Task 21: Read a children’s book that centers a disabled character but not their disability

[Book Riot]

Use this space to discuss books you're reading or that might fit the 21st Read Harder task.

[Katie]

Dad and Me in the Morning sounded perfect for this prompt and the whole story sounds adorable.

[Erika]

I've had Shiro's Story by Cala Spinner in my Google Play Books library for about a year and a half. It's a tie-in to the Netflix series Voltron: Legendary Defender, and the character is an amputee. :)

[Sophie]

At what point does a book stop being a children's book? As I kinda count anything up to and including YA, but guessing they mean younger?

[Erika]

Sophie wrote: "At what point does a book stop being a children's book? As I kinda count anything up to and including YA, but guessing they mean younger?"

I personally count everything up to middle grade, but that's just me.

[Virginia Reads the World]

So The War That Saved My Life would count? I think that's middle grade

[Tiffany]

Would Song for a Whale work? I know the character is Deaf and because of her Deafness feels close to a whale who is different....not sure if that's "centering on her disability."

[Karen]

My Beijing: Four Stories of Everyday Wonder by Nie Jun -- I read this last year and think it would fit this task - the child is wheelchair-bound and explores the world of their neighborhood with their friends and relatives through both real and imaginary means .

[Olivia]

Tiffany wrote: "Would Song for a Whale work? I know the character is Deaf and because of her Deafness feels close to a whale who is different....not sure if that's "centering on her disability.""

I think this counts, it sounds like it's more about her relationship with the whale and her tech skills than her own deafness. I think I'm going to pick this one!

[L Y N N]

I think Wonder by R.J. Palacio would definitely work for this. It is classified as YA/children's/middle grade. I really enjoyed it.

[Kass]

Would it be a cop-out if I read The Lightning Thief for this prompt? Percy does have ADHD and dyslexia, from what I've heard.

[Jennifer]

Erika wrote: "Sophie wrote: "At what point does a book stop being a children's book? As I kinda count anything up to and including YA, but guessing they mean younger?"

I personally count everything up to middle..."

There are so many awesome younger-than-middle-grade that fit but I'd agree "up to middle grade." As a teen services librarian, I've watched teens visibly cringe and withdraw when they are called "kids."

Some suggestions: Wonder, Fish in a Tree, Out of My Mind, Mockingbird, Counting by 7's, and, if you'd like a graphic novel, El Deafo.

[Tiffany]

Lynn wrote: "I think Wonder by R.J. Palacio would definitely work for this. It is classified as YA/children's/middle grade. I really enjoyed it."

It is good but it definitely centers on his disability. It talks about the bullying he faces due to his disfigurement.

[Karen]

Tiffany mentioned that Wonder centers around the MC’s disfigurement. Is it the same with Counting by 7’s? Does the book center around the disability? And also El Deafo, same question.

[Ariel]

Karen wrote: "Tiffany mentioned that Wonder centers around the MC’s disfigurement. Is it the same with Counting by 7’s? Does the book center around the disability? And also El Deafo, same question."

I haven't read Counting by 7's, but I just finished El Deafo and it focuses really heavily on her disability.

[Jennifer]

Karen wrote: "Tiffany mentioned that Wonder centers around the MC’s disfigurement. Is it the same with Counting by 7’s? Does the book center around the disability? And also El Deafo, same question."

I apologize. I did not read the challenge closely enough and I did exactly what it does not want us to do: I focused on the disability. I so loved Wonder because of August's fascination with space, warm heart, and struggles fitting in at school that I forgot about the fact that he was bullied because of his facial disfigurements.

With El Deafo, I remember the girl with superpowers who happens to be deaf looking for a friend. Maybe it is, after having worked with people with disabilities for so long, that my own mind automatically just focuses on the other story parts? It has been too long since I read Out of My Mind to recall if the disability is the focus of the story or if it is the getting others to see her for her. Fish in a Tree is definitely about Ally and her dyslexia.

Counting By 7's would work: Willow uses counting to soothe her mind. But the story is on her healing after her parents die. Mockingbird would work: also about dealing with grief.

