Disability Pride: YA Fiction and Nonfiction

July is Disability Pride Month! Join us in celebrating with these new and recommended Fiction and Nonfiction titles for Young Adults.

Updated June 25, 2026
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According to Plan
Randall, Christen
Paper Book
Three starred reviews! "Warm, witty, and wonderfully queer." --Aiden Thomas, New York Times bestselling author of Cemetery Boys From USA TODAY bestselling author Christen Randall comes a cozy, "authentic, and affirming" (Kirkus Reviews,...
All the noise at once
Davis, DeAndra
Paper Book
Winner of the William C. Morris Debut YA Book Award Three starred reviews! A Black, autistic teen tries to figure out what happened the night his older brother was unjustly arrested in this "propulsive" (Jas Hammonds, award-winning author of We Deserve...
I am made of death
Andrew, Kelly
Paper Book
A girl whose voice is deadlier than poison. A boy who loves all her monstrous parts. From bestselling author Kelly Andrew comes the most seductive dark romance of the decade. When Thomas Walsh is offered a highly paid position as an interpreter for an...
Ariel crashes a train
Cole, Olivia A.
Paper Book
LONGLISTED FOR THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD . A COSMOPOLITAN BEST YA BOOK OF THE YEAR . A PUBLISHERS WEEKLY, SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL, BOOKLIST AND KIRKUS REVIEWS BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR Exploring the harsh reality of OCD and violent intrusive thoughts in stunning,...
The Autistic Teen Girl's School Survival Guide
Barlow, Gracie
Paper Book
Navigating school can be tough, especially if you're neurodivergent. Sensory overload, confusing social situations, misdiagnoses, and the stress of masking it all can leave you feeling lost and misunderstood. But it doesn't have to be this way - this guide is here to help! Written by an...
Body talk : 37 voices explore our radical anatomy
Jensen, Kelly
Paper Book
A School Library Journal Best Book of 2020 It's time to bare it all about bodies! We all experience the world in a body, but we don't usually take the time to explore what it really means to have and live within one. Just as every person has a unique personality, every person has a unique body, and...
Buzzing
Sattin, Samuel
Paper Book
ALA 2025 Rainbow Book List Pick * 2024 Eisner-Nominated for Best Publication for Kids * A 2024 ALA Notable Children's Book * New York Public Library Best Book of 2023  ★ "Heartwarming [and] authentic" --Shelf Awareness,...
Chronically Dolores
Van Wagenen, Maya
Paper Book
Winner of The Schneider Family Book Award, for excellence in portraying the disability experience! Maya Van Wagenen, bestselling author of Popular, tells Dolores's story with humor, heartache, and an occasional bit of telenovela flair. "A striking...
Conditions of a Heart
Mangle, Bethany
Paper Book
Two starred reviews! "Achingly touching, heartfelt, and true, Brynn's story of reinvention and self-discovery resonates on every page. A book to savor and hold dear." --Kathleen Glasgow, New York Times bestselling author of Girl in Pieces and The Agathas<...
The disability experience : working toward belonging
Leavitt, Hannalora
Paper Book
People with disabilities (PWDs) have the same aspirations for their lives as you do for yours. The difference is that PWDs don't have the same access to education, employment, housing, transportation and healthcare in order to achieve their goals. In The Disability Experienceyou'll meet...
Disability visibility : 17 first-person stories for today : adapted for young adults
Wong, Alice (EDT)
Paper Book
Disabled young people will be proud to see themselves reflected in this hopeful, compelling, and insightful essay collection, adapted for young adults from the critically acclaimed adult book, Disability Visibility: First Person Stories from the Twenty-First Century that "sheds light on...
Every Time You Go Away
Johnson, Abigail
Paper Book
Perfect for fans of Jennifer Niven, Abigail Johnson draws a searing and lyrical portrait of grief, forgiveness, and the kind of love that blooms in the aftermath. Eight years ago, Ethan and Rebecca met, two troublemaking kids sharing secrets and first kisses in a tree house, until Ethan...
