45+ Novels in Verse for Reluctant Readers and Poets

Hi, guys! Teacher here. For those who know me, you’re probably already aware that I like to seek out lesser-known stories. But as a teacher, I also like to find books that students can easily access. It’s a delicate balance. I like to find stories that are relevant to American and world history. Stories that help readers connect to the written word even for the reluctant reader.

Poetry is great, especially novels in verse, because of all the blank space. But it’s also challenging because most people take one look at poetry and want to run away screaming. But we’re surrounded by poetry all the time. It’s in our music. In old tales of fan-fiction. Yes, I’m looking at you Paradise Lost. But poetry doesn’t have to be hard. It’s meant to be felt and enjoyed, read aloud, shared and shared again.

I’ve gotten to that point in reading where I’ll walk into a library and ask for a recommendation for a novel in verse and get the same five books over and over again. Which is great. Those books are good, but I’m looking for a bit more. I was talking with one of my librarian friends, and after I asked her for a recommendation, she laughed and said, “I usually ask you for recommendations!”

So here, you go, everyone. I made a list for you. I’ve sorted through books I’ve read and yet to read.* Here are 45+ novel in verse for those who enjoy poetry and those who may want a light, easy-to-read novel.

*Some novels in verse that I’ve read did not make the recommendation list. See my Goodreads for more.

Top-Recommended Novels in Verse (Easy to Access)

The Crossover by Kwame Alexander

Heartbeat by Sharon Creech

Alone by Megan E. Freeman

Full Cicada Moon by Marilyn Hilton

House Arrest by K.A. Holt

Inside Out & Back Again by Lai Thanhhá

Red, White, and Whole by Rajani LaRocca

Me: Moth by Amber McBride

Blood Water Paint by Joy McCullough (trigger warning: rape)

Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds (trigger warning: gun violence)

Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga

Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson

More Obscure Novels in Verse

Contemporary Gems

Ode to a Nobody by Caroline Brooks DuBois

Planet Middle School by Nikki Grimes

Closer to Nowhere by Ellen Hopkins

Good Different by Meg Eden Kuyatt

Saving Red by Sonya Sones

Historical Fiction

Unbound: A Novel in Verse by Ann E. Burg

Audacity by Melanie Crowder

Somewhere Among by Annie Donwerth-Chikamatsu

Enchanted Air: Two Cultures, Two Wings by Margarita Engle

Looking for Me by Betsy Rosenthal

Like Water on Stone by Dana Walrath

Poetry from my TBR (To-Be-Read Pile)

Solo by Kwame Alexander

Poetry and music! Yes! I like to tell reluctant readers that even if they don’t understand poetry, it’s in our music too. What better place to start?

Chlorine Sky by Mahogany L. Brown

A contemporary novel and a Goodreads choice award nominee.

Love, Love by Victoria Chang

What initially sounds like a romance is described as a tale of friendship.

The Boy Lost in the Maze by Joseph Coelho

A retelling of Theseus in the Minotaur but contemporary and poetry! Sign me up please. I once wrote a novel about a contemporary labyrinth, so I’m extra curious about this one.

Toffee by Sarah Crossan

Need I say more? It has toffee in the title!

Bull by David Elliott

Another retelling of Theseus and the Minotaur in verse! Wait a minute… I’m sensing a pattern…

The Lightning Dreamer by Maragrita Engle

Historical fiction can be tough enough as it is, but I like it when poetry takes a turn, often breaking down difficult topics into smaller chunks.

The Firefly Letters by Maragrita Engle

Some authors writer a lot of novels in verse.

Wave by Diana Farid

There’s a surfer on the cover! Let’s go!

Apple by Eric Gansworth

Indigenous fiction. I’ve enjoyed reading indigenous fiction lately, and I think I’ll have to share some of my favorites in its own post.

Root Beer Candy and Other Miracles by Shari Green

I’m totally judging this book by its title. I like root beer candy, okay?

Don’t Call Me a Hurricane by Ellen Hagan

What is it with novels in verse and the ocean and gorgeous covers? I’m here for it.

Knockout by K.A. Holt

The same author who wrote House Arrest, a popular novel in verse recommendation.

If I Tell You the Truth by Jasmin Kaur

This particular book looks tough, but it’s one I want to read.

