July is Disability Pride Month, originating in the United States after the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act on July 26, 1990. It has since expanded into a global movement that recognizes those who face barriers every day due to a variety of conditions. With that in mind, library staff have highlighted some great new releases featuring people with different kinds of disabilities. Find more resources on our online catalogue.
Non-Fiction: Trans and Disabled: An Anthology of Identities and Experiences edited by Alex Iantaffi
A powerful anthology that brings together a diverse group of disabled and queer writers sharing vulnerable stories, poems, drawings and deeply personal essays about what it means to be trans and disabled.
Memoir: It Must be Beautiful to be Finished: A Memoir of my Body by Kate Gies
This debut memoir from Canadian author Kate Gies is the story of a girl born with a malformed ear who is desperately trying to have a body that makes her acceptable and of a woman learning to own a body she never felt was hers to define. In an age of speaking out about the abuse of marginalized bodies, this memoir takes a hard look at the medical system’s role in body oppression and trauma.
Fiction: Spectacular Things by Beck Dorey-Stein
Two sisters examine what they owe each other and what they are willing to sacrifice to make their family dreams come true in this latest from best-selling author Beck Dorey-Stein. Raised by a strong single mother, Mia and Cricket have a passion for soccer but when tragedy strikes older sister Mia sacrifices her dreams for younger sister Cricket and when Mia develops chronic kidney disease, it falls on Cricket to decide if she’s willing to make a sacrifice of her own to save her sister’s life.
Fantasy/Historical Fiction: When the Tides Held the Moon by Venessa Vida Kelley
Written with lush illustrations and buoyant prose, Venessa Vida Kelley’s debut novel brings the world of 1910s Coney Island to life in this unforgettable New York fairy tale that sees an asthmatic blacksmith falling for the captured merman who is the newest star in a carnival sideshow of ‘freakish’ attractions.
YA Fiction: You Started It by Jackie Khalilieh
After getting unexpectedly dumped by her boyfriend, undiagnosed Autistic 17-year old high school senior, Jamie Taher-Foster hatches a plan to fake date Axel, her younger neighbor in the hopes of winning her ex back. Though she and Axel have nothing in common aside from their shared Arab heritage—she’s a messy, type A with anxiety and IBS, he’s carefree but meticulous—their forced time together brings them to better understand one another. And for Jamie, it just might mean learning that not all experiences or people need to be crossed off a list. This latest YA romance from Palestinian Canadian author, Jackie Khalilieh celebrates the diversity of Arab Canadians and the beauty of various Toronto attractions.
Juvenile Fiction: It’s All or Nothing, Vale by Andrea Beatriz Arango
A poignant middle grade novel in verse in which, after a life-changing accident, one girl finds her way back to her life’s passion. No one knows hard work and dedication like Valentina. And Vale’s thing is fencing. She’s used to be the top fencer in her gym until her accident. After months away, Vale is finally cleared to fence again, but it’s much harder than before now that she has to deal with chronic pain and a body that doesn’t move the way it used to.
Juvenile Non-Fiction: Owning It: Our Disabled Childhoods in Our Own Words edited by Sophie Kamlish et al.
Growing up disabled can be an isolating experience. As much as you might be surrounded by loving and well-meaning friends and family, chances are no one close to you is going through this alongside you . . . until now! From navigating sports at school, to facing the confusion of getting given free stuff all the time, to juggling hospital trips alongside your social life, this anthology of firsthand experiences of childhood disability will be a welcome companion for disabled children. For non-disabled children it provides a welcome own-voice perspective and will help build empathy and understanding. A very powerful, much-needed book.
Graphic Novel: PAWS: Hazel has her Hands Full by Nathan Fairbairn; illustrated by Michele Assarasakorn (Msassyk)
The fourth book in the PAWS middle grade graphic novel series features Hazel, a young girl with spinal muscular atrophy who uses a wheelchair and is left alone to juggle the dog walking and cat sitting business she runs with her friends as the other girls find themselves too busy over the summer break to help. While Hazel tries to prove to her mother she can juggle it all along with her physical therapy, an unexpected problem arises that will challenge all of her abilities.
Picture Book: The World we can Build by Sally Rippin and Eliza Hull; illustrated by Daniel Gray-Barnett
This fantastic new picture book shows young readers that they can make a difference towards making the world a more accessible place for everyone. Carla and Sam want to play together, but there’s nowhere in their neighbourhood that’s accessible to them both! That is, until Carla and Sam put their heads together to dream up a place where all kids can play together, and a wonderful new space is born.
Picture Books: We are the Scrappy Ones by Rebekah Taussig; illustrated by Kirbi Fagan
Author and disability advocate Rebekah Taussig has written a ground-breaking anthem of belonging that celebrates the wide range of disabled children and affirms their worth, just as they are. With luminous illustrations by Kirbi Fagan, a diverse cast of characters are portrayed living, learning, and playing. This warm, joy-filled debut picture book is a must-read for disabled and non-disabled readers alike.