In case you didn’t know, July is Disability Pride Month, celebrating the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. This is a Civil Rights Law passed thirty-two years ago this month, which aimed at preventing discrimination against disabled people. You can read more about Disability Pride Month here. But essentially, it’s kind of like Pride Month for disabled people. Which is kind of awesome. Because there is such a wide variety of disabilities and disabled people and experiences, and it is so important that we recognize all of them.

As a disabled person, I have found that while there are similarities, my experience isn’t quite like anyone else’s. And yet we tend to be lumped together under the same umbrella. I love the idea of a month where our differences, both within the disabled community and from the able-bodied population, can be celebrated.

This year, I have been trying to read more books both about disability and disabled people, or with disabled characters. And I have learned so much. I love that reading can shape the way I see the world, and I am immensely grateful that this is something I am able to explore. Representation matters, and it is so important that the disabled community is represented. Not just so that disabled people are able to see themselves in art, but so that disability is less stigmatized by society as a whole.

I put together a list of twenty books I think make perfect reads for Disability Pride Month (or any other month). Some of these I have read, others I am hoping to read. But all of them are valuable. I also tried to include a wide variety of genres so that hopefully you can find something you’re interested in reading. And because it’s important to see that disabled characters can be included in any genre from science fiction to romance.

Onto the books!

Disability Visibility: First Person Stories from the Twenty-First Century edited by Alice Wong

I am going to start off with the book I just finished, because we need to talk about Disability Visibility. This was my first encounter with Alice Wong, a fairly well-known disability activist. And I love her and have already looked into her other books and her podcast (also called Disability Visibility). This book is a curated collection of essays from an incredibly diverse group of disabled people. And it is brilliant.

This book does a really great job of highlighting not only the diversity within the disabled community, but also just how wide the range of disabled experiences is. There are essays that address social justice issues that affect disabled people. Discussions about how everyday life is different with a disability. Stories that are inspirational and ones that are difficult to read. But every single one is valuable. I loved this book, and am so very glad I read it. If you pick up one book for Disability Pride Month, make it this one.

Disfigured: On Fairy Tales, Disability, and Making Space by Amanda Leduc

Another nonfiction book I read earlier this year. This one is part memoir and part a discussion of the role of disability in fairy tales. You don’t have to read this book to know that disability representation in popular culture, let alone fairy tales is pretty bad. Just last year, we got a Disney movie lead who wears glasses. And the impact of not only seeing that, but also a strong woman on the screen was crazy. Because people were finally feeling seen. But how long until we get a princess with a mobility aid? Or a movie where the villain isn’t the only character with a disability?

I knew representation in fairy tales wasn’t great going into this book. So I was not prepared for how much this book would open my eyes to the reality of that situation. I had never considered things like how Scar in The Lion King is literally only known for his facial disfigurement. Or how not a single character gets a happily ever after without having to “fix” the thing that is wrong with them. Disability is rarely portrayed, and when it is, it’s usually on the part of the villain. Or as something to overcome or fix to be worthy of a happy ending.

I loved this book. It made me look at things differently, and did change the way I see books and movies, especially those that have fairy tale elements or inspiration. I highly recommend checking this book out, especially if you have children (particularly if those children are female or have a disability, no matter how small).

Hench by Natalie Zina Walschots

Moving on to some fiction with this awesome sci-fi novel. This book is about a woman working as a henchman for villains. In the course of her job, she is injured and subsequently disabled by one of the biggest superheroes in the world. And she is, understandably, pissed. So she starts looking into just how much damage “superheroes” do on a daily basis. And then starts sharing her findings. Which is how she ends up working for the most illusive and intimidating villains in the world.

This story is so. much. fun. I want a sequel and a movie and all the things from this author. I really loved seeing disability in a story that wasn’t sad or depressing or even contemporary. It’s important to have books like this that prove disabled characters don’t only exist in drama. They are more than just their disabilities. And they can take down horrible “heroes” despite having to use a cane and take pain meds. If anyone has any recommendations like this book, please leave them in the comments. I need to read ALL OF THEM immediately. Thanks.