A face for Picasso : coming of age with Crouzon syndrome
Henley, Ariel
Paper Book
A Schneider Family Book Award Honor Book for Teens "Raw and unflinching . . . A must-read!" --Marieke Nijkamp, #1 New York Times-bestselling author of This Is Where It Ends "[It] cuts to the heart of our bogus ideas of beauty." -Scott Westerfeld,...
For a muse of fire
Heilig, Heidi
Paper Book
"Be prepared to stay up late with this one."--NPR.org "[A] must-have story."--School Library Journal (starred review) "Evocative and refreshingly unique."--Tor A young woman with a dangerous power she barely understands. A smuggler with secrets of his own. A country torn...
Forever is now
Lockington, Mariama
Paper Book
SCHNEIDER FAMILY BOOK AWARD WINNER ● A poignant and lyrical young adult novel-in-verse about a Black teen coming of age in an anxiety-inducing world, from the author of For Black Girls Like Me and In the Key of Us. I'm safe here. ...
A Fragile Enchantment
Saft, Allison
Paper Book
In this romantic fantasy of manners from New York Times bestselling author Allison Saft, a magical dressmaker commissioned for a royal wedding finds herself embroiled in scandal when a gossip columnist draws attention to her undeniable chemistry with the groom. Niamh Ó...
The Golden Boy's Guide to Bipolar
Reyes, Sonora.
Paper Book
2026 Schneider Family Book Awards Honor MPIBA's Reading the West YA Longlist "This is Sonora Reyes at their absolute best." -- Aiden Thomas, New York Times bestselling author of Cemetery Boys From bestselling author Sonora Reyes comes a poignant...
Graceling : the graphic novel
Hinds, Gareth
Paper Book
The beloved New York Times bestselling YA fantasy by Kristin Cashore is now available as a graphic novel, with stunning illustrations by award-winning artist Gareth Hinds. Katsa is a Graceling, one of the rare people born with an extreme skill. As niece of the king, she lived a life of...
Hazelthorn
Drews, C. G.
Paper Book
AN INSTANT #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER! CG Drews, instant New York Times-bestselling author of Don't Let the Forest In, returns with another deeply unsettling and yet hauntingly beautiful tale of murder and botanical body horror, perfect for fans of Andrew...
Highly suspicious and unfairly cute
Hibbert, Talia
Paper Book
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * A pair of ex-best friends turned high school rivals must work together to survive the great outdoors--and each other--in this cozy enemies-to-lovers romance from the beloved author of the Brown Sisters trilogy. "A pure delight. This book...
Hollow
Grothe, Taylor
Paper Book
Don't Let the Forest In meets The Whispering Dark in a queer YA cult horror following a recently diagnosed autistic teen who becomes enmeshed in a community of outcasts harboring sinister secrets. "One of the best horror novels of the year, full stop. Haunting,...
Joined at the joints
Eller, Marissa
Paper Book
When baking-obsessed Ivy meets a boy who shares her rare diagnosis, sparks fly outside of the kitchen for the first time in her life! Chronically ill seventeen-year-old Ivy has stayed inside baking all summer--pies are better than people, and they don't trigger her...
Komi can't communicate
Oda, Tomohito
Paper Book
The journey to 100 friends begins with a single conversation. Socially anxious high school student Shoko Komi's greatest dream is to make some friends, but everyone at school mistakes her crippling social anxiety for cool reserve. Luckily she meets Tadano, a timid wallflower who...
Lakelore
McLemore, Anna-Marie.
Paper Book
In this young adult novel by award-winning author Anna-Marie McLemore, two non-binary teens are pulled into a magical world under a lake - but can they keep their worlds above water intact? Everyone who lives near the lake knows the stories about the world underneath it, an...