In the Beautiful Country by Jane Kuo

This book sounds similar to Inside Out & Back Again in that it also features an immigrant family moving to America, except this story features characters from Taiwan.

When the Clouds Touch Us by Lai Thanhhá

The sequel to Inside Out & Back Again, which I have read and taught multiple times. Yes, please!

Up From the Sea by Leza Lowitz

Did somebody mentioned the sea?

We Are All So Good at Smiling by Amber McBride

She wrecked my heart with Me: Moth. Sure, I want to read another one of her books.

Onyx & Beyond by Amber McBride

Guess she has a thing for novels in verse, and I like to suffer.

Under the Broken Sky by Mariko Nagai

Have you seen the cover!? Go look at it!

A Time to Dance by Padma Venkatraman

Did somebody say dance? It’s been a while since I’ve done any dancing, but I enjoyed it for a time. Let’s go.

Paper Hearts by Meg Wiviott

A novel in verse about the holocaust.

The Snow Fell Three Graves Deep by Allan Wolf

I don’t know why, but this book sounds really intriguing. But I can’t find it in any library, so I’m seriously tempted to order a copy and hope for the best.

So there you have it. 45+ novels in verse for the reluctant readers and the avid poetry reader. If you’ve read any of these, what did you think of them? Are there are any more I should add to my list? Let me know what you think!

Until next time. Happy reading!

2021 Books in Review

Hello! I haven’t been very good with keeping up with blogging lately or my reading goals it seems. My reading plans died a slow, miserable death. Who cares? 2021 was another crazy year, crazier than 2020 for me anyway, so I’m just happy that I got to read some good books along the way. Here’s a brief overview from some of goals and highlights for this year.

 

Goal: 1 Book 700+ pages

Rhythm of War by Brandon Sanderson—AaaaAAAaaaaHHHH!!! The plot twists. I did NOT see them coming! I also scrambled to finish this book in two weeks because somebody had a hold on it, but as I was approaching the end, the hold vanished. I may have finished all 1,200 pages in 2 weeks. A new record for me. 

My eyes are bleeding (but not really). Please excuse me while I dig out my reading glasses from the abyss… 10/10 would recommend!

 

Goal: 2 Poetry Collections

When the Stars Wrote Back by Trista Mateer—A delightful read full of art and poetry.

I Could Pee on This: And Other Poems by Cats by Francesco Marciuliano—The book itself was humorous, though not particularly memorable. The funniest bit though, was when I was going to show the book to my sister, and her cat peed on her beanbag chair. I’m not laughing. I don’t know what you’re talking about.

 

Goal: 3 Novels by Indie Authors I Haven’t Read

Ahab by E.B. Dawson—After reaching the end of the book, I realized I actually had read a book by Dawson before, so this one might not count? Eh, who cares. I want to talk about it. An interesting retelling with a great twist. Moby-Dick, but in space. Space whales. I actually loved the way Dawson handled with the story. It had more touches of classical literature than I would have expected for a sci-fi novel.

Child of the Kaites by Beth Wangler—Soooo, I didn’t enjoy this one as much as I thought I would. If it were pitched as a biblical-inspired book I might have enjoyed it more than a biblical retelling. As a retelling, it fell flat for me, especially since it focused less on the power of Aia (God) and more on the Aivenah (the devil).

 

Goal: 3 Classics by Non-American Authors

Um… I started reading Dante’s Inferno at one point…

Goal: 5 Books from the Depths of my TBR

Dune by Frank Herbert—A sci-fi classic. This one has been on my list for a while now, and I once stopped reading it a couple years ago. Since a new film adaptation was coming out, I thought I’d give it another try. Dense yet fascinating, though I didn’t care for the way it ended. I did highly enjoy the latest movie adaptation though, even if it did only cover half the book.

Where are the other four books? *shrugs*

 

Goal: 5 Award Winners

New Kid by Jerry Craft—Newbery Medal and the Coretta Scott King Award. A delightful graphic novel that showed a different perspective of what it means to be a new kid at school. When I was younger, with my family moving around all the time, I was also the new kid more often than not.

Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds— Newbery Medal, Printz Award, and the Coretta Scott King Award. Heartbreaking book. I liked the style even if it was a little unconventional, but I wish the ending had a little more clarity even if I understand why it was vague.

Crossover by Kwame Alexander— Newbery Medal and the Coretta Scott King Award. I really enjoyed the style of this one, but the ending through me off guard. Still a great read.

The Beast Player by Nahoko Uehashi—Michael L. Printz Award nominee. Such a delightful book, I went out and bought a copy as soon as I finished it. Translated from Japanese, The Beast Player explores a world with of Toda (dragons!), Royal Beasts (Pterolycus, a winged wolf), and the life of young Elin. It starts off seemingly simple and gradually grows more and more complex. I’m eager to read the sequel.

Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys—SCBWI Golden Kite Award for Fiction and more. This one broke my heart, but it was so informative. I didn’t enjoy this story as much as Sepetys’ Salt to the Sea, but I believe it’s equally important.

Pax by Sara Pennypacker--National Book Award Nominee for Young People's Literature. Such a sweet little book but still hard hitting. It looks innocent. It’s not. This is an animal book about the cruelties of the wild and humankind but the beauty that can still be found in both.

 

Goal: 1 Nonfiction Book about a Topic that Interests Me

I started reading Teach Like a Champion and The Emotional Craft of Fiction. Does those count?

 

Total books: 11 out 20

Ouch! Maybe I need to make my goals for 2022 more realistic… But hey! My Year in Books according to Goodreads looks pretty cool. Look at all the pretty covers!

 

Bonus: Novels in Verse

After attending WriteOnCon in Februrary, I resolved to read 3-5 novels in verse a week for poetry month in April!

Like Water on Stone by Dana Walrath—A heartbreaking account of the Armenian genocide. Part magical realism, part historical fiction,

Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo—Now I’m angry. I definitely enjoyed this book more than her first one, The Poet X. But a lot of the characters in this story just made me incredibly angry. I suppose that’s part of the point, but still. I liked the dual perspective, although once the character’s names disappeared from the top of the chapters, I had no idea who was who.

Planet Middle School by Niki Grimes—Honestly wish this one were longer and more fleshed out.

Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds—see Award Winners above.

Other Notable Books (guess my go-to author)

The Singing (The Books of Pellinor, book 4) by Alison Croggon

The Enigma Game by Elizabeth Wein

Elantris by Brandon Sanderson

Break the Fall by Jennifer Iacopelli

Network Effect (The Murderbot Diaries, book 5) by Martha Wells

Elatsoe by Darcie Little Badger (see book review)

Avatar: The Last Airbender, The Promise by Gene Luen Yang

Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson

Descender (vols. 1-6) by Jeff Lemire

Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko (see book review)

A Thousand Perfect Notes by C. G. Drews (see book review)

Small Favors by Erin A. Craig

Arcanum Unbounded by Brandon Sanderson

Wolf Children: Ame & Yuki by Mamoru Hosoda

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Let’s chat! What were some of your favorite books from this year? Have you read any of the ones I did? Did you meet your reading goals?

 

Similar posts: 7 Books I Bought Despite the Cover, 8 Books I Bought Because of the Cover, and 2021 Reading Resolutions

7 Books I Bought Despite the Cover

Last month I wrote about books I bought because their cover caught my eye. This month, it’s time for the opposite. Brace yourself! Here are 7 books I gave a chance despite the injustice done to their covers.

1)   Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions by Edwin A. Abbot

Can this poor book not get a decent cover design? The library copy I read was so colorful, and I bought this particular copy online. What’s with the format of this particular copy being so flat? Wait… hold on. I get it. Ha!

A fascinating story based in mathematics and religion. Though it’s not exactly a compelling story, it’s a fascinating discussion on multiple dimensions and the doubt often accompanied by new discoveries because they don’t follow the way things have always been done. Now that I teach math, I have an even greater appreciation for this book.

2)   The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton

Another book that can’t get a decent cover. I mean, the 50^th anniversary edition is decent but nothing to write home about. The copy I borrowed in college had me cringing, and my current edition is just… why? Who thought this was a good idea?

If the book hadn’t been assigned reading in one of my classes, I definitely wouldn’t have picked it up. Now I recommend it all the time. Maybe this book can get a break because it’s so popular?

