HOPE FOR RYAN WHITE

Ryan White fights for equality.

1n 1984, when Ryan is diagnosed with AIDS caused by hemophilia treatments, misconceptions abound. Even though doctors say AIDS can’t be transmitted by playing or sitting with someone, many in his hometown of Kokomo, Indiana, are afraid, and Ryan is barred from attending school. As Ryan educates the public about AIDS via TV interviews, some people change their opinions. But some spread rumors that Ryan is gay and trying to infect others. “The more the lies were repeated,” the author observes, “the more they seemed true.” After a yearlong court battle, Ryan is permitted to attend school. But though he receives supportive letters from around the world, his classmates still don’t accept him…until, in 1987, he moves to Cicero, Indiana, and meets Jill, who brainstorms a plan with school officials to educate students about AIDS. Students, in turn, educate parents, sparking a chain reaction: “The more people knew, the less they feared.” In addition to honoring White, the straightforward text effectively demonstrates both the dangers of misinformation and the power of empathy and education. Simple cartoon illustrations convey Ryan’s loneliness and joy as well as the public’s angry scowls, uneasy glances, and welcoming smiles. Backmatter details Ryan’s influence on AIDS legislation and answers frequently asked questions about HIV and AIDS. Ryan, his family, and Jill present White; background characters are racially diverse. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Thought-provoking and uplifting.