The media we consume — the books we read [1], movies we watch [2], and stories we're exposed to — all shape our view of the world. That's why it's so important for media to represent people of all backgrounds and abilities. Books that feature characters with disabilities are not only important for representation for the wider audience, but more importantly for people who have disabilities to read stories that reflect their own lived experiences. We selected 15 books that feature protagonists with disabilities, plus swoon-worthy romantic plots, because we're suckers for a heartwarming love story that always finishes with the main characters living happily ever after.
How We Roll by Natasha Friend
In How We Roll [3] by Natasha Friend, we meet Jake, a former star football player who lost both his legs in an accident that was caused by his brother, and Quinn, a teen diagnosed with alopecia. Jake has lost his football career, and Quinn's friends have abandoned her, but the two just might find something in each other.
Not If I See You First by Eric Lindstrom
Eric Lindstrom's debut novel, Not If I See You First [4], follows Parker, a teenage girl who has a set of personal rules to prevent anyone from giving her special treatment because she's blind. She's trying out for the track team and still grieving the loss of her father, who died three months before, when her ex, Scott, suddenly comes back into her life. Scott's appearance makes her question everything she knows about the end of their relationship and whether the rules she so carefully created are meant to be broken.
A Quiet Kind of Thunder by Sara Barnard
A Quiet Kind of Thunder [5] by Sara Barnard tells the love the story of a girl named Steffi, whose severe anxiety makes her selectively mute, and Rhys, a boy who is deaf. He's a new student at her school, and her knowledge of basic sign language means she's the perfect partner to help him acclimate. As they find ways to communicate, she grows stronger in herself and starts to fall for him.
Love and First Sight by Josh Sundquist
As the title of Josh Sundquist's debut novel hints at, Love at First Sight [6] follows sixteen-year-old Will, who is blind. At a new school, he quickly develops a crush on a quiet girl named Cecily. But when an experimental surgery gives him his sight back, he realises two things: that Cecily doesn't meet traditional beauty standards, and that learning to see is more difficult than he could have imagined.
Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert
Get a Life, Chloe Brown [7] follows the eponymous Chloe Brown, a woman with fibromyalgia and a big to-do list to help her, in her own words, get a life. The list includes travelling the world, riding a motorcycle, and enjoying a drunken night out. It also requires the help of Redford "Red" Morgan, a handyman with a motorcycle and plenty of tattoos. Talia Hibbert brings romance and humour to this touching story.
Otherbound by Corinne Duyvis
Otherbound [8] by Corinne Duyvis is a fascinating fantasy novel. Doctors think that Nolan, a teenage boy with a prosthetic foot, is undergoing seizures, when in reality, he's visiting another world every time he blinks. He observes the world of Amara, a mute servant on another planet whose job it is to protect a princess. Full of plot twists and fantasy, you'll want to read Nolan and Amara's story in one sitting.
Say What You Will by Cammie McGovern
In Cammie McGovern's novel Say What You Will [9], Amy, who has cerebral palsy, is starting her senior year of high school. She has trouble walking and speaking on her own, so she hires a student aid, Matthew, who has severe obsessive-compulsive disorder. The pair soon learns that they have more in common than they initially realise, and their friendship quickly blossoms into something deeper.
A Time to Dance by Padma Venkatraman
Padma Venkatraman's A Time to Dance [10] follows Veda, a classical dance prodigy in India. When she loses one of her legs below the knee in a tragic accident, she struggles to learn to dance with her new prosthetic leg. When she meets Govinda, a young man who approaches dance as a spiritual pursuit, he helps her reconnect to her love of dance and the world around her as their own relationship deepens.
The Silence Between Us by Alison Gervais
The Silence Between Us [11] by Alison Gervais tells the story of Maya Harris, who lost her hearing at age 13. When she has to leave her school and start at a hearing school for the first time to complete her senior year, her experience as the new kid is made even more difficult. When class president Beau learns American Sign Language (ASL) to communicate with her better, she's defencive at first, but slowly warms to him.
The One Thing by Marci Lyn Curtis
Maggie Sanders lost her sight six months ago, and subsequently developed a major rebellious streak and committed a school prank that ended up getting her paired with a probation officer. In another twist, she gets her sight back, but can only see one thing: a 10-year-old named Ben who has a disability of his own. He also happens to be her crush's little brother. As humourous as it is heartwarming, you won't be able to put The One Thing [12] by Marci Lyn Curtis down.
Pinned by Sharon G. Flake
In Sharon G. Flake's Pinned [13], Autumn is popular, outgoing, and the best wrestler on the school's team. She also has a learning disability that makes it incredibly difficult for her to read. She couldn't be more different from Adonis, who is in a wheelchair and absolutely loves books, but the characters come together and realise they not only have a lot in common, but also have plenty to learn from each other.
Love From A to Z by S.K. Ali
Love From A to Z [14] by S.K. Ali starts with the story of Zayneb, who gets suspended for confronting her Islamophobic teacher and starts an early spring break in Qatar. There, she decides to try to be a nicer version of herself. Then she meets Adam, who has recently been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and is trying to hide the secret from his grieving father. When they meet, they realise how easy it is to be honest with each other.
The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee
In The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue [15], Mackenzi Lee takes us on a high-seas tale with Monty, a bisexual British lord in the 18th century who embarks on a grand tour of Europe. He brings his best friend and crush Percy, who has epilepsy, along, hoping the trip will be a romantic getaway. Instead, a poor decision by Monty turns their trip into an adventurous manhunt that makes him question everything he knows about their relationship.
A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer
Brigid Kemmerer's A Curse So Dark and Lonely [16] is a fantastical modern take on Beauty and the Beast. Harper, a teen with cerebral palsy, is navigating life in Washington DC. Her father is long gone, her mother is dying, and her brother constantly underestimates her. In another world, Prince Rhen is the victim of a vicious curse, and when Harper ends up in his world, he thinks their blossoming romance can save him and his kingdom.
Between You and Me by Lynn Turner
In Lynn Turner's Between You and Me [17], Finn is a below-the-knee amputee following a crash that killed his parents when he was 16. Years later, he's pitching his idea for smart prosthetics to powerful venture capitalist Emanuela in New York, and for him, it's love at first sight. He tries to convince her that not only is his idea worth investing in — he is, too.