[Elizabeth]

Alright, so this is kind of a hesitant recommendation because I read it and loved it as a kid, but haven't re-read it in probably close to fifteen years, so I'm not confident about it not being ableist or focusing on the disability too much, but it's the only children's book I could think of that I'm fairly certain fits.

From Charlie's Point of View is about a boy named Charlie whose dad is arrested for bank robbery. He is positive they have the wrong person, so Charlie sets out with his friends to prove that his dad is innocent and someone else is the culprit. Charlie is blind, and while that features prominently in the story, the story focuses more on the mystery.

Also, it hasn't been released yet, so I haven't read it, but ATLA fans may be interested in knowing that Toph is getting her own stand alone comic in February. The ATLA comics are pretty excellent as a whole, so I do recommend them in general, but the upcoming Toph standalone should fit this challenge best since it will centre her but not her blindness. The book is Avatar: The Last Airbender: Toph Beifong's Metalbending Academy.

I'm kind of eager to see some of the recommendations in this thread, because, as a disabled woman, I feel like there is a dearth of stories starring disabled characters that aren't just about their disability, and I feel like this is doubly true in kidlit.

[Gwen]

What about Forever, or a Long, Long Time by Caela Carter?

[Natali]

I'm going to read the fourth book in the Magic Misfits series The Fourth Suit

[Katrisa]

cherie wrote: "I'm going to read the audiobook of Odd and the Frost Giants"

Oooo! Me too!

[Simone]

Tiffany wrote: "Would Song for a Whale work? I know the character is Deaf and because of her Deafness feels close to a whale who is different....not sure if that's "centering on her disability.""
(1) It's a great book!
(2) It centers around her relationship with the whale and her grandma and also focuses on her ambitious goal to find the whale and let it hear the song. Yes, she does use her deafness to find a way to play the song for it, but it doesn't center around her disability.

[Nadine in NY]

If anyone wants to read a picture book, My Ocean Is Blue would be perfect for this!

[Michelle (RavenLily)]

I was thinking of reading The Ables for this one. Do you think that would count?

[Melissa]

Michelle (RavenLily) wrote: "I was thinking of reading The Ables for this one. Do you think that would count?"

I'm not sure on the centering their disability part, but I wouldn't call it a children's book. It's about teenagers.

[Rebecca]

I'm going with El Deafo. Sounds great!

[Gina]

This one is tricky! So many books with disabled characters are focused on their disability. From doing a bit of research, it sounds like these might work:

Picture books
Hello Goodbye Dog
King for a Day
Brian's Bird
The Snow Rabbit
Amazing

Middle grade
Macy McMillan and the Rainbow Goddess
The Collectors
Maybe Tornado Brain

[Noninuna]

Gina wrote: "This one is tricky! So many books with disabled characters are focused on their disability. From doing a bit of research, it sounds like these might work:

Picture books
Hello Goodbye Dog..

Hey, thanks! Found Scribd has the audiobook for the Macy Mcmillan so I think I'll with this one.

[Jeanne]

Virginia Reads the World wrote: "So The War That Saved My Life would count? I think that's middle grade"

My son read this in grade school, if that matters to you. I read it too and aside from the horrid view of women in it, it was a fun book.

[Kelly K.]

Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus

I haven't read this one yet, but from reviews I've skimmed, I think this might fit the challenge? Has anyone else read it?

[Krista]

Kelly K. wrote: "Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus

I haven't read this one yet, but from reviews I've skimmed, I think this might fit the challenge? Has anyone else read it?"

I've read that one and the sequel. Both are excellent reads and I think fit. They are more about her dealing with a new school and overcoming some regular teenage angst.

[Navya]

For any fans of Avatar: The Last Airbender, Avatar: The Last Airbender: Toph Beifong's Metalbending Academy is coming out in Feb 2021, and looks like it can fit the challenge

[Sheri]

My Ocean is Blue sounds good.

