A Story that Resonates with Cerebral Palsy Families
Rewriting the Rules is more than an inspiring biography—it’s a guidepost for families learning to navigate a new reality. Instead of defining children by what they can’t do, the story invites readers to see the vast possibilities that exist when creativity, perseverance, and support come together.
Parents can find comfort in following Kathleen’s journey - from a childhood where a doctor tells her what she would “never” achieve, to a life where she surpasses those limits with grace and determination.
For children with cerebral palsy, seeing someone with the same diagnosis grow into a scientist leading groundbreaking research is an extraordinary kind of role modeling. It tells them that their ambitions, whether in science, art, sports, or anything else, are valid and attainable.
This story also introduces the concept of neuroplasticity in a way children can grasp—showing that the brain is capable of adapting, forming new pathways, and building skills over time.
Paired with vibrant illustrations full of movement and color, the story communicates energy, capability, and joy. It’s a reminder that while cerebral palsy may shape someone’s journey, it doesn’t define their destination.
About the Book Rewriting the Rules
Written by Danna Zeiger and illustrated with a vibrant mix of collage, pastels, digital montage, and more, this picture-book biography is aimed at early elementary readers (grades 1–4) and suitable for ages 8–9.
At its heart, the story begins when young Kathleen is diagnosed with cerebral palsy—and a doctor rattles off a list of things she will never be able to do. After her family walks away from that prognosis and finds a more supportive care team, Kathleen learns to find her own ways—whether tying shoelaces, blowing dandelions, or later studying how brains heal and connect.
The artwork and narrative cleverly shift focus—from limitations, to creative adaptations to scientific achievement. Reviewers note that it's especially thoughtful in highlighting her accomplishments “rather than a singular focus on cerebral palsy.”
The Life and Work of Kathleen Friel
Kathleen M. Friel, Ph.D., is as remarkable in real life as she appears on the page. Diagnosed with cerebral palsy as a child, she grew up with a curiosity that matched her determination to challenge expectations.
Her academic path reflects that drive—earning a B.A. in Biology from Rice University, an M.S. in Neuroscience from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, and a Ph.D. in Neurophysiology from the University of Kansas Medical Center.
She continued to refine her expertise with a postdoctoral fellowship at Columbia University Medical Center, and later earned an M.S. in Biostatistics focused on patient-oriented research from Columbia University.
Today, Dr. Friel leads the Clinical Laboratory for Early Brain Injury Recovery at Burke Neurological Institute. She also serves as Director of Cerebral Palsy Research at Blythedale Children’s Hospital and sits on the Scientific Advisory Council for the Cerebral Palsy Foundation.
Her research focuses on how motor activity can help the brain rewire itself after injury, with the goal of creating practical therapies that improve real-world function for people living with neurological conditions.
Dr. Friel’s story is not just one of personal achievement, but of service. She uses her platform to explore new ways of supporting individuals with cerebral palsy, ensuring that her research has the power to shape daily lives as much as it advances scientific understanding.
Her career embodies the message of Rewriting the Rules: the idea that with vision and persistence, the boundaries set by others can be expanded or erased entirely.
More than Just a Children’s Book
This isn’t just a charming kids’ book. It’s a bridge—from clinical terms like “motor activity,” “neuroplasticity,” and “biostatistics,” to heartfelt family reality—where parents can see their children not as defined by a label, but as humans with unique potential.
Zeiger takes young readers - and their grown-ups – on a walk alongside Kathleen, from first challenges to scientific triumphs. For those early days of diagnosis, that perspective offers more than reassurance—it’s a reframing of what’s truly possible.
If you’re navigating the early days after a CP diagnosis—either for yourself, a child, or as part of a caregiving circle—Rewriting the Rules offers something rare: a blend of realism, optimism, and science-touched warmth. It gently reminds us all that labels don’t limit, and that with creativity, research, and nurturing, children with cerebral palsy can chart paths we’re only beginning to imagine.
Sources:
McDermott, B. Cape Codder with cerebral palsy leads award-winning lab - now focus of new children's book. Cape Cod Times. (August 9, 2025). Retrieved from https://www.capecodtimes.com/story/entertainment/books/2025/08/09/cape-cod-neuroscience-lab-rewriting-the-rules-book-kathleen-friel-cerebral-palsy/85561902007/
