Curated by: Mariana Prestigiacomo, Teresa McGinley

This month, we dive into the world of graphic novels and disability stories. Check out these graphic novels and their delightful, wholesome, uplighting, and sometimes heartbreaking tales of disability, neurodivergence, and trauma. Through storytelling, whether fictional or autobiographical, allow yourself to reflect on your own similar or ableist experiences; everybody and every body has a story. 

If you have not visited the library in a while, we have a new section for graphic novels! Check out more new and favorite novels next to the Fun Reads section on the first floor.

  • Book
    Cover of "The Dark Matter of Mona Starr" by Laura Lee Gulledge. A girl in a red plaid shirt sits thoughtfully on swirling gray and black starry clouds. A shooting star curves above, casting a dreamy, introspective atmosphere.

    The Dark Matter of Mona Starr

    by Laura Lee Gulledge
    A sci-fi thriller following Mona Starr as she navigates alternate realities, uncovering mysteries about identity, love, and the universe itself.

    Cover of "The Dark Matter of Mona Starr" by Laura Lee Gulledge. A girl in a red plaid shirt sits thoughtfully on swirling gray and black starry clouds. A shooting star curves above, casting a dreamy, introspective atmosphere.

    The Dark Matter of Mona Starr

    by Laura Lee Gulledge A sci-fi thriller following Mona Starr as she navigates alternate realities, uncovering mysteries about identity, love, and the universe itself.
  • Book
    Woman in a wheelchair in a flower-filled meadow, holding a small dog and smoking a cigarette. Artwork is earthy and natural. Text: "Brittle Joints by Maria Sweeney."

    Brittle Joints

    by Maria Sweeney
    A candid memoir exploring life with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, detailing chronic pain, resilience, and the quest for understanding and independence.

    Woman in a wheelchair in a flower-filled meadow, holding a small dog and smoking a cigarette. Artwork is earthy and natural. Text: "Brittle Joints by Maria Sweeney."

    Brittle Joints

    by Maria Sweeney A candid memoir exploring life with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, detailing chronic pain, resilience, and the quest for understanding and independence.
  • Book
    Cover of "Skin" comic. A blue-toned boy with a determined expression stands against a graffiti backdrop. He wears suspenders, jeans, and red boots.

    Skin

    by Peter Milligan
    A dark, provocative graphic novel about identity and alienation, following a disfigured youth drawn into extremism and violence.

    Cover of "Skin" comic. A blue-toned boy with a determined expression stands against a graffiti backdrop. He wears suspenders, jeans, and red boots.

    Skin

    by Peter Milligan A dark, provocative graphic novel about identity and alienation, following a disfigured youth drawn into extremism and violence.
  • Book
    Cover of "Crazy Like a Fox" by Christi Furnas. A cartoon fox walks in a city, holding a green bag," with a UFO in the sky.
    Cover of "Crazy Like a Fox" by Christi Furnas. A cartoon fox walks in a city, holding a green bag," with a UFO in the sky.

    Crazy Like a Fox: Adventures in Schizophrenia

    by Christi Furnas A powerful memoir exploring life with schizophrenia, blending humor and honesty to reveal resilience, insight, and the search for stability.
  • Book
    Illustrated book cover: A faceless person with long hair sits pensively among large vibrant red flowers against a gradient blue sky. The text above reads, "this is how i disappear," conveying a reflective, somber mood.

    This Is How I Disappear

    by Mirion Malle, Aleshia Jensen, Bronwyn Haslam
    A raw, poetic exploration of depression and identity, tracing a young woman’s struggle to be seen while feeling herself slowly fade.

    Illustrated book cover: A faceless person with long hair sits pensively among large vibrant red flowers against a gradient blue sky. The text above reads, "this is how i disappear," conveying a reflective, somber mood.

    This Is How I Disappear

    by Mirion Malle, Aleshia Jensen, Bronwyn Haslam A raw, poetic exploration of depression and identity, tracing a young woman’s struggle to be seen while feeling herself slowly fade.
  • Book
    Illustrated book cover titled 'A Quick & Easy Guide to Sex & Disability' by A. Andrews. It features a smiling person with tousled hair in the foreground, with a diverse group of people, including individuals in wheelchairs, behind them. The tone is inclusive and informative.
    Illustrated book cover titled 'A Quick & Easy Guide to Sex & Disability' by A. Andrews. It features a smiling person with tousled hair in the foreground, with a diverse group of people, including individuals in wheelchairs, behind them. The tone is inclusive and informative.

