Read This Next – Easterseals Thrive Media Hub

Read This Next: Broken Places and Outer Spaces by Nnedi Okorafor

Broken Places and Outer Spaces cover - blue with yellow accents.

I only learned a few weeks ago that Nnedi Okorafor is disabled. A few years ago, I read her book Who Fears Death and thought it was captivating; I added Akata Witch and Binti to my to-be-read shelf immediately. Okorafor is a leading sci-fi writer, but Broken Places & Outer Spaces takes a more personal look at her experience with scoliosis, paralysis, and racism.

Broken Places is a quick read (the audio book is under two hours), and it shows how creativity comes through in the midst of change, disability, and hardships. She also shows how other disabled and otherwise marginalized artists use these identities to fuel and produce their work.

This is available on Amazon, Scribd, and anywhere else you can find books!

10 Books to Read in August from the Washington Post

Cover of The Pretty One. Keah is a black woman wearing a gray sweater. She is smiling and has glasses on.

As if my TBR (to-be-read) list wasn’t long enough, the Washington Post shared their list of 10 books we should read in August. One of their recommendations is The Pretty One by Keah Brown. Keah has Cerebral Palsy, and shares part of her life and thoughts in this book. It’s definitely on the top of my pile!

Read This Next: A Time to Dance by Padma Venkatraman

I’m starting a new series here on the blog – “Read This Next,” which offers book and reading recommendations that relate somehow to disability. If you have a recommendation for this space, comment with your suggestion and we will definitely check it out!

A Time to Dance cover. A young woman in a green and red dress kneels on the ground.

Our first rec is A Time to Dance by Padma Venkatraman. This novel is written in verse and follows Veda’s journey through acceptance and strength after losing her leg after a car accident. Veda is a dancer in India who must learn to find a new but equal way to express herself through the medium.

While Venkatraman is not disabled herself, she did extensive research with disabled individuals to give her writing an authentic feel. I found myself connecting to Veda’s experiences so much that I knew the author consulted with others and listened to their suggestions. I also appreciated how, through the narrative, Venkatraman shows the power of seeing others like yourself achieving goals – this novel is the perfect example of why representation is important.

You can learn more about the book on the GoodReads page. Let us know in the comments whether you’ve read this, or if you’ve added it to your reading list!