Last pick. 1
Walz, Jason
Paper Book
In this first volume of Jason Walz's dystopian graphic novel trilogy, the kids last picked are humanity's last hope. Three years ago, aliens invaded Earth and abducted everyone they deemed useful. The only ones spared were those too young, too old, or too "disabled" to be of value....
Love from A to Z
Ali, S. K.
Paper Book
A Today Show Read with Jenna Book Club Pick "The bighearted, wildly charming, painfully real love story I've been waiting for." --Becky Albertalli, New York Times bestselling author of Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda From William C. Morris Award...
Navigating with you
Whitley, Jeremy
Paper Book
Neesha Sparks is a disabled, vocal community activist with a passion for costume design. Gabby Graciana is an optimistic surfer - and, like Neesha, a new kid at school. When the two girls discover that they like the same manga series, Navigator Nozomi, they become more than just fellow new kids. But...
Never Seen the Stars
Korsh, Kate
Paper Book
The ethereal romance of Dustin Thao's You've Reached Sam meets The Fault in Our Stars' exploration of coming of age with a disability in a tragic yet uplifting story of love and grief. Hattie Murphy thinks the universe hates her. She has a secret: she has the same...
On the bright side
Sortino, Anna
Paper Book
A hopeful novel about love, disability, and the inevitability of change by the author of Give Me a Sign. "Poignant, romantic, and deeply heartfelt." -Amber Smith, New York Times bestselling author of The Way I Used to Be Ellie's Deaf boarding...
The oracle code : a graphic novel
Nijkamp, Marieke
Paper Book
#1 New York Times bestselling author Marieke Nijkamp and artist Manuel Preitano unveil a graphic novel that explores the dark corridors of Barbara Gordon's first mystery- herself. After a gunshot leaves her paralyzed below the waist, Barbara Gordon undergoes physical and...
A Quick & Easy Guide to Sex & Disability
Andrews, A.
Paper Book
A quick, easy, and educational comic book guide that will help change the way we talk about sex and sexuality for all bodies.  "This guide can help disabled people (and their partners) on their journey toward self-love, better communication, and confidence." -- Alice Wong,...
Reggie and Delilah's Year of Falling
Bryant, Elise
Paper Book
From the NAACP Image Award-nominated author of Happily Ever Afters comes a dual POV rom-com about Reggie and Delilah, who fall in love through missed connections and chance meetings on holidays over the course of a year. Perfect for fans of Nicola Yoon and Jenny Han, with crossover appeal...
Rolling warrior : the incredible, sometimes awkward, true story of a rebel girl on wheels who helped spark a revolution
Heumann, Judith E.
Paper Book
Judy Heumann, one of the most influential disability rights activists in US history tells her story of fighting to belong. "If I didn't fight, who would?" Judy Heumann was only 5 years old when she was first denied her right to attend school. Paralyzed from...
Shino can't say her name
Oshimi, Sh z
Paper Book
High school can be a stressful time for many young people. The change means a new commute, new friends, new courses...new teachers. For Shino Oshima the change could have meant an opportunity to blossom into adulthood. Unfortunately, things go wrong on her first day - she fails to even say her name...
Someone to Daydream about
Langford, Sydney
Paper Book
"An absolute delight of a romcom from start to finish." --Rachael Lippincott, New York Times-bestselling author of She Gets the Girl "A love letter to boy-bands and fanfictions, Langford delivered a romance that makes me nostalgic for the nights I spent...
Something more
Khalilieh, Jackie
Paper Book
A contemporary teen romance novel featuring a Palestinian-Canadian girl trying to hide her autism diagnosis while navigating her first year of high school, for fans of Jenny Han and Samira Ahmed. Fifteen-year-old Jessie, a quirky loner obsessed with the nineties, is diagnosed as...
The spirit bares its teeth
White, Andrew Joseph
Paper Book
INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER! A Stonewall Honor Book in Young Adult Literature! A blood-soaked and nauseating triumph that cuts like a scalpel and reads like your darkest nightmare. New York Times bestselling author Andrew Joseph White...
