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An Unkindness of Ghosts

Rivers Solomon

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“Harrowing and beautiful, this is SF at its best: showing the possible future but warning of the danger of bringing old prejudices and cruelties to that new world. While a story about enslaved people in space could be a one-note polemic, the fully rounded characters bring nuance and genuine pathos to this amazing debut.”

—Library Journal, Starred Review

“Solomon debuts with a raw distillation of slavery, feudalism, prison, and religion that kicks like rotgut moonshine...Stunning.”

—Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

“Infused with the spirit of Octavia Butler and loaded with meaning for the present day, _An Unkindness of Ghosts_ will appeal to a wide variety of readers. Solomon's impassioned, speculative, literary book is sorely needed on library shelves.”

—Booklist

**“The HSS Matilda is a well-crafted world, and...the diversity of the people who inhabit it—their various sexual and gender identities, physical abilities, and psychological burdens—is refreshingly visible and vital even as they face brutal discrimination for their differences. An entertaining novel that does not neglect the vitality of its story while probing society’s assumptions.”**

—Kirkus Reviews

“In Rivers Solomon's highly imaginative sci-fi novel _An Unkindness of Ghosts_, eccentric Aster was born into slavery on—and is trying to escape from—a brutally segregated spaceship that for generations has been trying to escort the last humans from a dying planet to a Promised Land. When she discovers clues about the circumstances of her mother's death, she also comes closer to disturbing truths about the ship and its journey.”

—Buzzfeed, Included in 28 Exciting New Books You Need to Read This Fall

**“The HSS Matilda is a generation ship organized much like the antebellum South. Embroiled in a grudge with a brutal overseer and sowing the seeds of civil war, sharecropper Aster learns there may be a way off the ship if she's willing to fight for it.”**

—Publishers Weekly; included in Fall 2017 Adult Announcements, Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror

“With _An Unkindness of Ghosts_, Rivers Solomon inarguably shows themselves to be a literary child of genre leader Octavia E. Butler...Suffused with the past, the present, and the future of human experiences in its events, _An Unkindness of Ghosts_ launches the career of a brilliantly gifted and important new writer in science fiction.”

—Foreword Reviews, Starred Review

“Slavery, racial segregation, and resistance, all set in outer space.”

—Nylon, Included in Fall Bookseller Recommendations

“Rivers Solomon pulls you through a difficult journey that is shockingly real, while being utterly engaging as science fiction...It's refreshing to read a new writer who can manipulate such well known motifs, while churning out a story that still instigates a contemporary discourse, one that dares to remind the reader that the past doesn't always stay buried.”

—Geeks OUT

“ _An Unkindness of Ghosts_ absolutely blew me away...A must read on so many different levels and needs to be on your reading list.”

—Utopia State of Mind (blog)

Aster has little to offer folks in the way of rebuttal when they call her ogre and freak. She's used to the names; she only wishes there was more truth to them. If she were truly a monster, she'd be powerful enough to tear down the walls around her until nothing remains of her world. Aster lives in the lowdeck slums of the HSS Matilda, a space vessel organized much like the antebellum South. For generations, Matilda has ferried the last of humanity to a mythical Promised Land. On its way, the ship's leaders have imposed harsh moral restrictions and deep indignities on dark-skinned sharecroppers like Aster. Embroiled in a grudge with a brutal overseer, Aster learns there may be a way to improve her lot—if she's willing to sow the seeds of civil war.

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Posts about this title from Celestial

[Celestial\\
\\
Steph\\
\\
• Jun 20](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/)

[🏳️‍🌈🔮look into my eyes …. i know what you want to read.](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/item/QYzqVZBBMGZ2z5hQKQ1U/)

🏳️‍🌈🔮look into my eyes …. i know what you want to read.

here are some mind reader queer book recs for pride!

📚 books mentioned:
\- Pet by Akwaeke Emezi
\- Hell Followed With Us by Andrew Joseph White
\- Fawn’s Blood by Hal Schrieve
\- The Space Between Worlds by Micaiah Johnson
\- Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
\- Station Six by S.J. Klapecki
\- An Unkindness of Ghosts by Rivers Solomon
\- The Maiden and Her Monster by Maddie Martinez
\- Somadina by Akwaeke Emezi
\- Dauntless by Elisa A. Bonnin
\- On Sundays She Picked Flowers by Yah-Yah Scholfield
\- This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone
\- In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado
\- The Spear Cuts Through Water by Simon Jimenez
\- Beautyland by Marie-Helene Bertino
\- Blood Orange by Yaffa As
\- Bless the Blood: A Cancer Memoir by Walela Nehanda
\- Death’s Country by R.M. Romero
\- Fifty Beasts to Break Your Heart: And Other Stories by GennaRose Nethercott
\- Transmogrify!: 14 Fantastical Tales of Trans Magic: An LGBTQ+ Young Adult Fantasy Anthology of Unforgettable Adventures edited by g. haron davis
\- Love After the End: An Anthology of Two-Spirit and Indigiqueer Speculative Fiction edit by Joshua Whitehead

