Celebrate Disability Pride Month, which celebrates the passing of the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act in July 1990, with some of these fiction and nonfiction choices for teen readers.
Fiction
How We Roll, by Natasha Friend Book
After developing alopecia Quinn lost her friends along with her hair, and former football player Jake lost his legs and confidence after an accident, but the two help each other believe in themselves and the possibility of love.
Love From A to Z, by S.K. Ali Book | E-book | E-Audiobook
Eighteen-year-old Muslims Adam and Zayneb, one recently diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, meet in Doha, Qatar, during spring break and fall in love as both struggle to find a way to live their own truths.
Breathe and Count Back from Ten, by Natalia Sylvester Book
"Verónica has had many surgeries to manage her disability. The best form of rehabilitation is swimming, so she spends hours in the pool, but not just to strengthen her body. Her Florida town is home to Mermaid Cove, a kitschy underwater attraction where professional mermaids perform in giant tanks . . . and Verónica wants to audition. But her conservative Peruvian parents would never go for it. And they definitely would never let her be with Alex, her cute new neighbor. She decides it's time to seize control of her life, but her plans come crashing down when she learns her parents have been hiding the truth from her--the truth about her own body." -- from Amazon.com.
Finding Balance, by Kati Gardner Book
Teenage cancer survivors Mari and Jase have flirted for years at Camp Chemo, but when she transfers to his high school their different approaches to their history cause trouble.
The Speed of Falling Objects, by Nancy Fischer Book
After losing an eye in a childhood accident, Danger "Danny" Danielle Warren had to relearn her perception of movement and space. Now Danny keeps her head down, studies hard, and works to fulfill everyone else's needs. She's certain that her mom's bitterness and her TV star father's absence are her fault... When her dad calls with an offer to join him to film the next episode of his popular survivalist show, Danny jumps at the chance to prove she's not the disappointment he left behind. Being on set with the hottest teen movie idol of the moment, Gus Price, should be the cherry on top. But when their small plane crashes in the Amazon, and a terrible secret is revealed, Danny must face the truth about the parent she worships and falling for Gus, and find her own inner strength and worth to light the way home.
The State of Grace, by Rachael Lucas Book
"Grace is autistic and has her own way of looking at the world. She's got a horse and a best friend who understand her, and that's pretty much all she needs. But when Grace kisses Gabe and things start to change at home, the world doesn't make much sense to her any more. Suddenly everything threatens to fall apart, and it's up to Grace to fix it on her own."--dust jacket.
The Silence Between Us, by Alison Gervais Book | E-book
Maya has reservations about transferring to a hearing school after studying in a school for the deaf for years, but grows closer to Beau Watson, the student body president, who starts learning sign language to communicate with her.
Unbroken: 13 Stories Starring Disabled Teens, edited by Marieke Nijkamp Book
"An anthology of stories in various genres, each featuring disabled characters and written by disabled creators. The collection includes stories of interstellar war, a journey to Persia, a dating debacle. The teenaged characters reflect diverse colors, genders, and orientations-- without obscuring the realities of their disabilities." -- adapted from book jacket.
Nonfiction
Disability Visibility (adapted for Young Adults): 17 First-Person Stories for Today, edited by Alice Wong Book | E-book | E-audiobook
This is the young adult adaptation of Wong's "groundbreaking collection of first-person writing on the joys and challenges of the modern disability experience."
The Disability Experience: Working Toward Belonging, by Hannalora Leavitt Book | E-book
"This nonfiction book for teens provides a history of disability, describes types of disabilities and examines the challenges faced by people living with disabilities."-- Provided by publisher.
Body Talk: 37 Voices Explore Our Radical Anatomy, edited by Kelly Jensen Book | E-book
"Thirty-seven contributors--including model Tyra Banks, gymnast Aly Raisman, and bestselling YA authors--explore the world in their unique bodies through essays, lists, comics, and art, from the award-winning editor of (Don't) Call Me Crazy"-- Provided by publisher.
