Disability Representation: Cerebral Palsy

Looking for a book that centers cerebral palsy? I've done my best to collect the names of as many nonmedical books as possible. Most are memoirs, autobiographies, and nonfiction, but you'll also find some children's books and a few works of fiction. If you know of a book that you think belongs on this list, let me know at contact.undergroundbookshelf@gmail.com. Please note that I have not read all of these books. I encourage you to use this list as a jumping-off point and to do your own research when selecting the book that is right for you.

Cerebral Palsy Resources

Image Description: A book laying open against a purple backdrop.

Credit: DESIGNECOLOGIST / Unsplash via Webador

Books Centering Cerebral Palsy

Memoirs/Nonfiction

Find Another Dream by Maysoon Zayid
If at Birth You Don't Succeed by Zach Anner
The Pretty One by Keah Brown
Exile and Pride by Eli Claire
One More Step by Bonner Paddock
The Unlikely Ballerina by Denise Lance
My Left Foot by Christy Brown
Coloring Outside the Lines: My Journey to Able Living in a Disabled Body by J. Walton
CP Can't Stop Me by Autumn Kinkade
Karen: A True Story Told by Her Mother by Marie Killilea
Someone Like Me: An Unlikely Story of Challenge and Triumph Over Cerebral Palsy by John W. Quinn
Eye Can Write: A Memoir of a Child's Silent Soul by Jobathan Bryan
Law and Dis-Order: A Memoir of a Lawyer with Severe Cerebral Palsy by Michael J. Sharley
Overcoming Insurmountable Odds: How I Rewired My Brain to Do the Impossible by Scott A. McCreight
One More Step: My Story of Living with Cerebral Palsy, Climbing Kililanjaro, and Surviving the Hardest Race on Earth by Bonner Paddock
Just Call Me Jeff: My Life with Cerebral Palsy by Jeff Arseneaux
One Click at a Time by Jeremiah and Kimberley Prophet
A Life of Triumph: How a Girl with Cerebral Palsy Beat the Odds to Achieve Success by Karen A. Gorr
Why Do You Walk That Way?: The Story of a Girl with Cerebral Palsy
Thorn In My Flesh: Overcoming Cerebral Palsy by Samantha Matthews
What I Wish I Knew Back Then: A Physical Therapist and Mother's Perspective of Raising Her Child with Cerebral Palsy by Marsh Naidoo
Birmingham's Candyman: Finding Joy in Living with Cerebral Palsy by Donnie Goodin
My Life, A Little Off-Balance: Living and Dying with Cerebral Palsy by Amelia McNeilly
Wheels Galore! Adaptive Cars, Wheelchairs, and a Vibrant Daily Life with Cerebral Palsy by Iain M. MacLeod
How I Own Cerebral Palsy by Carmen Lebron
Anchored, Not Tethered: My Life, Anchored in Love, Not Tethered to Cerebral Palsy by Ashley Ann Overby
The Bindings: The Girl with Cerebral Palsy and the Experiences that Hold Me Together by April Williams
A Lifetime Fighting: Living with Cerebral Palsy by Amanda Forry/Fino
Cerebral Palsy, A Story: Finding the Calm After the Storm by Ilana Estelle
From Where I sit: Making My Way with Cerebral Palsy by Shelley Nixon
Trapped: My Life with Cerebral Palsy by Fran Macilvey
Bursting with Life: Triumph Through Cerebral Palsy By Robert Reid
Not That Different: Growing Up with Cerebral Palsy by Dayne Coffey
Get Up, Your Bus is Here: Living My Life with Cerebral Palsy by Dr. Stephen A. Dantzig
Cerebral Palsy: My Journey of Self-Love by Tylia Flores
Autobiography: What it's Like to be a Person with Cerebral Palsy by Virginia Crain
I'm Not Here to Inspire You: Essays on Disability from a Regular Guy Living with Cerebral Palsy by Rob J. Quinn
Go the Way Your Blood Beats: A Memoir by Emmett de Monterey

Children's Books

The Adventures of Bessie Bunny by Karen Bunney
Max and the Magic Wish by Gavin Clifton
The Amazing Edie Eckhart by Rosie Jones
Hailey's Dream by Jennifer Kuhns
Nathan's Wish: A Story about Cerebral Palsy by Laurie Lears
Cerebral Palsy is My Superpower by Trevor Lane
Manny's Mission: The Adventures of a Cerebral Palsy Superhero by Holly Lotz
That Teacher Uses Crutches! Teaching Children About Cerebral Palsy by Lori-Ann Tessier
Cerebral Palsy Gal by Amanda Forry-Fino
The Princess Panda Tea Party: A Cerebral Palsy Fairy Tale by Jewel Kats
My Friend Suhana: A Story of Friendship and Cerebral Palsy by Shalia Abdullah
The Adventures of Jackpants! by Jon Bennion
Dillon the Dolphin: Educating Children about Cerebral Palsy by Shelly Weiss
Janine by Maryann Cocca-Leffler
Roll with It by Jamie Sumner
Not So Different by Shane Burcaw
Daniel's New Friend by Becky Friedman
Xander's Cerebral Palsy Superpowers by Lori Leigh Yarborough
The Abilities in Me: Cerebral Palsy by Gemma Keir
Completely Emme: A Cerebral Palsy Story by Dr. Justine Green
C is For Cerebral Palsy: A Child's View by Amy Elizabeth Sturkey
My Brother is Special: A Cerebral Palsy Story by Murray Stenton
Meeting Mimi: A Story about Different Abilities by Francie Dolan
Mighty Little John: How One Boy with Cerebral Palsy Lives an Ordinary Life by Derek Young
Cerebral Palsy Party by AZ Chapman
Taking Cerebral Palsy to School by Mary Elizabeth Anderson
My Life with Cerebral Palsy by Mari Schuh
I'm Just Like You but Different: A Story about Living with Cerebral Palsy by Christine E. Staple Ebanks
All About Me and Cerebral Palsy by Desiree Da Costa
Emori Wears Green by KB Holmes
The Out of My Mind Series by Sharon M. Draper

Fiction

A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer (The Cursebreaker Series)
Heart So Fierce and Broken by Brigid Kemmerer (The Cursebreaker Series)
A Vow So Bold and Deadly by Brigid Kemmerer (The Cursebreaker Series)
Petey by Ben Mikaelsen
The Space You Left Behind (Ya Verse) by Ona Gritz
Wild and Crooked by Leah Thomas
Stuck In Neutral (series) by Terry Trueman
I Have No Secrets by Penny Joelson
Truly Wildly Deeply by Jenny McLachlan

Sources

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