    A Quick and Easy Guide to Sex and Disability

    by A. Andrews An inclusive, candid guide that explores sex and disability, breaking stigma while offering practical advice on intimacy, communication, and pleasure.
  • Book
    "The Deep Dark" book cover: Two characters, a teenage boy and girl, hold hands in a desert landscape at dusk, beneath a starry sky and bold title.

    The Deep Dark

    by Lee Knox Ostertag
    A haunting graphic novel where hidden fears surface, blending mystery and emotion as a young protagonist confronts darkness within and around them.

    "The Deep Dark" book cover: Two characters, a teenage boy and girl, hold hands in a desert landscape at dusk, beneath a starry sky and bold title.

    The Deep Dark

    by Lee Knox Ostertag A haunting graphic novel where hidden fears surface, blending mystery and emotion as a young protagonist confronts darkness within and around them.
  • Book
    Cover art of "Everything is an Emergency" by Jason Adam Katzenstein. A cartoon man, looking anxious with a box on his head, is seated on a red-orange background. Speech bubble reads, “An OCD Story in Words & Pictures.”
    Cover art of "Everything is an Emergency" by Jason Adam Katzenstein. A cartoon man, looking anxious with a box on his head, is seated on a red-orange background. Speech bubble reads, “An OCD Story in Words & Pictures.”

    Everything is an Emergency: An OCD Story in Words and Pictures

    by Jason Adam Katzenstein A vivid look inside OCD, blending words and images to show how ordinary moments feel urgent, overwhelming, and impossible to ignore.
  • Book
    Cover of "Dancing After TEN" features colorful, playful figures dancing joyfully. Title in bold, with subtitle "a graphic memoir" below. Mood is vibrant.

    Dancing After TEN

    by Vivian Chong, Georgia Webber
    A moving story of survival and healing, where a woman reclaims her life and identity after trauma through resilience and courage.

    Cover of "Dancing After TEN" features colorful, playful figures dancing joyfully. Title in bold, with subtitle "a graphic memoir" below. Mood is vibrant.

    Dancing After TEN

    by Vivian Chong, Georgia Webber A moving story of survival and healing, where a woman reclaims her life and identity after trauma through resilience and courage.
  • Book
    Cover of "Love in the Palm of His Hand" by Rinteku. Two faces, hands framing their faces, with expressive eyes. Warm tones convey intimacy.

    Love in the Palm of His Hand

    by Rinteku
    A tender story of love, vulnerability, and connection, where small gestures reveal deep emotions and the true meaning of intimacy.

    Cover of "Love in the Palm of His Hand" by Rinteku. Two faces, hands framing their faces, with expressive eyes. Warm tones convey intimacy.

    Love in the Palm of His Hand

    by Rinteku A tender story of love, vulnerability, and connection, where small gestures reveal deep emotions and the true meaning of intimacy.
  • Book
    Cover of "Bipolar Bear and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Health Insurance" by Kathleen Founds. A bear holds a "Claim Denied" paper.
    Cover of "Bipolar Bear and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Health Insurance" by Kathleen Founds. A bear holds a "Claim Denied" paper.

    Bipolar Bear and the Terrible, No Good, Very Bad Health Insurance

    by Kathleen Founds A witty fable where Bipolar Bear battles a broken insurance system, exposing the absurd struggles of getting mental health care.
  • Book
    Cover of "Mis(h)adra" by Iasmin Omar Ata features a geometric, abstract illustration of an arm surrounded by glowing, blue spheres on a black background.

    Mis(h)adra

    by Iasmin Omar Ata
    A layered story exploring identity, memory, and hidden truths as characters confront the tension between who they are and who they pretend to be.

    Cover of "Mis(h)adra" by Iasmin Omar Ata features a geometric, abstract illustration of an arm surrounded by glowing, blue spheres on a black background.

    Mis(h)adra

    by Iasmin Omar Ata A layered story exploring identity, memory, and hidden truths as characters confront the tension between who they are and who they pretend to be.

Online Resources Highlights

Disability Justice: A Readers Guide

Use this Disability Justice: A Readers Guide Database

Learn more about Disability Justice, considered the second wave of disability rights, through this Readers Guide created by Columbia University librarians.

Social Justice Books: Disability

Use this Social Justice Books: Disability Internet Resource

Look through a list of elementary, middle school, high school, and adult disability books, curated by Teaching for Change, a non-profit organization.

Allied and Complementary Medicine (AMED)

Use this Allied and Complementary Medicine (AMED) Database

This database includes resources for allied health professions, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, rehabilitation, speech and language therapy, podiatry, complementary medicine, and palliative care

Disability in the Modern World

Use this Disability in the Modern World Database

This database includes 150,000 pages of primary sources, supporting materials, and archives, along with 125 hours of video. Relevant disciplines include disability history and disability studies, history, media, the arts, political science,…

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