3)   Forward Me Back to You by Mitali Perkins

This one was actually a gift from a friend, and if it wasn’t, I probably never would have picked it up. But I’m so glad I did! I love this story. It’s a powerful one about empowerment, found families, and the fight against human trafficking.

But the cover hurts my eyes. I also remember when I was reading it, my dad got a glimpse of the book and asked if it was about communism. Which it’s not, but I can see where he got that idea from. Maybe I’m missing some cultural significance in the cover design and its color scheme?

4)   Elantris by Brandon Sanderson

This cover never intrigued me, but I ended up buying it without reading it first because it’s by Brandon Sanderson! There are very few authors I’ll do that with.

When I was reading the book, I would glance back at the cover to get a better feel for the setting. But for whatever reason, this cover isn’t very memorable to me. The characters are though. I wish I could meet Raoden and Sarene!

5)   Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

This book actually has some pretty covers. Do you think the bookstore would have one? Haha! Nope. You get a bicycle. Anybody who hasn’t read this book want to tell me it’s about? I’ve read it, so I’ll go first. Spies. Intrigue. Female pilots who make me want to get my pilot’s license because the book was written by a female pilot! And we get a bicycle. *sigh* Forget the cover. Check out the first lines.

“I AM A COWARD.

“I wanted to be heroic and I pretended I was. I have always been good at pretending.”

6)   H. G. Wells: Collector’s Book of Science Fiction

Yeah, this cover is just awful. But the book was cheap, and it has a lot of classic science fiction stories, so I couldn’t pass it up.

I used to love looking at the pictures for War of the Worlds when I was a kid. I didn’t bother reading the story back then, but the idea fascinated me. Now, I’ve read the book a couple times, and it’s still the only one in the collection I’ve read, but I’ll get around to the others… someday…

7)   The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

This one is another book that actually has a decent cover, but I didn’t get one of those copies because I wanted to support an indie bookstore. #shoplocal Unfortunately, my current city of residence doesn’t have many indie bookstores, so I tend to buy from Barnes & Noble. It’s not ideal, but at least it beats buying from Amazon.

 

There you have it! Seven good reminders not to always judge a book by its cover.

 

Let’s chat! Have you read any of these? What are some books you own that aren’t the prettiest but you enjoy anyway?

 

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Similar posts: 8 Books I Bought Because of the Cover; Don’t Judge a Book By Its Author, Or Should You?; and Don’t Judge a Book by Its Cover

8 Books I Bought Because of the Cover

I’m not one for impulse buys. I don’t just find a pretty book off the bookstore shelf, snatch it up, and bring it home. Experience has taught me that doesn’t usually end well.

But there have been times when I’ve been browsing the bookstore, the library, or my Goodreads feed, found a pretty cover, and read the blurb as a result. Then, I’ll check it out at the library. Sometimes the library doesn’t have it. Indie books, for example, are hard to come by. But for most books, two out of three times, the library has it. Then, if I really enjoy the story, I’ll buy the book.

Here are just a few pretty books that made their way to my shelves because the cover caught my eye. Books are organized by the authors’ last names.

1)     Starfish by Akemi Dawn Bowman

You know how there isn’t a starfish on the cover except for the word itself? Yeah, that intrigued me, and I wanted to figure out why. Not to mention that font, the purple, galaxy-like backdrop, and the sketch of a jellyfish!

I ended up reading the book at my library, then bought the book a couple years later when I had access to an English bookstore again. I don’t remember the plot very well anymore, so it’s probably time for a reread.

2)     Fawkes by Nadine Brandes

“Take a breath, Thomas. There has always been fear. There will always be fear. It’s up to us to stand tall, even when the fear demands we bow to it.”

I’d seen Brandes’ books on Goodreads before but was never interested in them until Fawkes came out. I particularly enjoy stories that feature masks that hide identities (not necessarily ones that cover one’s mouth), even though masquerade balls are always a bad idea for characters. It’s like they’re asking for trouble! Even though there are no masquerades in this story, the plot is even better than the cover.

I listened to the audiobook from my library first, and then a dear friend bought me the book (thanks again, Faith!). But it totally counts for this list.

3)     A Conspiracy of Stars by Olivia A. Cole

Look at that pretty little plant on the cover! It’s a sci-fi book, so it left me wondering if it was a flower or just some sort of spore. That and the backdrop is black, so it really stands out.

I read the book at my library first, and while the story wasn’t so much about plants as it was about nature and animals, it was really fascinating. So much so, I ordered the book online rather than wait to find an English bookstore.

4)     The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow

“I hope you will find the cracks in the world and wedge them wider, so the light of other suns shines through; I hope you will keep the world unruly, messy, full of strange magics; I hope you will run through every open Door and tell stories when you return.”

Look at all those different fonts! Is the cover busy? Yes. Is it pretty? You bet. Did I enjoy the book even more? Absolutely! The cover actually reflects how there’s a lot going on in the book and all the different worlds featured within, and I enjoyed every page.

I read this one at my local library than bought it at the bookstore within the next week.

5)     All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

I bought this one on a whim when I was visiting London with a friend. It had been on my list for a bit, and the cover looked intriguing. You know, light, fluffy. Yeah, no, the book isn’t fluffy at all. It ripped my heart out. Thanks a lot. It’s one of those sad contemporary ones, but it’s still so, so good.

When the Netflix adaptation came out, I forced my family to watch it with me. They cried.

6)     The Astonishing Color of After by Emily X. R. Pan

“Once upon a time we were the standard colors of a rainbow, cheery and certain of ourselves. At some point, we all began to stumble into the in-betweens, the murky colors made dark and complicated by resentment and quiet anger.  At some point, my mother slid so off track she sank into hues of gray, a world drawn only in shadows.”

The colors on the cover are both striking and beautiful, quite like the story itself. I also like the way the text bends with the shape of the bird. That and the story itself is enchanting yet heartbreaking. I read it at the library, then bought the book. Now it’s probably time for a reread.

7)     Nimona by Noelle Stevenson

“I’m not a kid. I'M A SHARK!”

I first saw this one at my library and picked it up on a whim. The story is just as fun as the art. It follows some of my favorite tropes and one of my favorite themes, “What makes a monster or a villain?”

Of course, I bought the book as soon as I could, and now it’s one of my go-to books when I want something particularly fun.

8)     The Beast Player by Nahoko Uehashi

“A good teacher is not one who never doubts, but rather one who strives to keep on learning despite the doubts in her mind.”

Look at that cover! Isn’t it pretty?! The font is classical fantasy, the colors are pleasing, and I particularly like the way the Royal Beast portrayed on the cover includes natural elements, adding to their mysterious nature. And let’s not forget Elin standing there with her harp.

To be more accurate, I spotted its sequel The Beast Warrior first. The booksellers had the cover turned to face browsers like myself, and long story short, the method worked. I’m waiting until The Beast Warrior comes out in paperback before I get my copy. It should be out by now! *stares longingly at bookshelf*

 

There you have it! Just a few books I’d recommend having read them and admired their covers.

 

Let’s chat! What are some books with pretty covers that you enjoy? Do you impulse buy books? Why/why not?

 

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Similar posts: 7 More of my Go-To Authors; Don’t Judge a Book by Its Author, or Should You?; and 5 Books with Surprising Plot Twists

Recommended Reading: Novels in Verse

As some of you may know, I recently attended WriteOnCon, an online writing conference, where I attended a wonderful session by Megan E. Freeman on writing novels in verse. For a while now, I’ve been in love with the style, as is evident from my previous post, 7 Reasons I Enjoy Novels in Verse, and I would like to some day write one of my own.

For now, though, I thought I’d share some of the ones I enjoyed in hopes of convincing more readers to fangirl/fanboy along with me. My recommendations are by no means extensive, and some readers may argue that some novels might have been better in prose rather than verse, but I enjoyed them for their form.

The following books are organized by authors’ last names.

1.   Audacity by Melanie Crowder (young adult; see book review)

“You will lose,
I say
if you try to strike
on your own without us.
[...] It is only by standing together
—men and women—
that we can ever hope
to outlast them.”

Personally, I find it easier to learn about historical events when I can connect with the people and their stories. This book focuses on the story of Clara Lemlich, who fought for women’s rights in the workplace. I may be making the book sound dull, but the story is far from it.

2.   Somewhere Among by Annie Donwerth-Chikamatsu (middle grade)

A story about American citizens set in a foreign country? Yes, please! Though I’m not Japanese and haven’t been to Asia just yet, I could still relate to the characters, especially when it comes to the difficulty of time zones. Not to mention the story is also historical fiction set during 2001—wait, did I just call something that happened in my lifetime “historical?” Please excuse me while I have an existential crisis.

3.   Full Cicada Moon by Marilyn Hilton (MG; see book review)

“On this clear and moonless night,
Mama and I wrap up in our winter clothes
and go outside to watch and listen.
The trees beyond our backyard form a torn-paper line
between the snow and this sky
filled with stars.”

Of all the novels in verse I’ve read, this one is one of the most memorable. A delightful story about Mimi, a young girl who dreams of becoming an astronaut and moves with her family to a new town. Not to mention the gorgeous imagery, which is one of the many reasons I love poetry.

 

4.   Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai (MG)

“Would be simpler
if English
and life
were logical.”

When I see people recommend novels in verse, I tend to see this one recommended all the time. Not to mention, it’s a Newbery Honor Winner, so of course it gets a lot of attention. But it’s sooo good, so I won’t complain. The story focuses on Há, a young immigrant who moves to America from Vietnam with her family, and how she struggles to learn how to adjust to a new country and the complexities of the English language.

 

5.   Blood Water Paint by Joy McCullough (YA)

This book was probably the most intense, so much so that I almost didn’t finish it, but it was ultimately worth the read, at least for me. The story focuses on a poetic interpretation of the life of Artemisia Gentileschi, a historic Italian painter, whose work often emphasizes empowering women. I learned a lot about history, injustice, and overcoming.

 

6.   Saving Red by Sonya Sones (YA)

This book was the first novel in verse I ever read, and it got me hooked on the style. After all, what’s not to like about the way stories combine with imagery? You can’t have purple prose if it’s not in prose. When I first started reading novels in verse, I found I also liked the style because the chapters were so short, and before I knew it, I’d finished more than I might have if the chapters had been long.

 

This April, I plan on reading a novel in verse a day (during weekdays only because let’s face it, work is hard). I gave up social media for lent, but after Easter, you can follow me on Instagram to see exactly what I’m reading.

Here are just some of the novels in verse on my To-Be-Read list:

• Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo
• The Crossover by Kwame Alexander
• Bull by David Elliot
• Alone by Megan E. Freeman (top of the list!)
• Planet Middle School by Nikki Grimes
• Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse
• Butterfly Yellow by Thanhhá Lai

 

Let’s chat! Have you read any of the books I’ve mentioned? When’s the last time you read a novel in verse? Have any favorites?

 

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Similar posts: Self-Publishing Poetry: A Glimpse into the Making of Dandelion Symphony, 7 Things I Learned from Writing Poetry, and 7 Reasons I Enjoy Novels in Verse

Recommended Reading: Disability Representation

When I was a kid, I hated The Phantom of the Opera. At first, I didn’t exactly know why. It wasn’t until I came to enjoy it in college that I understood my initial dislike. It wasn’t just because the story is depressing (what? it is!), but that it also had an incredibly negative portrayal of a character who was born with a facial deformity. Now, this post isn’t so much about how I learned to empathize with the Phantom or whether or not he was justified in his actions but rather about disability representation in literature.

For a long time, most disabled characters were portrayed in a negative light. Shakespeare’s Richard III was a despicable character and he was a hunchback (though it is based on historical fact, there is still a lot of speculation put into the play). Mary Shelly’s creature in Frankenstein was often likened to a monster and hated mostly because he was hideous. Even Victor Hugo’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame portrays Quasimodo, deaf and hunchbacked, as being hideous despite being the most admirable character.

Once I was able to understand the context of a story, like The Phantom of the Opera, I was better able to appreciate it as a piece of literature, even if I disliked it for those very reasons. This post is not about those stories though, but rather a list of recommended contemporaries that have explored various stories from various perspectives, from characters with physical disabilities to those who are neurodiverse. Books are organized by authors’ last names.

100 Days of Sunlight by Abbie Emmons

Physical disability representation.

Tessa has been blinded after being in a car accident, and she doesn’t know if her vision will even return. So her grandma helps her find somebody who can help her write her poems, and he happens to have prosthetics. She initially tries to refuse his help, but they quickly become friends.

Though I’m not usually a fan of books shelved under the romance category, I really enjoyed this one! I particularly liked how it seemed to start off being overly cheerful, like seriously, Weston does seem too happy. But as the book goes on, it explores his psychology as well, which I greatly appreciated.

The Boy Who Steals Houses by C. G. Drews

Neurodiversity.

Sam just wants to find another house to temporarily stay in with his brother Avery. Even though Avery’s older, Sam feels like he has to take care of him. Then he accidentally breaks into the wrong house, one that’s full of people, and instead of getting arrested or kicked out, he makes a friend. This book is also an #ownvoices story featuring characters on the autism spectrum.

Not to mention the story actually helped me out of a bout of depression. Though it didn’t actually speak to my circumstances at the time, it was still the story I needed at that time.

A Silent Voice by Yoshitoki Oima

Physical disability representation and neurodiversity.

These books are intense. Shoya is a boy who bullied Shoko, a partially deaf girl, in his school until she left. Years later, isolated from the rest of his classmates, he attempts to make amends. I particularly liked the way the story addressed physical disability as well as the concept of forgiveness, which is never as easy as it sounds. I’ve only read the first two Manga, but my sister and I watched the Anime, and I cried. Twice.

Since I’ve gone back to work, I’ve found it can be difficult to hear people when everybody is wearing a mask. So I started using some sign language (ASL) to communicate little things (e.g. single-file lines I dubbed “the snake” and used the snake gesture), and I’m actually thinking about learning as much ASL as I can. The only problem is that like other languages, sign language can differ from country to country.

Kids Like Us by Hilary Reyl

Neurodiversity.

Martin is spending the summer in France with his mom and sister. As a teenager on the autism spectrum, he may not always understand his family, but he is doing his best to make friends at his local school. Not only are the characters stunning, but the cultural aspects are great as well. I really appreciate how the author touched on what it’s like to live in a foreign country, and how it can be difficult whether or not one is neurotypical.

If you haven’t noticed, I tend to lean toward books with autism representation. I have several family members on the spectrum, so I like to do my best to understand their perspectives. Yes, I realize you can only learn so much from fiction, but it’s like the saying goes “When you’ve met one person with autism, you’ve met one person with autism.” No two people are alike, and fiction is merely a tool that I like to use to help me learn more.

Bone Gap by Laura Ruby

Neurodiversity.

Finn is determined to figure out what happened to Roza and why she disappeared. The only problem: he’s face-blind, and recognizing people can pose some difficulties. This kind of disability isn’t often addressed in fiction, and more often than not, I’ve seen it done poorly instead of well. But Ruby does an excellent job, and her writing style is stellar. I also like how this book has fantastical, magical-realism-like elements to it, though it can be confusing at times.

The Art of Feeling by Laura Tims

Physical disability and neurodiversity.

Sam has had to use crutches since a car accident that killed her mother and left her disabled and dealing with bouts of depression. She ends up meeting Eliot, a boy who can’t physically feel anything (Anhidrosis), by accident. As their friendship develops, Sam struggles to remember what happened during the car accident. I recently reread this one and enjoyed it just as much as the first time, though it had more swearing than I remembered. Still a good read.

Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia

Neurodiversity.

Eliza doesn’t like talking to people, so when she makes friends with Wallace, they text each other for several days before they say anything aloud. She’s also the author of a popular webcomic series, but nobody knows about her online identity, not even Wallace, who’s a huge fan. Socially awkward adventures ensue. Although my social anxiety has never been as bad as Eliza’s, I found her story to be incredibly relatable.

So there you have it! Seven great books that represent disabled characters. You might also enjoy these neurodiverse YA novels: Starfish by Akemi Dawn Bowman, The Astonishing Color of After by Emily X. R. Pan, All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven, A World Without You by Beth Revis, and Made You Up by Francesca Zappia.

Let’s chat! Have you read any of these? Have they made it to your TBR? Do you actively seek out books with disability representation? What are some of your favorites?

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