Bad Disability Tropes in Children's Fiction: Please Don't.

[rj_anderson]

I was reading a MG fantasy novel last weekend which I quite enjoyed. It had nice solid worldbuilding, a dynamic and resourceful MC, an interesting cast of supporting characters, and the stakes and dangers were high enough to keep the tension going. I was quite impressed with it overall, and became even more so when a new character appeared on the

Comments

[sarah_prineas]

(updated 'cos I didn't like one of the terms I used)

As you know, I have a character who is in a wheelchair in MT: Lost and MT: Found, and he is strong, smart, and competent and turns out to be one of the most powerful people in the city (AND one of my best friends has been shipping him like crazy with Ro, so...).

Anyway, he's just a person with a history that happens to include a brutal attack that left him unable to walk. It doesn't mean anything beyond that. I think that's where the problem lies for you--the disability becomes symbolic in some way, which I agree can become a big problem. For me as a writer Embre's disability presents a challenge only to the extent that in the fourth book I want him out in the city protagging with Ro and have to figure out a way to do that in a city that's not exactly wheelchair-accessible.

[rj_anderson]

Embre is a great character, yes, and definitely not one to be pitied or looked down upon -- nor some artificial paragon, either. You know I'm a Conn/Rowan shipper, but admittedly I would not be averse to Embre/Ro either. Maybe I'll request it for Yuletide. :)

[stephanieburgis]

The best books I've read for this are Hilary McKay's Casson Family novels, starting with Saffy's Angel. Saffy's best friend Sarah is in a wheelchair and is AWESOME, a strong, smart person who deals with her disability but never lets it define her.

[rj_anderson]

Sounds delightful! I'll have to keep my eye out for those. Thanks for the recommendation! (And love the icon, BTW.)

[tapinger]

I will second that recommendation, not least because those books are amazingly funny.

I'll also mention Aurelie (Heather Tomlinson) which has a blind character, though I have some doubts about how well it stays away from the "using magic to fix it" line. I do love when she shows up, though -- the emphasis on other senses is well done.

[rj_anderson]

Thanks for the recommendations! I really appreciate the input from those who've read different books than myself, and will be sure to add your suggestion to my list.

[apis_mellifera]

The big example that comes to mind for me is Bujold. All her series feature characters who are disabled in one way or another, but I'm thinking specifically of her Sharing Knife series, where the hero has lost a hand in a battle.

Also, one could argue that Lord Peter's PTSD is a kind of disability, too.

[rj_anderson]

Yes! Good call on Lord Peter -- and Bujold, too. I remember Miles' and Mark's disabilities, of course, but had forgotten about Dag's hand.

[po_thang]

I agree that in fiction (and fanfiction) there is a tendency to make disabled persons as something to be fixed...or pitied. And there is really no reason for it. Yes, I do think that if a character is disabled there should be acknowledgment of that fact...if nothing else, in explaining how they deal with a non-disabled world.

But I think that too many people want a happy ending...and to them, healing (magically or otherwise) a disabled person is how you get to a happy ending.

I once wrote a fanfic for BtVS in which Giles ended up in a wheelchair after a gas line explosion (yes, I wanted it to be non-supernatural-related).

You would not believe how many people wanted him magically healed (I had parts of his spine crushed...no chance of walking again). And they were extremely upset when I told them that nope...he was staying that way. I also showed how he ended up dealing with his disability and having a very full and fun life (including an active sex life).

[rj_anderson]

I, too, have had a few complaints (particularly from younger readers) about not magically healing a character. One reviewer even declared that the book was "not a romance AT ALL" -- she didn't elaborate, but since I can't think of any other possible way in which the book is not a romance, I could only conclude that she believed my hero's spinal cord injury would prevent him from ever enjoying a full life. It saddened me to think so, but the alternative was to believe that she didn't think my heroine and hero should have got together at all because of his disability, and that's even worse.

I'll have to look these reccomends up!

[ext_126447]

Off the top of my head I can't think of any that I've read. But I did write YA novel last year where one of my MCs was in a wheelchair. She does have a problem with shyness, but she's also funny, kind, has a photographic memory and some killer basketball skills.

I like her better than my actual, viewpoint MC, but that was semi-intentional.:)

Re: I'll have to look these reccomends up!

[rj_anderson]

Sounds like a great character! Thanks for commenting.