The Girl in Red by Christina Henry

Since we’re talking about fairy tales… I had to include this retelling of Little Red Riding Hood. Our main character, Red, is a badass queer, biracial, disabled woman. Who is surviving in a post-apocalyptic nightmare. And trying to get to her grandmother’s house, naturally.

And while I do absolutely recommend this book if you like horror, I feel like I need to give a bit of a warning here. I read this when it came out in 2019 and loved it. I have since recommended it to a friend who made the point this hit a little close to home since the apocalypse in this book is caused by a virus. So just a heads-up there. Still a great book, but if you’re not into reading plague-based horror right now (which is totally fair), maybe go with a different book from this list.

Lost Boy by Christina Henry

Yes, this is the second Christina Henry book on this list. And I don’t even care. Because they’re both awesome. This is another fairy tale retelling, this time of Peter Pan. Except in this one, Peter is the villain. This is the story of Captain Hook. Who is yet another classic “villain” who is known by his disability. And what better way to celebrate Disability Pride Month than to subvert that nasty trope with a super cool fantasy novel?

This is told from Hook’s point of view. And is the story of how he became Peter Pan’s enemy. Which is not the story we all know (at least in this version). And it is fantastic. Fair warning, you will hate Peter after reading this, so maybe read Peter Pan first if you haven’t read either. Although Peter is kind of an ass in the original. Even Tinkerbell says so (repeatedly).

Sweet Bean Paste by Durian Sukegawa

A follower recommended this book to me earlier this year. I ended up reading it for my most recent reading experiment where I read (another) five Japanese bestsellers. And I have not stopped thinking about this since. It’s about a former criminal working off his debt at a dorayaki shop. Where he one day meets an elderly woman looking for a job. He is hesitant, because she has visibly crippled hands. But he gives her a chance, and they end up becoming friends.

I love these characters so much. This book is one of the most beautiful books I’ve read and a great example of Japanese literature. It’s easy to fall into this story, and connect with all of the characters. I also loved the little bit of Japanese history, especially how it relates to disability. Just a great book.

Get a Life Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert

If you want romance, Talia Hibbert’s got you. This book is the first in her series about the Brown sisters. But it holds a special place in my heart because it was the first romance book I read where I was able to see myself in the protagonist. Chloe is a chronically ill geek who suffers from bouts of pain. I can’t explain how absolutely refreshing it was to see a disabled main character in a romance novel. As a disabled person who occasionally enjoys romance, this was a very different experience. I’d read other books and occasionally think of how I would never have that. This book changed that. And I know it wasn’t just for me. So if you want a romance novel, but also want a great read for Disability Pride Month, this book is it.

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

I’m sure you already know this book. It has over a a million reviews on Goodreads, so I’d guess most of you have already read it. But if you haven’t, go do it now. This one is a historical novel set during WWII about a German boy and a blind French girl. Their stories intertwine as they both struggle to survive and help the resistance. I know there are a million and one WWII novels out there, but I promise this one is worth it.

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly by Jean-Dominique Bauby

This is simultaneously one of the most difficult and inspiring things I have ever read. It’s a memoir written by a former editor of French Vogue who, after suffering a massive stroke, develops “locked in” syndrome. He is completely paralyzed. His only functioning muscle is is left eyelid. Which he uses to write this memoir, letter by letter, blinking in response to letters of the alphabet.

It’s kind of a harmful stereotype that disabled people are “inspiring”, but here’s someone who truly was. He literally could only move one eyelid and used that to write his story. It’s absolutely worth reading, and the perfect classic or memoir to read for Disability Pride Month.

The Diviners series by Libba Bray (specifically Lair of Dreams)

I have been a fan of Libba Bray’s for almost twenty years (yes, I am old). But I think this series might be my favorite. It’s set in the 1920s, features a serial-killing ghost, and has one of the most diverse casts I’ve seen in a historical fiction novel. Case in point: Ling Chan, an asexual, Chinese-Irish lesbian who happens to be crippled and uses crutches. She makes her appearance in book two of the series, but even in 2015, that felt groundbreaking.

