We’re all avid readers here at Knee Brace Press, so we’ve included some book recs below from authors who write about chronic conditions, disability, mental health, and neurodivergence.

As always, check out content warnings before reading.

Dystopia, fantasy, horror, and sci-fi

Wander, by Allison Stalberg (fantasy)

The Twin Stars, by Bridgette Dutta Portman (fantasy, sci-fi, YA)

The Undead Truth of Us, by Britney S. Lewis (horror, romance, YA)

The Final Girl Support Group, by Grady Hendrix (horror, satire)

The Memory Index, by Julian Vaca (dystopia, sci-fi, YA)

Site Alpha, by Neal Romriell (sci-fi)

Mexican Gothic, by Silvia Moreno Garcia (horror)

White Smoke, by Tiffany D. Jackson (horror, YA)

Legendborn, by Tracy Deonn (fantasy, YA)

All other fiction

Heartstopper, by Alice Oseman (contemporary, graphic novel, romance, YA)

Nothing Without Us Too, edited by Cait Gordon and Talia C. Johnson (anthology)

Full Disclosure, by Camryn Garrett (contemporary, YA)

Queenie, by Candice Carty-Williams (contemporary)

The Boy with a Bird in His Chest, by Emme Lund (contemporary, speculative, YA)

The Vegetarian, by Han Kang (contemporary, speculative)

Turtles All The Way Down, by John Green (contemporary, YA)

The Silver Linings Playbook, by Matthew Quick (contemporary, romance)

Lizzie Blake’s Best Mistake, by Mazey Eddings (romance)

You, Me, and Our Heartstrings, Melissa See (romance)

Everything, Everything, by Nicola Yoon (contemporary, romance, YA)

Letters I’ll Never Send, by Nicole Zelniker (contemporary)

My Government Means to Kill Me, by Rasheed Newson (historical, YA)

The Great Believers, by Rebecca Makkai (historical, contemporary)

Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute, by Talia Hibbert (romance)

Beloved, by Toni Morrison (speculative)

Transcendent Kingdom, by Yaa Gyasi (contemporary)

Nonfiction

The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down, by Anne Fadiman (journalism)

Unprotected, by Billy Porter (memoir)

In The Dream House, by Carmen Maria Machado (memoir)

Fire Shut Up In My Bones, by Charles M. Blow (memoir)

Little Yellow Magnet, by Jamieson Wolf

Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal?, by Jeanette Winterson (memoir)

Crazy Brave, by Joy Harjo (memoir)

Invisible, by Michele Lent Hirsch (journalism, memoir)

Dear Philomena, by Mugabi Byenkya (memoir)

All in My Head, by Paula Kamen (memoir)

Not That Bad, edited by Roxane Gay (essays)

What Doesn’t Kill You, by Tessa Miller (memoir)

Poetry

The Whisper, The Storm, and Light In Between, by Clara Olivo

Don’t Call Us Dead, by Danez Smith

Bible Belt Queers, edited by Darci McFarland

Red Sky, edited by Gabrielle Langley, Melissa Hassard, and Stacy Nigliazzo

Bread from a Stranger’s Oven, by Janlori Goldman

Black Girl Call Home, by Jasmine Mans

Born From Ashes, by Jess Lauro

The Colossus and Other Poems, by Sylvia Plath