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Contributor Editor Kendra here to talk to you about all things disability lit! The 23rd prompt on the Read Harder challenge is to read a book by a disabled author. While not all disabled, chronically ill, Deaf, and neurodivergent authors write about disability specifically, they do often include a discussion of disability in their work.
As a disabled person, I rarely see that part of myself in the books that I read. So a few years ago, I decided to begin looking for books by disabled authors so I could finally see myself in books. What I discovered was a treasure trove of incredible literature. From historical fiction to poetry to memoirs, disabled people write it all.
In a previous newsletter, I mentioned Disability Visibility edited by Alice Wong and Growing Up Disabled in Australia edited by Carly Findlay. Both of these anthologies feature a range of disabled authors who often have full-length books of their own, so I highly recommend going and checking out those titles as well.
Okay, get your TBRs ready! I have an incredible selection of books to tell you about. So what are we waiting for? Onto the books!
Make sure to get your own Read Harder Book Journal from Book Riot to track your reading for the year!
A Face for Picasso: Coming of Age with Crouzon Syndrome by Ariel Henley
In her memoir, Ariel Henley describes her experience of growing up with Crouzon Syndrome, a genetic condition that caused the bones in her head to fuse prematurely. Henley describes how the only other person that truly understood her experience was her twin sister who also has the condition. A Face for Picasso challenges ideas of beauty, which is based around a non-disabled default. I love Henley’s work and can’t wait to see what she writes next!
The Pretty One: On Life, Pop Culture, Disability, and Other Reasons to Fall in Love with Me by Keah Brown
Keah Brown hashtag #DisabledAndCute went viral, ushering in a slew of posts by disabled folks raising awareness that disabled people can be sexy too. All too often, non-disabled people infantilize disabled people, especially those with visible disabilities. But Brown is here to remind you that ideas like that need to stop in their tracks. Her memoir, The Pretty One, covers her experience of growing as a queer Black woman with cerebral palsey and how she came to love her body.
Golem Girl by Riva Lehrer
Born with spina bifida, Riva Lehrer grew up with a lot of internalized ableism. Doctors didn’t expect her to survive, but she did. She eventually comes across a group of artists who use their experiences as inspiration for their work. There, Leher learns to love her body, creating incredible art pieces in the process.
Haben: The Deafblind Woman Who Conquered Harvard Law by Haben Girma
Deafblind Harvard Law grad breaks all the stereotypes the world throws at her. The daughter of Eritrean immigrants, Girma started life learning to adapt to new situations, which proved a useful skill throughout her life. While studying at university, she invented a piece of tech that helps her communicate with the sighted and hearing people around her.
White Magic by Elissa Washuta
Cowlitz author Elissa Washuta proves herself queen of the essay with White Magic. This collection of essays takes a look at a wide range of topics, including alcoholism, breakups, the occult, colonialism, and the Washuta’s love for the Oregon Trail computer game. Washuta lives with an autoimmune condition called Sjögren’s Syndrome and much of her writing discusses learning to care for one’s body in a nondisabled society.
A Nobleman’s Guide to Scandal and Shipwrecks by Mackenzie Lee
I’ve loved reading the Montague Siblings trilogy, but the latest book, A Nobleman’s Guide to Scandal and Shipwrecks might be my favorite. Adrian Montague had no idea that he had two older—very much disinherited—siblings, but once he learns they exist, he knows he MUST get to know them. Adrian has severe anxiety and OCD, but in the 1700s, they don’t have words for that, or at least nothing that Adrian finds helpful.
Black Under by Ahsanti Anderson
Disabled queer Black author Ashanti Anderson won the Black River Chapbook Competition for Black Under. Her writing covers topics around her own identity, examining the intersections of her identity from every angle. She uses such precision in her poetry, and I found myself reading and rereading sections over and over again.
The Sister Who Ate Her Brothers: And Other Gruesome Tales by Jen Campbell
In her latest book, Jen Campbell retells fairytales from around the world. From a sinister merman to a family of skeletons, these stories possess a delightfully creepy feel. With spooky illustrations from Adam de Souza, this collection of scary stories is the perfect pick for a dark and windy night.
Don’t forget you can get three free audiobooks at Audiobooks.com with a free trial!
Those are just a few of the amazing books by disabled authors that would be perfect for Read Harder prompt #23.
I hope you love these books as much as I did! That’s it for now, but we’ll be back with more recommendations for the 2022 Read Harder challenge. In the meantime, happy reading!
~ Kendra
Click here for the full Read Harder 2022 task list, and for previous recommendations, click here.