This series is a great example of how historical or fantasy YA can have a ton of diversity. I loved that this reflected the real world. And that the story isn’t about the diversity, there just happens to be diversity within the cast. And not not the side of the bad guys. That really shouldn’t feel as innovative as it is. We need more.

Just By Looking at Him by Ryan O’Connell

This is another new release that I just read and really enjoyed. It’s about a gay TV writer with cerebral palsy. And is written by a gay TV writer with cerebral palsy. I don’t have too much to say about this one except I thoroughly enjoyed the humor. This type of story about sex, drinking, dating, Hollywood is really not my thing. But the fact that I laughed out loud several times made this reading experience worth it. It’s a great pick for Disability Pride Month. Or Pride Month. Or any month, really. Especially if you’re interested in a book about dating, but also Hollywood drama.

The Secret Garden by Francis Hodgson Burnett

I haven’t read this book since I was maybe twelve, so it’s probably time to revisit it. But I do remember this being one of the first times (if not the first time) I saw a person in a wheelchair depicted in a book. Poor Colin Craven gets basically locked away by his father due to his poor health. His own pain makes him lash out, and people are afraid of him. Until our main character, his cousin Mary, slowly breaks down his walls and draws him out into the world again. Simply by treating him like a person.

Yes, this book has some problematic elements (you can read more here, if you’re curious). However, I did still want to mention it because there are not a lot of classics that portray disability. This did make an impact on me when I read it as a child. I’m sure there are better books to serve that purpose for kids now, but I still think it’s great that a children’s book published in 1910 featured a child character in a wheelchair.

The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo

I also had to include an adult classic on this list. And this felt like the obvious choice. Again, it has its problems (like basically any other classic novel). But it was also groundbreaking in it’s representation at the time it was written. And I do think it does a pretty good job of depicting how horribly disabled people are treated, especially if it’s a visible disability. Even today, it would be totally normal for a person with a physical deformity to be bullied and shamed. Babies have surgeries simply to mitigate the social stigma they may face later in life if they’re born with a deformity, like a hunchback.

Maybe I just enjoy the history of it, but a book that maybe garnered sympathy for a disabled character by showing how horribly they’re treated was a big deal in 1831. If you want to read more, I found this article really interesting. I do think this is a good pick if you’re looking for a classic to read for Disability Pride Month, but suggest reading it from more of a historical lens.

Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper

A lovely follower with cerebral palsy recommended this to me years ago. I immediately went out and purchased a copy… and then never got around to reading it. It’s about a girl who is unable to walk or talk, but refuses to be defined by her cerebral palsy. Which sounds amazing. I might try and pick it up soon. It’s a middle grade book, so it should be a fairly quick read. Also, I look at it on my shelves all the time and feel bad about the fact I haven’t read it yet. So I probably need to fix that. Maybe if I get through everything else I have to read, I can fit it in for Disability Pride Month.

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

I might be the only person who has yet to read this book. I know (I even talk about why in this post). But it is on my reading list for this month! Finally! Since I am about to read it, I’ve been avoiding reading more about it. At this point, I kind of just want to jump in blind and see if I love it as much as everyone else seems to. I do know that there are several disabled characters in this book, which is awesome! Yay for disability diversity in YA! Also Leigh Bardugo is also disabled and uses a cane, like one of the characters in this book. And I am here for authentic representation. I’m excited to finally get around to reading this one!

True Biz by Sarah Novic

This is a new release about a boarding school for the deaf. Honestly, the synopsis isn’t the clearest, but I think we follow a cast of characters that include both students and teachers. I’m not quite sure if this is YA or adult. But either way, it sounds fantastic. I’ve tried to read some early reviews (without spoiling myself) and one of the things that made me add this to my reading list is that it heavily features ASL (American Sign Language). And it does so in a way that isn’t just English in hand gestures. I don’t know anyone who is deaf, but I have been very curious about ASL since I was taught the alphabet as a kid. So I’m very curious about how this is done in text.

