YA LGBT+ books with MC with disabilities

[Darren]

Heya, I know there is a list with books about what I am asking. But I am having a hard time finding my way through it. Although I do NOT define myself by my disabilities, I am still curious if there are some REALLY good books out there for young adults. Is there any book you could recommend?
Thanks :)

[Kaje]

Maybe Pretty Shade of Grey
Gives Light - a hint of mystic/paranormal softens the disability here
Also Silent

If you've read any good ones let me know too.

[Darren]

Oohh thank you! Going to try Silent first I think. Will let you know if i find other good ones <3

[Jason]

Darren wrote: "Heya, I know there is a list with books about what I am asking. But I am having a hard time finding my way through it. Although I do NOT define myself by my disabilities, I am still curious if ther..."

Although I consider it more "New Adult" than "Young Adult", Carry the Ocean by Heidi Cullinan is my favorite book I've read so far this year. Keep in mind, however, that there is some on page sex. But I wouldn't consider it to be graphic or salacious.

The story was beautiful and heartwarming with a bit of angst, as the character's cope with living and understanding their disabilities. The two MC's make for one of the best couples I've ever read, and their names are permanently etched in my heart.

[Jason]

Kaje wrote: "Maybe Pretty Shade of Grey
Gives Light - a hint of mystic/paranormal softens the disability here
Also Silent

If you've read any good ones let me kno..."

Silent looks amazing. Can't wait to read that one. I added that one a long time ago, and forgot about it.

[Darren]

Thank you too Jason! Will most certainly look into it :)

[Kaje]

There are some good adult M/M with characters with disabilities of various types. Most of them are a bit too graphic for YA (and in fact I would put Carry the Ocean in that category too, although it's not nearly as sexy as Heidi is capable of.) A great book, though.

[Darren]

Thanks! I appreciate the warning very much :)

[Jason]

Kaje wrote: "There are some good adult M/M with characters with disabilities of various types. Most of them are a bit too graphic for YA (and in fact I would put Carry the Ocean in that category too, although i..."

Sometimes the age appropriate lines get blurred between YA and NA as well as NA and Adult. With Carry the Ocean, I don't remember it being all that graphic. But I think that was because there was an innocence to Emmett and Jeremey's personas, which makes me think of them as YA characters.

However, I just went back and took a look in the book and found that there were indeed some quite graphic moments (and language), though not salaciously so.

I love to read books with characters with disabilities and I wish there were more selections specifically in the YA side of things. I added Silent and Pretty Shade of Grey, and I loved Gives Light. But I'd love to read more if anyone has recommendations.

[Darren]

Thank you for all your suggestions and replies. For me personally some on page sex is not a big problem. Abuse is a huge trigger for me though, but as far as I can see the books you all mention should be good. I added them to my to-read list.
At the moment I am reading Ethan, who loved Carter, which potentially could be a YA-book but it's maybe a bit too adult.
Again, thanks! Very grateful :)

[Jason]

Ooh, I have Ethan on my tbr. Let me know what you think. Love stories with that kind of theme.

[Darren]

I am halfway now, and I LOVE it. I myself have a range of disabilities, recently diagnosed Tourette syndrome is one of them. So yes, I recognize it. It's a very different and endearing love-story so far, and I love it to bits :)
Of course I am only halfway, but I'll let you know how I felt after reading all of it.

[Darren]

A YA version of 'Ethan, who loved Carter' will be released in October, simply called 'Ethan'.

[Kaje]

Darren wrote: "A YA version of 'Ethan, who loved Carter' will be released in October, simply called 'Ethan'."

That's great news - we need more such stories that are non-explicit YA.

[Darren]

Here is a link to the book:

ETHAN

[Darren]

My review of Ethan, who loved Carter:

Ethan, who loved Carter

[Iamshadow]

I know this thread is very dead, but it's Autism Acceptance Month, and I'd like to remind everyone that Autism Speaks is a hate/eugenics organisation run for profit that does nothing but hurt autistic people.

There aren't many choices out there for queer YA books written by queer autistic people, but Corinne Duyvis has two great books - Otherbound, in which one of the two MCs is queer and both MCs have disabilities, and, my personal favourite, On the Edge of Gone, which has a supporting cast of a number of queer characters and an autistic MC.

If you venture into adult books, there are more, especially in the realm of autobiography, including well-known multi book writers like Daniel Tammet and Wenn Lawson. (I avoid deadnaming when I can, but most of Wenn's books are still listed under it here - Wendy Lawson). I don't know if Temple Grandin has ever used the label asexual for herself, but her expression of her feelings about love and romantic relationships (she's just not interested) certainly fit.

I'm sure there are plenty more writers out there that I haven't mentioned, so if anyone knows of more autistic and queer voices out there - chime in! The point is, this April, don't light it up blue, or buy a wristband with a puzzle piece on it, or give money to an organisation that is trying to stop autistic people from existing by shouting over us that they are our voices. They aren't.

Spend the money you would have dropped in a donation bucket or raised in a 'cure' march on a book written by an autistic person, and wear red instead.

Also, you really want to donate, give to the Autistic Self Advocacy Network or Autism Women's Network. They are autistic run and directly benefit autistic people. autisticadvocacy.org autismwomensnetwork.org

[Kaje]

Thanks for posting (and for the warning about "Autism Speaks" - I hadn't heard of them, and will keep it in mind.) There are a bunch of good adult M/M with neuroatypical main characters.

Additional ones I have read since this thread in YA:
Maps series
Shut Your Face, Anthony Pace!

[Carrie-Anne]

I recently read Educating Simon which has a main character (Simon) who is gay and has Synesthesia. We also have a lot of the story based around his step dad's daughter Persie, who has Asperger Syndrome, AND there is trans rep in the form of an 11 year old Toby, who knows she is a girl called Kay.

[Jim]

Hi, all.

My fourth and fifth novels, the Lambda Lit. winner Every Time I Think of You and its Lammy-finalist sequel, Message of Love, both have a main character who becomes a paraplegic. They've both received many nice reviews. I hope you enjoy them. Thanks.

[Juuso]

Darren wrote: "Heya, I know there is a list with books about what I am asking. But I am having a hard time finding my way through it. Although I do NOT define myself by my disabilities, I am still curious if ther..."

I am aware, that I am late, but I will recommend some still!

If you are okay with graphic novels:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...

[Kaje]

Juuso wrote: "Darren wrote: "Heya, I know there is a list with books about what I am asking. But I am having a hard time finding my way through it. Although I do NOT define myself by my disabilities, I am still ..."

We always appreciate recs - I've been checking out all of yours, thank you.