[Teresa]

For a picture book, When Smudge Came might work. A young woman with Down Syndrome works in a care home and takes care of a puppy. Down Syndrome is a front and centre part of the book but it isn’t ABOUT her extra chromosome. It’s about her wanting to care for this puppy, and her friends at her place of work helping her do that. Really heartwarming and lovely art.

[[deleted user]]

Navya wrote: "For any fans of Avatar: The Last Airbender, Avatar: The Last Airbender: Toph Beifong's Metalbending Academy is coming out in Feb 2021, and looks like it can fit the challenge"

Yaasss! Perfect

[Brook]

Stumbled across this interview highlighting Cosmic Callisto Caprica & The Missing Rings Of Saturn which I had never heard of before, so I'm definitely going to check it out! Would also count for #16 (own voices disability).

[Tammy]

Teresa wrote: "For a picture book, When Smudge Came might work. A young woman with Down Syndrome works in a care home and takes care of a puppy. Down Syndrome is a front and centre part of the book but it isn’t A..."

Thanks for this rec. Here's the link for those interested: How Smudge Came

[Kelly K.]

Krista wrote: "Kelly K. wrote: "Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus

I haven't read this one yet, but from reviews I've skimmed, I think this might fit the challenge? Has anyone else read..."

Thanks, Krista, this helps!!

[Jenny]

Virginia Reads the World wrote: "So The War That Saved My Life would count? I think that's middle grade"

That's one of my options, but I don't know how much of a focus her disability is in it... But the sequel might be more appropriate for the prompt? Another option I'm considering is Storm Runner by JC Cervantes, but again, I'm not sure how much of a focus there is on the MC's disability...

[Michelle]

Kassidy wrote: "Would it be a cop-out if I read The Lightning Thief for this prompt? Percy does have ADHD and dyslexia, from what I've heard."

I don't think that would be a cop out at all. I read it over the summer and I think it fits well!

[Audra]

Michelle wrote: "Kassidy wrote: "Would it be a cop-out if I read The Lightning Thief for this prompt? Percy does have ADHD and dyslexia, from what I've heard."

I don't think that would be a cop out at..."

Since this seems to work, it gives me an excuse to dive into Book 2.

[Anna]

I think of Children's Books as picture books, so I think I'll go with either King for a Day or Susan Laughs

[Priya]

Would Wonder work for this.. it is more about how others react to August so..

[Kara]

Tiffany wrote: "Would Song for a Whale work? I know the character is Deaf and because of her Deafness feels close to a whale who is different....not sure if that's "centering on her disability.""

Thank you for the suggestion, Tiffany. This sounds like a fascinating read and I've added it to my 21...

[Jen]

Rebecca wrote: "I'm going with El Deafo. Sounds great!"
El Deafo is completely about her being deaf and how it impacted her life.

[doreneemi]

Has anyone read Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine? From the description I can’t tell if it too centered on her having Autism for this prompt.

[Beck]

Rachel wrote: "Stumbled across this interview highlighting Cosmic Callisto Caprica & The Missing Rings Of Saturn which I had never heard of before, so I'm definitely going to check it out! Would a..."

It's a fun read and it's great to see a positive story centering around a sassy, intelligent and capable black woman but I don't think it really "centers a disabled character". Cosmo doesn't have a disability, nor do any of the other main characters. Cosmo's dad has a cane but he doesn't get much page time at all. I could be wrong and of course this challenge is all about reading what you want based on your own interpretation of the prompts.

[Brook]

I glanced back at the interview and you're right, I didn't read closely enough and thought that bit was about Cosmo. Oh well! Still interested to read it.

[River]

Sal and Gabi Break the Universe would qualify, since Sal has diabetes but it isn’t the focus of the story

[Book Riot]

Hello! Our recommendations for this task are up on the site now. https://bookriot.com/read-harder-2021...

[Donya]

Jennifer wrote: "Erika wrote: "Sophie wrote: "At what point does a book stop being a children's book? As I kinda count anything up to and including YA, but guessing they mean younger?"

I personally count everythin..."

I was coming to say Out of My Mind as well. That is what I will be using!