Every kid deserves to see themselves in a book, and to better understand the classmates sitting next to them. These inclusive middle grade books feature characters with disabilities and differences, including autism, ADHD, dyslexia, cerebral palsy and more, in stories that kids actually want to read.
They’re wonderful for building empathy at home or in the classroom, and several are written by authors with lived experience. Scroll down to find inclusive books for all abilities, ages 8+.
Inclusive Books With Characters of All Abilities
Casting April by Wendy Lu
Ages 8–12
April lives and breathes Broadway, so when she’s put on stage crew instead of landing a role in the school play, she’s crushed… and then she finds out the director passed on her because of her tracheostomy tube. Theatre kids will LOVE this one, and the author has lived with a trach tube since birth, which makes April feel so real.
Find out more about Casting April on Wendy Lu’s website · Thank you to Wendy Lu for gifting me a copy!
The Wish Ring Cipher (Codebreakers series) by Alexandra Ott
Ages 8–12
Emma loves codes and puzzles, and now that she’s processing a recent autism diagnosis and starting seventh grade at a new school, they matter more than ever. When she joins the Codebreakers, a group cracking codes hidden in a nearby ghost town, the race is on to find a wish-granting ring before their rivals do. Perfect for puzzle lovers, with real ciphers for readers to solve along the way!
Thank you to Libro.fm for making the audiobook free for teachers to listen to!
Stopping the Shots by Lorna Schultz Nicholson 🇨🇦
Ages 8–13
Three brothers live on a farm in small-town Canada. Two are hockey-obsessed, and the third has down syndrome and loves his brothers. The hockey brothers face big decisions as a family, against each other and for each other… Will competition tear their family apart?
Find out more about Lorna’s books on her website · Thank you to Lorna Schultz Nicholson for gifting me a copy!
Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper
Ages 10+
Melody is the smartest kid in her school, but no one knows it. She has cerebral palsy and can’t walk or talk, until she finds a way to finally share everything she’s been thinking. A must-read that changes the way kids see their classmates, and like seriously makes people think about the interactions they have with others.
Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt
Ages 10+
Ally has spent years hiding the fact that reading is so hard for her, until a new teacher sees what’s really going on: dyslexia. A heartwarming story about how being smart looks different for everyone. So good for any kid who has ever felt like they’re not smart enough.
Button Pusher by Tyler Page
Ages 10–14
A graphic memoir about growing up with ADHD. Tyler is curious, creative and the best artist in his grade, but he just can’t seem to stay out of trouble. Short info pages mixed into the story explain how an ADHD brain works. A heads-up for parents: Tyler’s dad has an explosive temper, and there are some tough family moments at home.
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