Young Adult Literature - Unbroken: 13 Stories starring Disabled Teens

 

Bibliographic Data: Nijkamp, Marieke. 2018.

Unbroken: 13 Stories Starring Disabled Teens. Farrar, Straus, and Giroux. ISBN: 9780374306502

Plot Summary:

This anthology explores disability in fictional tales told from the viewpoint of disabled characters, written by disabled creators. With stories in various genres about first loves, friendship, war, travel, and more, Unbroken will offer today's teen readers a glimpse into the lives of disabled people in the past, present, and future.

The contributing authors are award winners, bestsellers, and newcomers including Kody Keplinger, Kristine Willis, Francisco X. Stork, William Alexander, Corinne Duyvis, Marieke Nijkamp, Dhonielle Clayton, Heidi Heilig, Katherine Locke, Karuna Riazi, Kayla Whaley, Keah Brown, and Fox Benwell. Each author identifies as disabled along a physical, mental, or neurodiverse axis—and their characters reflect this diversity.

Critical Analysis:

Unbroken: 13 Stories Starring Disabled Teens is a fiction anthology including short stories in multiple genres—fantasy (including a science fiction selection) and contemporary and historical realistic—and forms. Each story is written from the point of view of a disabled main character and by a disabled author who experiences that disability. The stories take place around the globe and in historical, contemporary, and futuristic settings. Representation is richly inclusive across race, culture, gender, and sexual orientation, and categories of

disabilities. From romance to mystery to magic to angst, there is something to appeal to everyone here. Additionally, the quality of the writing and range of styles make this book a rich source of mentor texts for teaching writers.

Strengths/Weaknesses:

I really enjoyed these stories and hope that more disabled characters are featured in Young Adult books to come. It’s something that isn’t thought much upon but touches many people’s everyday lives. I can’t wait for readers to pick this one up and realize that you can be disabled, and still have an amazing adventure, fall in love, and save the world.

Awards:

Publishers Weekly

*A Junior Library Guild Selection*
*A Kirkus Best YA Book of 2018 That Feeds Imaginations*

*American Indians in Children's Literature (AICL): Lists of Best Books, 2010-2021*

"What makes these protagonists different proves far less relevant than the universal emotions they express." —Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Fans of every genre will find someone to root for in this collection focused on disabled heroes and heroines." —Seventeen Magazine

"There is something for everyone in this volume. VERDICT A great choice for all YA collections." —School Library Journal