Stars in Their Eyes: A Graphic Novel
Walton, Jessica
Paper Book
A Stonewall Honor Book In this lighthearted YA romance, Maisie and Ollie discover that nothing beats the feeling of falling in love for the first time. Maisie is on her way to Fancon! She's looking forward to meeting her idol, Kara Bufano, the action hero from her...
The summer of bitter and sweet
Ferguson, Jenny
Paper Book
In this complex and emotionally resonant novel about a Métis girl living on the Canadian prairies, debut author Jen Ferguson serves up a powerful story about rage, secrets, and all the spectrums that make up a person--and the sweetness that can still live alongside the bitterest truth. A William...
Sunrise nights
Zentner, Jeff
Ebook
Two young artists have a chance meeting on the last night of summer arts camp in this YA novel in verse and dialogue cowritten by acclaimed authors Jeff Zentner and Brittany Cavallaro. Jude loves photography, and he's good at it, too. Between his parents' divorce and his anxiety, being...
Thief of the heights
Son M.
Paper Book
A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection Enter the world of Muqadas, where the climb to the top of this vertically stacked city--away from disease-ridden waters of the lower levels--is paved with betrayal, secrets, and rebellion in this debut graphic novel from author...
Things I should have known
LaZebnik, Claire Scovell
Paper Book
An unforgettable story about autism, sisterhood, and first love that's perfect for fans of Jenny Han, Sophie Kinsella, and Sarah Dessen. New York Times bestselling author of Tell Me Three Things Julie Buxbaum raved: "I couldn't put it down."   Meet Chloe Mitchell, a...
This is my brain in love
Gregorio, I. W.
Paper Book
p.p1 {{margin: 0.0px 0.0px 12.0px 0.0px; line-height: 14.0px; font: 13.0px Times; color: #000000; -webkit-text-stroke: #000000}} span.s1 {{font-kerning: none}} Jocelyn Wu has just three wishes for her junior year: To make it through without dying of boredom, to direct a short film with her BFF Priya...
Time and time again
Greenfield, Chatham
Paper Book
A Stonewall Honor Book A Reese Witherspoon Book Club LitUp Pick An ALA Rainbow Book In this debut YA speculative romance perfect for fans of Rachael Lippincott, two queer, disabled, Jewish teens find themselves stuck in a time loop--and...
Turtles all the way down
Green, John
Paper Book
FEATURED ON 60 MINUTES and FRESH AIR "So surprising and moving and true that I became completely unstrung." - The New York Times Named a best book of the year by: The New York Times, NPR, TIME, Wall...
Unbroken : 13 stories starring disabled teens
Nijkamp, Marieke
Paper Book
This anthology explores disability in fictional tales told from the viewpoint of disabled characters, written by disabled creators. With stories in various genres about first loves, friendship, war, travel, and more, Unbroken will offer today's teen readers a glimpse into the lives of...
Unseelie
Housman, Ivelisse
Paper Book
The start of a swoony, high-energy duology that Emily Lloyd-Jones, author of The Bone Houses, calls "reminiscent of classic fairytales yet brimming with a charm all its own." "A world of glimmering fae that sparkles with mystery, adventure, and enchantment." --Andrew...
Where you see yourself
Forrest, Claire (Young adult author)
Paper Book
A Schneider Family Book Award Honor Book What does it take to follow your dreams? Where You See Yourself is a relatable, romantic, and necessary story about a girl who has to figure out what--and who--will bring her the happiness she deserves. By the time Effie...
The Words in My Hands
Asphyxia
Paper Book
"Anyone who is Deaf . . . will immediately feel a connection and a sense of belonging while reading Asphyxia's book." --Stacy Abrams, founder of the #WhyISign campaign * Winner of the Schneider Family Book Award for Teens 2021 * A Kirkus Best Book of 2021 Part coming of age, part call to...

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