One of the things I noticed while going through the lists of nominations looking for mental health books last week, was there were a lot more books featuring characters who are differently abled then I expected. Then I remembered that “Disability Visibility” is a High School Nonfiction finalist, and this week’s list is born. Hopefully, every book I’ve chosen is a positive depiction. We need more of those!
Disability Visibility (Adapted for Young Adults): 17 First-Person Stories for Today
Edited by Alice Wong
Delacorte Press Books for Young Readers
“The emphasis is not on the nature of the challenging situation or condition, but on the consequences that led to a reaction and action toward a better future. back matter cites the original sources for each essay and also provides a very brief bio related to the differences that each deals with.” – Sandy Brehl
Jubilee: The First Therapy Horse and an Olympic Dream
by KT Johnston, illustrated by Anabella Ortiz
Capstone Editions
“For a unique look at challenging conceptions of disability try this relatable and inspiring title.” – Genevieve Ford
Listen: How Evelyn Glennie, a Deaf Girl, Changed Percussion
by Shannon Stocker, illustrated by Devon Holzwarth
Dial Books
“Beautifully written, and deeply moving, the success and perseverance of Evelyn Glennie is remarkable.” – TheBrookeList
Hummingbird
by Natalie Lloyd
Scholastic
Etta Invincible
by Reese Eschmann
Aladdin
“There are lots of challenges – crazy magical train for one, of course, but also the risk of her vertigo, and communication difficulties between Etta’s unreliable hearing and Eleazar’s discomfort with English. And although both of these are very serious issues, the adventures on the train fall more into the superhero-like fun action, making this a very entertaining read while dealing with themes of the importance of accepting the full array of one’s emotions.” – Katy K.
A Bird Will Soar
by Alison Green Myers
Dutton Books for Young Readers
Air: A Novel
by Monica Roe
Farrar, Straus & Giroux
“AIR is an upbeat, empowering, and engaging story that teaches lots of valuable lessons without being preachy or heavy-handed.” – Susan at Blogging About Books
Anybody Here Seen Frenchie?
by Leslie Connor
Katherine Tegen Books
“The characters in this book are delightful, including loud and exuberant Aurora, who’s so good at noticing what Frenchie needs, the softball coach who knows woodcraft, the couple who bakes and delivers blueberry pies, and Frenchie himself, who keeps pictures of birds in his special needlepoint purse. ” – Sondra Eklund
Ellen Outside the Lines
by A. J. Sass
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Out of My Heart
by Sharon M. Draper
Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books
I Am Odd, I Am New
by Benjamin Giroux, illustrated by Roz MacLean
Schiffer Publishing, Ltd
My Brain is Different: Stories of ADHD and Other Developmental Disorders
by MONZUSU
Seven Seas
Azar on Fire
by Olivia Abtahi
Nancy Paulsen Books
“Azar on Fire is an appealing book for young readers interested in music, bands, diverse characters, or physical differences.” – Gary Anderson
Rules of Falling
by Leslie Tall Manning
Leslie Tall Manning