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One of the prompts for the 2024 BINGO is: A5: Disability (author or theme).

I posted there saying I would love to hear what people are reading for that prompt, but then I thought that subject would be a good one to post here. I watched my mother go from an able-bodied person to someone who developed many disabilities that steadily got worse until her death. It really made me look at the world and accessibility issues closely. Sadly, it still took me a long time to realize that disabilities are rarely represented in things like movies, television and books. I would really love to hear about the books you have read that depict people with disabilities. There are a couple I'll mention now.

There are two books: Fourth Wing and Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros which are book 1 and 2 of a series and the main character has Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome just like the author and her sons. They don't call it that, of course, in the book because it's a fantasy series. I definitely recommend this series.

I have started reading Hummingbird by Natalie Lloyd. It is a kids' book (I'm a substitute teacher, so I often read books with the kids). I started with a fifth grade class, and I haven't finished it yet. The main character has osteogenesis imperfecta (often called "brittle bone disease"). I have really enjoyed what I have read so far. I love the representation in a kids' book. I haven't seen that a lot.

Great idea @Misty! I'll be here later!

Misty, thanks for this topic. My oldest kid has Ehlers-Danlos so I'm definitely going to check out those books for them. I'm also always seeking good disability rep in fiction. Here are a few that came right to mind:
Elena Knows - the protagonist is crippled by her late-stage Parkinson's, and her struggles, both emotional and physical, are described so well. Plus this is just an amazing book - a 5 star read for me.
Lock In - the protagonist is completely paralyzed and controls a cyborg body
So Lucky - physically disabled protagonist that confronts disability and how disabled are treated head-on

Leigh Bardugo is a disabled author. I'm sure my kid will be able to suggest others when they wake up!

The first thing that came to my mind was True Biz by Sara Nović. The novel is set in a school for the deaf, and I learned a lot about the many issues surrounding the deaf community. Also, the author herself is deaf.

Rose wrote: "Leigh Bardugo is a disabled author. I'm sure my kid will be able to suggest others when they wake up!"

I didn't know that. I love her books. One of her Six of Crows characters has a severe learning disability which I loved to see. My oldest is trying to get my youngest to read it because the youngest also has a pretty severe learning disability.

Misty wrote: "Rose wrote: "Leigh Bardugo is a disabled author. I'm sure my kid will be able to suggest others when they wake up!"

I didn't know that. I love her books. One of her Six of Crows c..."

And Kaz is physically disabled - uses a cane and has chronic pain. My disabled kid really loves how this character is portrayed.

Jen Campbell is a UK-based author and reviewer and she has a wonderful Youtube Channel. Disability representation in lit is a huge topic for her, and she especially looks for books by authors who are themselves disabled (as is she). She's done quite a few episodes on the topic and she's always on the lookout for more in her weekly videos. They drop on Sundays and they always make my day :)

Nadine in California wrote: "Jen Campbell is a UK-based author and reviewer and she has a wonderful Youtube Channel. Disability representation in lit is a huge topic for her, and she especially looks for books by authors who a..."

She's brilliant, I've watched a number of her videos and love her retelling of traditional folk and fairy tales, I read a great collection of hers not that long ago The Sister Who Ate Her Brothers: And Other Gruesome Tales

Y'all got me very curious about Bardugo, especially Six of Crows and Shadow and Bone.

I suppose a few of my recent reads qualify here:

Still Born by Guadalupe Nettel which focuses on two friends as one becomes a mother navigating a complicated birth.

A Duke by Default by Alyssa Cole was a funny and sexy romance with a background story around ADHD. Also, this protagonist has a wheelchair-bound sister who is the protagonist in another story from this series Can't Escape Love. I haven't read this one though.

Jen wrote: "Y'all got me very curious about Bardugo, especially Six of Crows and Shadow and Bone.

I suppose a few of my recent reads qualify here:

Still Born b..."

I thought the Nettel was really fascinating too Jen, glad you liked it.

I don't personally regard being ND as a disability more an identity but for those wanting to read work by ND writers then I'd recommend A Kind of Spark great YA read, and lots of great details about the Scottish witch hunts, also adapted for TV by the BBC and currently available on iplayer for anyone who's got access to that.

@Alwynne, I like the sound of that one too, adding to TBR.

I wondered if something like Disability & Neurodivergence Representation would be a better name for this thread.

Jen wrote: "@Alwynne, I like the sound of that one too, adding to TBR.

I wondered if something like Disability & Neurodivergence Representation would be a better name for this thread."

Sorry for the delay Jen my notifications have been a bit sketchy recently. It's really great of you to think of doing that but I can't say it bothers me that much, plus even within groups people have different takes on identity versus disability etc So only basing things on my own experience which is not the only way of thinking about things.

Jen wrote: "@Alwynne, I like the sound of that one too, adding to TBR.

I wondered if something like Disability & Neurodivergence Representation would be a better name for this thread."

Done. Not to be bossy. Change it back if you prefer.

Oh this is never in the relevant themed book lists but I just remembered that Animal Dreams by Barbara Kingsolver features a character and storyline with Alzheimer's. It is not the central theme but prominent and closely woven into the main story I would say. If I remember right, this character is even at times the narrator, and I thought it was sensitively done.
I really enjoyed this book. In fact, it's been my favorite of the three Kingsolver I've read. I haven't read her big hit Demon Copperhead but I did read and enjoy her other big hit Poisonwood Bible, and I think I like this book even better.

Carol wrote: "Done. Not to be bossy. Change it back if you prefer."

That works. The discussion grew once it was originally posted.

Jen wrote: "Oh this is never in the relevant themed book lists but I just remembered that Animal Dreams by Barbara Kingsolver features a character and storyline with Alzheimer's. It ..."

It’s my fave Kingsolver by a mile. I’d forgotten that aspect. Thanks for flagging it

Carol wrote: "Jen wrote: "Oh this is never in the relevant themed book lists but I just remembered that Animal Dreams by Barbara Kingsolver features a character and storyline with Alzh..."

Yes!! It's really an under-the-radar little gem from her!

Alwynne wrote: "...for those wanting to read work by ND writers then I'd recommend A Kind of Spark great YA read, and lots of great details about the Scottish witch hunts..."

I just finished the audio for this and loved it! Was hard to "put down". Love the Scottish accent of the narrator, although the "bad guys" were voiced really exaggeratedly so. Loved all I learned about autism, the Scottish witch hunts, and sharks too.

Just listened to The Bonesetter's Daughter by Amy Tan for this year's 2nd Bingo card and loved it. The wonderful joint narration is by Amy Tan herself and actress/icon Joan Chen.

Mentioning the book here as it includes what I thought was a sensitive depiction of and attitude toward Alzheimer's. It includes the process of discovery, coping, and acceptance.