Review: The Elementals by Saundra Mitchell
Julian Birch has a “withered” leg from a childhood bout of polio, and Mitchell’s depiction of him is one of the most believable, relatable portrayals of disability I’ve come across.
Browsing: Reviews
Post listing
Interview with April Henry about Girl, Stolen
April Henry’s main character in Girl, Stolen is a well-researched, well-written example of blindness, and we were thrilled to discuss the book with her.
Review: Dangerous by Shannon Hale
The first time I’ve really seen someone in a book who is just like me, and she turns out to be a superhero.
Review: The Collector by Victoria Scott
Charlie Cooper is your average, down-to-earth girl—who happens to be disabled. But occasionally, this normalcy backfires.
Review: Viral Nation by Shaunta Grimes
The description for this book uses the phrase “brilliant but autistic” to describe its main character, and that’s where our conflicted feelings about Viral Nation start.
Review: Will & Whit by Laura Lee Gulledge
The best part about this story being told as a graphic novel how Gulledge shows us Will’s anxiety: we can literally see the shadows and worries that plague Will.
Review: Among Others by Jo Walton
Among Others is a terrific book, even if it isn’t perfect, and I’m so glad Walton represented a disabled teen girl as interesting, strong, and unique.
Review: Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry
The story suggests that Kira’s talents as a threader make up for her disability, justifying her continued survival–with the disturbing implication that without it, she would be worthless.
Review: One-Handed Catch by M.J. Auch
I regularly recommend One-Handed Catch as the best book for young people about limb deficiency because it captures two big aspects of life with one fewer limb: humor and problem solving.
Review: The Gone series by Michael Grant
Pete’s autism is portrayed over and over again as being non-stop pain and suffering. That got incredibly hard to read; do people really think this is what autism is like?
Review: Take a Good Look by Jacqueline Wilson
The only way I can describe Take a Good Look by Jacqueline Wilson is a book designed to educate young children about visual impairment gone horribly wrong.
Review: You Look Different in Real Life by Jennifer Castle
While Rory’s portrayal isn’t flawless, it’s well researched, and a significant step in the right direction of treating autistic characters as regular teenagers and integral parts of the cast.
Review: Wild Awake by Hilary T. Smith
This is a story about what it’s like to go crazy, and it is brilliantly, masterfully crafted.
Review: Marcelo in the Real World by Francisco X. Stork
While we’re never told exactly what Marcelo’s impairment is, and it’s implied that no one can quite figure it out, it shares many features that will be familiar to those of us on the autism spectrum.