Bookworm Cottage Style

This year we are diversifying our bookshelves and reading about people with a wide range of lived experiences. In honor of Disability Pride Month in July, this list contains a mix of fiction and nonfiction stories that feature characters with disabilities and neurodiverse characters. As always, I have read, enjoyed, and would highly recommend each of the books on the list.

True Biz by Sara Novic (386 pages; 2022) // This is the most eye-opening book I’ve read in quite awhile. Set at a Deaf boarding school in Ohio, this novel revolves around Austin, a student who comes from a legendary Deaf family and grew up deeply immersed in Deaf Culture; Charlie, girl who had never met another Deaf person until she transferred to the school; and February, the school headmaster who cares deeply for her students. The book is a coming of age story that highlights the political and medical threats to Deaf Culture, communication, and life and is peppered with ASL lessons and Wikipedia entries throughout. I really really enjoyed this one!

One Two Three by Laurie Frankel (2021; 416 pages) // This incredible novel reads somewhat like Erin Brockovich meets The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime meets Little Women. In this novel, three adolescent sisters take it upon themselves to investigate an environmental contamination issue in their under-resourced town, where far too many people are facing disability and disease. Whether you have a passion for environmental justice, enjoy legal suspense and cover-up stories, are seeking the perspective of more neurodiverse and disabled characters, or simply love a good story about family loyalty and the bonds of sisters, I highly recommend this book!

Upward Bound by Woody Brown (208 pages; 2026)  // Set at a daycare center for adults with autism and other disabilities, this book is narrated in alternating perspectives from both participants and employees. Because most of the participants in the program can’t express themselves verbally or physically, it was such a gift to get a window into their hearts and minds. Brimming with SO much empathy for both the disabled adults and their caregivers, this is one of the most moving books I’ve read in awhile. The experience is even richer when you learn more about the author, the first nonspeaking autistic graduate of UCLA who is said to have written the book one paragraph a day for years by pointing at a letter board. Brown’s personal experiences with the condition lend a level of acuity to the narrative that are unmatched by anything else I’ve read before. This is a short, quick read that pulls you in and packs a punch.

Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert (2019; 373 pages) // This steamy romance starring a woman with chronic pain will restore your faith in humanity!  Computer expert Chloe Brown wants to loosen up a little and enlists the help of her tattoo-covered, motorcycle-driving neighbor to help her cross of some of the adventures on her list. A gentle, sexy celebration of making space for the people who love us.

Visual Thinking: The Hidden Gifts of People Who Think in Pictures, Patterns, and Abstractions by Temple Grandin (2022; 340 pages) // This is a great book and I’m surprised not more people are talking about it! Written by a woman with autism, this book explores the power of “visual thinkers” and how their unique perspective is a necessary part of a productive, functioning workforce. This book completely reshaped the way I think about education, skilled trades, neurodiversity, and varieties of learning styles. I would recommend this to educators, parents, hiring managers, and any and all nonfiction fans. A fascinating, thought-provoking, solutions-oriented read!

The Beauty of Dusk: On Vision Lost and Found, by Frank Bruni (2022; 320 pages) // In this fantastic memoir, NYT columnist Frank Bruni recounts the aftermath of an unexpected medical diagnosis (a stroke rendering him blind in one eye) with striking resilience and gratitude. This charming book is a masterclass in taking a glass half-full approach to life’s challenges, and an imperative reminder that everyone is carrying their own (often invisible) burdens. 

We’re Not Broken: Changing the Autism Conversation by Eric Garcia (309 pages; 2021) // So good! Written by an autistic author and featuring interviews with numerous autistic individuals with differing support needs, this book was incredibly effective at helping me better understand the autistic/neurodivergent/disability community and shifted my thinking around the best ways to be an ally. It was so eye-opening to realize that the world around autistic individuals poses much greater challenges than autism itself. I highly recommend this book to all readers (especially policy makers, social workers, and caretakers) so that we can all learn how to better support those on the spectrum