Disability

This collection features titles that offer insight into disability, offering guidance for generating meaningful discussion about topics including blindness, deafness, autism spectrum disorder, physical disabilities, dyslexia, and Down syndrome.

Publication year 2005

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family

Tags Disability, Modern Classic Fiction, Drama / Tragedy, Historical Fiction

The Memory Keeper’s Daughter is a work of fiction written by Kim Edwards and published in 2005. The story follows the harrowed marriage of David and Norah, beginning with the birth of their twins, Paul and Phoebe, in 1964. Conflict immediately emerges within the novel as Phoebe is born with Down’s Syndrome and David decides to give her away rather than have his wife and himself face the pain of their daughter dying early like... Read The Memory Keeper's Daughter Summary


Publication year 1959

Genre Play, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Family, Identity: Gender

Tags Play: Drama, Play: Historical, Disability, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Education, Education, History: World, Drama / Tragedy, Classic Fiction, Biography

William Gibson’s drama The Miracle Worker chronicles the relationship between the real-life Helen Keller, a young girl from Alabama who was blind and deaf, and her teacher, the Irish, headstrong Annie Sullivan from Boston. The play follows a three-act structure and was adapted from Gibson’s 1957 Playhouse 90 teleplay. The staged production premiered in New York City at the Playhouse Theatre in 1959. The show received five Tony Award nominations in 1960 and won four... Read The Miracle Worker Summary


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Society: Community, Relationships: Friendship, Natural World: Environment, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Identity: Mental Health, Self Discovery, Natural World: Animals, Natural World: Flora/plants, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Society: Politics & Government, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Hope

Tags Animals, Science / Nature, Disability, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Agriculture, Education, Health / Medicine, Grief / Death, Depression / Suicide, Mental Illness, Social Justice, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Society: Class, Relationships: Siblings, Society: Community, Relationships: Fathers, Natural World: Place, Life/Time: The Past, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Identity: Disability, Identity: Femininity

Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Gothic Literature, Realistic Fiction, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Addiction / Substance Abuse, Depression / Suicide, Disability, Grief / Death, Class


Publication year 1976

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Relationships: Siblings

Tags Disability, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 1998

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Society: Colonialism, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Identity: Disability

Tags Historical Fiction, Religion / Spirituality, Race / Racism, Disability, Anthropology, History: World, Classic Fiction


Publication year 2007

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Disability, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Society: Community, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Equality

Tags Health / Medicine, Psychology, Disability, Japanese Literature, Psychology, Mental Illness, Biography


Publication year 2014

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Society: Class, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Society: Community, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger

Tags Narrative / Epic Poem, Confessional, Grief / Death, Addiction / Substance Abuse, Relationships, Mental Illness, Disability


Publication year 2014

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Mental Health, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Marriage, Relationships: Mothers, Self Discovery

Tags Romance, Humor, Disability, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2011

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Teams, Identity: Disability

Tags Realistic Fiction, Disability, Children's Literature, Sports, Modern Classic Fiction

The Running Dream, by Wendelin Van Draanen, features sixteen-year-old Jessica Carlisle as its protagonist and first-person narrator. After setting a personal record in the 400-meter dash at a track meet, Jessica’s team bus is struck by another vehicle, resulting in the death of one student and the loss of Jessica’s leg. The story encompasses Jessica’s coming-of-age as she learns to adapt to changes in her life and overcome the significant challenges of having a physical... Read The Running Dream Summary


Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Language, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Self Discovery, Relationships: Family

Tags Disability, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Romance


Publication year 2003

Genre Novel, Fiction

Tags Historical Fiction, Children's Literature, Disability, Realistic Fiction, History: World

The Silent Boy (2003) is a young adult historical fiction novel written by Lois Lowry. Lowry is most famous for writing The Giver, which won the Newberry Medal in 1994. A series of photos inspired Lowry to write The Silent Boy, and these grainy, somber images appear throughout the book at the beginning of each chapter, firmly rooting the novel in the early 1900s. The photos help frame the novel as a series of recollections... Read The Silent Boy Summary


Publication year 2017

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Natural World: Animals, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Identity: Disability, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Natural World: Environment

Tags Realistic Fiction, Disability, Children's Literature, Animals, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 1902

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Tags Inspirational, Education, Disability, History: World, Classic Fiction, Biography

In her autobiography, The Story of My Life, Helen Keller recounts her early childhood through to her college years, outlining the various wonders and struggles she encountered on the way to achieving her dream. Growing up in a small Alabama town, Keller suffers an illness just shy of her second birthday which robs her of her eyesight and hearing. She finds herself isolated due to her disabilities and her inability to communicate or be understood... Read The Story of My Life Summary


Publication year 1970

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Siblings, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Identity: Disability, Relationships: Family

Tags Realistic Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Disability, Post Modernism, Children's Literature, Classic Fiction


Publication year 2007

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Identity: Disability, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: The Future

Tags Realistic Fiction, Children's Literature, Disability


Publication year 1996

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Teams, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Relationships: Friendship, Natural World: Animals

Tags Realistic Fiction, Children's Literature, Disability, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction, Classic Fiction

The View From Saturday by American author Elaine Lobl Konigsburg was published in 1996 and won the Newbery Medal for excellence in American children’s literature in 1997—Konigsburg’s second Newbery Medal. She is one of only six writers to win the award twice (her first was awarded for From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler in 1968). Prior to becoming a writer of children’s and young adult fiction and publishing over 20 works from... Read The View From Saturday Summary


Publication year 2015

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Gender, Identity: Disability, Relationships: Family

Tags Disability, Children's Literature, Historical Fiction, WWII / World War II, Military / War, History: World

The War That Saved My Life is a work of historical fiction by bestselling author Kimberly Brubaker Bradley. The novel is intended for middle-grade readers and was published in 2015. It has won several awards, including the Newbery Honor for being among the most distinguished American children’s book of its year. The Wall Street Journal and Publishers Weekly listed the book as among the best children’s books in 2015, and it won 14 state book... Read The War That Saved My Life Summary


Publication year 1995

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Disability

Tags Disability, Animals, Science / Nature, Psychology, Psychology, Biography

Thinking in Pictures: My Life With Autism (1995) is a scientific memoir by author Temple Grandin. Grandin is a Professor of Animal Science at Colorado State University, where she fomented her specialized career as one of only a handful of livestock-handling equipment designers in the world. Thinking in Pictures narrates Grandin’s experiences as a world-renowned cattle handler, a professor, and a woman living with autism. Grandin fills each chapter with anecdotal stories and empirical research.Thinking... Read Thinking in Pictures Summary


Publication year 1945

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Society: Class, Identity: Gender, Society: Community, Emotions/Behavior: Apathy

Tags Free verse, Disability