I also wasn’t aware that Sarah Novic is deaf, herself. Which honestly is what pushed me into deciding to read this. Her experience as a deaf person seems like it will make this book so much more authentic and real. I haven’t read anything by her yet (we’re not going to talk about the fact that I’ve had another one of her books on my shelf for like eight years), but I’m excited to get to this one. I already picked up the audiobook, and plan on starting it soon. It seems like a great addition to my Disability Pride Month reading. And I am just now realizing the irony of choosing to listen to a book about deaf people. But I already bought it, so whatever.

Mean Baby by Selma Blair

I’ve talked about it before on this blog, but I have multiple sclerosis. My case is very mild (so far) and doesn’t prevent me from doing many things. It just kind of makes life harder and more inconvenient a lot of the time. Just a little context as to why I was paying so much attention when Selma Blair announced she also had MS. I think this memoir is mostly about her growing up, but she does discuss her experience with MS and being diagnosed. I’m not sure if that’s something that might be triggering for me, but I want to read this anyway. Because it sounds amazing, and I’ve heard great things.

I do also just want to support her since she has kind of becoming an icon in the MS community, and drawn so much necessary attention to MS and what we all go through. I probably won’t fit this in for Disability Pride Month this year, but I think it’s going on my Nonfiction November reading list.

The Sign for Home by Blair Fell

This one just seems like a fun romance about a DeafBlind man searching for the girl who got away. After a school assignment unlocks buried memories of his time at a boarding school for the deaf, he decides to go find her. Accompanied by his gay interpreter and Belgian best friend, he sets off in search of the love of his life. It’s a relatively recent release, but has gotten pretty great reviews so far. I think this might be a great book to pick up next time I’m in the mood for a cute romance. I always enjoy romance novels so much more if they have some diversity in them. (And if you’re curious, I did check and the author is not blind or deaf. However, he has been working as an ASL interpreter for almost thirty years, so he definitely has some knowledge of the Deaf community.)

Golem Girl: A Memoir by Riva Lehrer

I think I need to pick this book up soon, because I keep forgetting about it. And then I come across it again, think “I really need to read that, it sounds great” and then forget. Again. I’m not sure I’ll be able to squeeze it in for Disability Pride Month this year, but I do want to read it. And, again, we can (and should) read disability books any month of the year. I just want to have a copy around so I stop forgetting this book exists.

It’s a memoir about the author’s experience of having spina bifida. She discusses how growing up, her parents and doctors were determined to “fix” her. Which sadly corroborates the very common (and hurtful) belief that disabled people are broken. But then she talks about her invitation to join a group of disabled artists and how their work embraces disability as an opportunity for creativity and resistance. Which sounds awesome.

The Invisible Kingdom: Reimagining Chronic Illness by Meghan O’Rourke

Last, but certainly not least is the book I am currently reading. This book is all about chronic illnesses and how society as well as the scientific community treat those suffering from them. As someone with a chronic illness, I have firsthand experience in how it’s really, really not great. Within the first few chapters O’Rourke discusses how a lot of doctors kind of ignore problems if they don’t know the cause. If you’re reading that thinking “that’s BS”, you’re absolutely right. But I can tell you from experience, it happens all the time.

There is also a lack of understanding in society as a whole, and it sucks. I “look” perfectly healthy pretty much all the time. But because of my MS, I have pretty bad heat intolerance. Basically summer is literally hell for me. But if I tell someone I don’t want to go out because it’s hot, I’m “complaining”. They don’t want to understand that I can’t. Yes, I don’t like the heat (never have). But now, my balance is going to be off and my eyesight might get blurry if I spend time outside in the summer or even have to get in my car.

I love that this book exists to help explain these things to people who don’t have chronic illnesses, but also validate the experiences of those who do. One thing that’s been mentioned in several books I’ve read is “radical acceptance” of disability. The idea that it’s kind of revolutionary to just accept your disability. Instead of feeling like you’re broken. Or making yourself sick searching for a magical cure that doesn’t exist (yet). I love that. And I think that’s kind of what Disability Pride Month is all about.

Thank you so much for making it to the end of this very long post! I hope you enjoyed it and that you found something to add to your reading list for Disability Pride Month this year!

Do you have any books you think also belong on this list? Any you think I should check out?

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