Unbroken: 13 stories starring disabled teens

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Nijkamp, Marieke. (2018). Unbroken: 13 stories starring disabled teens. New York: Farrar, Straus 

and Giroux. ISBN 978-0374306502

2. PLOT SUMMARY

A collection of 13 stories told from the perspective of disabled teens.  

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Each of the thirteen stories highlights a different disability.  This is the common basis of

each work and how it connects together.  Some disabilities are more apparent and spelled

out such as blindness, cerebral palsy, autism, and stomach issues while others are not as

clearly defined but fall under the category of mental health.  Readers are bound to be able

to connect with many of these protagonists.  They deal with very real emotions everyday s

uch as doubt, feeling like a burden, and insecurity.

Although each story has a character dealing with a certain disability, each story line is

unique.  The plots vary from demons possessing a body, planet living in the distant future,

school bullies, teen love, and even supernatural powers.  These stories are as diverse as the

people who wrote them.  

The themes in this story vary as much as the plot.  Themes of acceptance, overcoming fear,

friendship, and overcoming adversity are evident messages in some of the stories.  

One drawback to this anthology is that some of the stories ended too quickly with questions

unanswered or did not have enough sustenance to them.  For example, in Per Aspera Ad Astera,

I wanted to know if Lizzie’s family survived.  I felt that several of these stories had abrupt endings.  Although readers may not love every story in this anthology, they are sure to find one or multiple stories that will pique their interest.  

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Booklist, starred review: "The stories feature wide variety and high quality, but most importantly, none of the teens at the center of the stories are defined by their disabilities. Teens disappointed by the lack of nuanced depictions of disability in YA fiction will cheer for these compassionate, engaging, and masterfully written stories." 

Kirkus Reviews,starred review: "For intersectional representations of disabled kids leading complex lives―sometimes painful, sometimes funny, never sentimentally inspirational―a vital collection."

Publisher’s Weekly starred review: "What makes these protagonists different proves far less relevant than the universal emotions they express."

School Library Journal: "There is something for everyone in this volume. VERDICT A great choice for all YA collections."

5. CONNECTIONS

Other books by  Marieke Nijkamp:

At the End of Everything                      ISBN 9781492673156

The Oracle Code                                   ISBN 9781492673156