Young readers today expect more books that represent the reality of their lives—in other words, books reflecting the broad diversity of humanity as they know it. One positive development is an uptick in the number of books by authors with disabilities featuring leading characters who share their experiences. In these novels, being disabled is one facet of well-rounded characterization, and the characters lead meaningful lives. Disabilities aren’t used as plot devices to elicit pity or exploited to serve as inspiration.
Disability is a broad term covering a tremendous range of different experiences, both cognitive and physical, that have varying degrees of impact and visibility. Unlike many other marginalized identities, the disabled community is one that anyone can join at any time; long Covid has brought this truth to widespread awareness like never before. Between the large number of teens living with disabilities and the even larger number who have family and friends with disabilities, the relative invisibility of this subject in literature for so long is even more striking. The following thoughtful, intriguing 2022 titles written with the perspective of lived experiences span a variety of genres. They’re worth picking up and hopefully will pave the way for even more to come.
All the Right Reasons by Bethany Mangle (McElderry, Feb. 15): This romance offers double the fun as divorced mother Julia and her daughter, Cara, go on a reality dating show for single parents. Potential stepsiblings meeting each other and their possible future stepparents increase the opportunities for drama. It’s refreshing to meet a disabled love interest: Connor, biracial Cara’s beau and son of another contestant, shares the author’s Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. Like Mangle, Julia is a Korean American transracial adoptee.
The Moth Girl by Heather Kamins (Putnam, March 8): Kamins’ moving author’s note describes her own lupus diagnosis as a teen, the respectful representation of chronic illness she hungered for in books and other media, and her decision to invent a condition called lepidopsy for her novel. Sophomore Anna is a keen cross-country runner who at first tries to ignore the symptoms she experiences after exercising. Her diagnosis brings radical changes for her daily life and friendships.
One for All by Lillie Lainoff (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, March 8): This work set in France in 1655 follows Tania de Batz, daughter of a retired musketeer. Lainoff, writing from her own experience of postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, presents a protagonist who faces the challenges of ableism and sexism. Thanks to her father’s tutelage, Tania is a talented sword fighter who enters a school where young women are secretly trained to become daring, undercover musketeers who apprehend traitors.
Breathe and Count Back From Ten by Natalia Sylvester (Clarion/HarperCollins, May 10): Verónica is, like the author, a young Peruvian American woman with hip dysplasia. Against her parents’ wishes, talented, athletic Vero joins a local aquatic park’s mermaid show, finds a charming and attentive boyfriend, and takes steps toward asserting her right to make medical decisions about her body. The book carefully unpacks messages around beauty standards and perceptions of bodies—especially female ones—with scars and other outward differences.
You, Me, and Our Heartstrings by Melissa See (Scholastic, July 19): Debut author See brings her experiences as a violinist with cerebral palsy to this romance. When Daisy (violin) and Noah (cello) are paired for a duet, life takes an unexpected turn. The teens, who come from disparate socio-economic backgrounds, have their sights set on Juilliard. Their performance—and romance—goes viral, shining a spotlight on the tropes of inspiration porn and stereotypes about relationships between disabled and nondisabled people.
Laura Simeon is a young readers’ editor.
