Disability Books for Teens and Kids
As a chronically ill teen, I didn’t see myself in books. Every protagonist was beautiful, talented, and able-bodied, and I struggled to relate to such “perfect” characters. But these days, more and more disabled literature is coming out for kids and teens. Young people from a wide range of disabilities have the opportunity to see themselves in the pages of a book.
This week, let’s look at a few nonfiction books for kids and teens.
Disability Visibility (Adapted for Young Adults): 17 First-Person Stories for Today edited by Alice Wong
In this young adult adaptation of Disability Visibility, editor Alice Wong presents 17 essays from disabled, chronically ill, Deaf, and neurodivergent authors. This collection gives disabled teens a chance to see themselves in a way they may not have been able to before. Nondisabled readers will gain insight into what it’s like to live with a wide range of disabilities. Disabled people have their own histories, cultures, and movements, which deserve to be celebrated.
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A Face for Picasso: Coming of Age with Crouzon Syndrome by Ariel Henley
Henley and her twin sister were born with Crouzon Syndrome, a condition where the bones of the skull fuse too early. From an early age, Henley and her sister had numerous surgeries to try to “fix” their appearance. Henley kept waiting for the surgery that would give her the face she had always imagined for herself. Maybe then the other kids wouldn’t make fun of her. But as time passes, she begins to realize that the importance of self-acceptance and self-love are more important than strangers’ opinions.
El Deafo by Cece Bell
Bell’s graphic memoir reimagines herself as a rabbit with a superhero alter ego. Young Cece worries about starting at a new school, especially since she has to wear a hearing aid strapped to her chest because she’s Deaf. At her old school, everyone was Deaf. But now, she’s the only Deaf kid in her class.
To combat her anxiety, she imagines herself as the Deaf superhero, El Deafo, who can hear things far away with her incredible hearing aid. El Deafo helps Deaf kids feel seen and understood. Cece is so relatable as finds her inner courage as she lives her life with her disability. El Deafo went on to win the Vermont Golden Dome Book Award, was a Newbery Medal Winner, and is now an animated series on Apple+.
That’s it for this week! You can find me over on my substack Winchester Ave or over on Instagram @kdwinchester. As always, feel free to drop me a line at kendra.d.winchester@gmail.com. For even MORE bookish content, you can find my articles over on Book Riot.
