well. I think it’s important to remember that from a pageant perspective, this was an incredible feat, especially on the USA stage. Notorious for being viewed as just caring about image, this book told the story of a girl who was beautiful from the inside out. A cute story, and definitely a recommendation for any pageant participant and anyone who feels like the world is against them. Abbey will convince you otherwise.
October 7, 2017
Ms. Curran is an inspirational young person, and I imagine students will appreciate her take on the world.
December 5, 2017
Great Book, loved it soooo much, couldn't stop reading it
February 2, 2018
This book was very inspirational ! The author wrote the book in a deep and emotionally honest way that makes you able to picture her in your mind and feel like you know her.
August 22, 2019
I really like this book . I read it a few weeks ago for a project and really enjoyed it .
April 17, 2024
i have CP and I relate so much to her. I got to meet her. She inspires me so much, and is one of my role models.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews