Representation of Disabled Characters
Even as YA protagonists get more and more diverse, good representation can be hard to find. Usually the problem is that too many stories are told in ways that assume non-marginalized perspectives are the default. For example, the majority of disabled characters are treated not as human beings with complex personalities and goals but as sources of inspiration, burden, or growth for able-bodied people. It’s particularly difficult to find good intersectional representation – for example, I can’t tell you how many books I’ve read that have wonderfully complex queer characters but flat, stereotypical characters of color. The following list is a series of books that feature queer disabled protagonists with nuance, accuracy, and most importantly humanity. Many though not all of the writers are disabled in the same ways as their characters.
– Natasha Razi