Books with characters with disabilities

[QNPoohBear]

Our Castle by the Sea in the beginning of the novel the heroine has debilitating panic attacks. At the end of the novel there is a physical disability.

[Beverly, former Miscellaneous Club host]

I deleted a comment by an author promoting her own book titles. Authors may only post their own book titles in the Authors/Publishers/Promotional folder.

[Kathryn, The Princess of Picture-Books]

Beverly wrote: "I deleted a comment by an author promoting her own book titles. Authors may only post their own book titles in the Authors/Publishers/Promotional folder."

I just deleted two additional comments by the same author. I'm hoping she will see your note and stop these posts or we will need to block her.

[Manybooks, Fiction Club host]

Kathryn wrote: "Beverly wrote: "I deleted a comment by an author promoting her own book titles. Authors may only post their own book titles in the Authors/Publishers/Promotional folder."

I just deleted two additi..."

If she is a repeat offender, just remove and block her. I can understand a one time mistake but not this.

[Manybooks, Fiction Club host]

Two relatively recent middle grade novels are Alyson Gerber’s Braced and Focused (the first about scoliosis and the second about ADHD), very relatable and much of the feeling of authenticity is likely because Alyson Gerber had to wear a brace for scoliosis as a teenager and was diagnosed with ADHD at college.

[QNPoohBear]

Roll with It just came out. It's recommended by amightygirl.com.

[Kathryn, The Princess of Picture-Books]

I didn't get around to reading it this holiday but The Christmasaurus features a protagonist in a wheelchair. It has very good reviews. Maybe I'll get to it next year.

[Manybooks, Fiction Club host]

I highly recommend both OCDaniel and its prequel Sara and the Search for Normal. Both deal with adolescent mental health challenges and are also "own voices" novels as author Wesley King has dealth with the same mental health challenges he decribes in both books since childhood. Both are highly recommended but I do like Sara and the Search for Normal just a bit more than OCDaniel.

[Kathryn, The Princess of Picture-Books]

Manybooks wrote: "I highly recommend both OCDaniel and its prequel Sara and the Search for Normal. Both deal with adolescent mental health challenges and are also "own voices" novels ..."

Thank you, it's so important that books about these "invisible" but very real challenges are being published, especially for children.

[Kathryn, The Princess of Picture-Books]

I don't have a review written yet, but I loved the graphic novel Marshmallow & Jordan which features a protagonist who was a basketball star in school but suffers and injury and must use a wheelchair so she can no longer play games, though she does stay on as an assistant coach of sorts and can still shoot hoops. She is able to swim and joins the water polo team. It is perhaps a tad idealistic but I also thought it was very lovely and uplifiting.
ETA: here's a brief video where the author discusses the book and her inspiration for writing it: https://alinachau.com/blog/marshmallo...

[QNPoohBear]

My niece really liked Starfish. She could relate to the mc's learning disabilities. My sister liked it too. They read it together.

McKenna and McKenna, Ready to Fly features McKenna, a character with problems learning how to read. Her tutor is an older girl in a wheelchair. A subplot revolves around McKenna encouraging her new friend to try something she's always wanted to do but seems terrifying.

Gabriela has a stutter than impacts her daily life and school. Her main theme is dance/poetry/save the arts but dancing is tied to her stutter. She finds dancing is the only way she can express herself easily.

[Beverly, former Miscellaneous Club host]

Paperboy

Although a fiction book, the story is based on the author's childhood in 1959, as a pre-teen (11 years old) who had a problem with stuttering. At the end of the audiobook, the author gives a short presentation about his childhood and his speech impediment, and what is now being done to help those with speech impediments.

[Kathryn, The Princess of Picture-Books]

The Astrid Astronaut chapter book series features a protagonist who is hard of hearing. In the first book, The Astronomically Grand Plan, her hearing aide plays an important role in solving a mission in their after school space program. It's a cute series with two books out so far, some good STEM content and lessons in friendship. The author is an audiologist.

[Almira]

The Theory of Hummingbirds, by Michelle Kadarusman. Middle school story of 2 friends, one with a club foot, the other with asthma, who share a love of hummingbirds.

[Cheryl, Host of Miscellaneous and Newbery Clubs]

Depending on who you ask, Autism counts as a disability. Being autistic can certainly be an extra challenge. And reading a book by a person who identifies as neurodivergent can be enlightening. I found A Kind of Spark engaging and satisfying, and gave it four stars:

Every Mrs. Murphy, every Mr. Mayor, should read it. I think autistic people will appreciate it too.

"I don't have autism. I am autistic."

"Being nice is more important to them than being good."

[Jaemi]

Has anyone read Annie and Helen? That’s a good book. It’s more appropriate for younger readers. I read it. And I liked it.

[Beverly, former Miscellaneous Club host]

Jaemi wrote: "Has anyone read Annie and Helen? That’s a good book. It’s more appropriate for younger readers. I read it. And I liked it."

Is this the book you are referencing:
Annie and Helen

[QNPoohBear]

Show Me a Sign, Set Me Free and now there's a third Sail Me Away Home about a Deaf girl on Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts in the early 1800s.

I liked them well enough for the most part.