#pridemonth #pridemonthbookrecs #lgbtqbooks #nycinfluencer #bookstagram
.
queer books • queer book stack • Pride Month 2026 • books to read for pride • trans books • nonbinary books • sapphic books • achillean books • memoir book recs • literary fiction books recs • fantasy book recs • fantasy book recs • horror book recs • sci fi book recs • unique books • diverse books

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21 books

[Celestial\\
\\
Steph\\
\\
• Feb 26](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/)

[sci fi with disabled characters](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/item/3pdGAwJIAIniy6FEMYyA/)

part three of science fiction and fantasy book recommendations with disabled characters! :)

📚 books mentioned:
\- The Stardust Grail by Yume Kitasei
\- We Have Reached the End of Our Show by Ali Gordon
\- An Unkindness of Ghosts by Rivers Solomon

👗💄:
\- dress is from Hill House Home (rented from Nuuly)
\- eyeshadow is The Spring Symphony Palette from Dandy Lion Cosmetics and In A Trance Palette from Colourpop
\- eye shimmer is Glitterpuck (Princess Ghost) from Half Magic
\- mascara is Eye Enhancer Wrap from Covergirl
\- lip combo is Suede Matte Lip Liner (Moonwalk) from NYX Cosmetics and Magic Drip Lip Gloss (Virtual BFF) from Half Magic
\- (also if you have a question about my makeup or something i’m wearing, most of it is curated in my shopmy!)

thank you to Wilding Press for the gifted copy!

#disabledbooks #disabilityrepresentation #sciencefictionbooks #nycinfluencer #bookstagram @flatiron\_books @wildlingpress @akashicbooks @hillhouse @dandylionsco @colourpopcosmetics @halfmagicbeauty @nyxcosmetics

.

science fiction books • books with disabled characters • books by disabled authors • disability representation in literature • disabled fantasy characters • disabled sci fi characters • diverse books • Flatiron Books • Akashic Books

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3 books

[Celestial\\
\\
Steph\\
\\
• Aug 16 2025](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/)

[what’s your favorite sci fi sub genre? science fiction books for lifeeee!!](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/item/3kkfFJxjOg8Ox42WO3Ut/)

what’s your favorite sci fi sub genre? science fiction books for lifeeee!!

📚 books mentioned:
\- The Past is Red by Catherynne M. Valente
\- Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
\- An Unkindness of Ghosts by Rivers Solomon
\- The Stardust Grail by Yume Kitasei
\- This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone
\- The Unmapping by Denise S. Robbins
\- Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
\- Kindred by Octavia Butler
\- The Black God’s Drums by P. Djèlí Clark
\- The Seep by Chana Porter
\- Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki
\- The Space Between Worlds by Micaiah Johnson
\- The Paradox Hotel by Rob Hart
\- Sunrise: Radiant Stories by Erika Kobayashi

thank you to Pantheon, Flatiron, Bindery, and Astra House for the gifted copies!

#scifibooks #sciencefictionbooks #scifibookrecs #sciencefictionbookrecs #bestsciencefiction #FlatironPartner #binderybooks #celestial #starrysteph #nycinfluencer #diversebookstagram #nycbookstagram #bookstagram #nycbookstagram
@tordotcompub @pantheonbooks @akashicbooks @flatiron\_books @sagapressbooks @bindery\_books @torbooks @beaconpress @titanbooks @delreybooks @ballantinebooks @astrahousebooks

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13 books

[Celestial\\
\\
Steph\\
\\
• Mar 9 2025](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/)

[30+ trans & nonbinary book recs \| trans rights readathon 2025 prep!](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/item/2R9lRBsd146BIun8UfBo/)

feel free to recommend your favorite trans book in the comment section (or pitch your own if you're an author)!!

let's fill these comments with love so this video doesn't end up on the scary side of the algorithm.

☆ featured links ☆
official trans rights readathon website (with TONS of resources): https://transrightsreadathon.carrd.co/
PLEASE sign up here to be included in the data: https://actionnetwork.org/forms/2025-trans-rights-readathon
💫 join me on bindery (celestial - exclusive content, discord, book club, and more): https://celestial.binderybooks.com/

☆ everything I mentioned (in order) ↓
\- Freshwater by Akwaeke Emezi
\- Dear Senthuran by Akwaeke Emezi
\- Pet by Akwaeke Emezi
\- Bitter by Akwaeke Emezi
\- The Death of Vivek Oji by Akwaeke Emezi
\- You Made a Fool of Death With Your Beauty by Akwaeke Emezi
\- Content Warning: Everything by Akwaeke Emezi
\- Little Rot by Akwaeke Emezi
\- The Deep by Rivers Solomon
\- Sorrowland by Rivers Solomon
\- An Unkindness of Ghosts by Rivers Solomon
\- Hell Followed With Us by Andrew Joseph White
\- The Spirit Bares Its Teeth by Andrew Joseph White
\- Compound Fracture by Andrew Joseph White
\- The City Beautiful by Aden Polydoros
\- Wrath Becomes Her by Aden Polydoros
\- Bone Weaver by Aden Polydoros
\- Ring of Solomon by Aden Polydoros
\- The Echo Wife by Sarah Gailey
\- Upright Women Wanted by Sarah Gailey
\- Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas
\- The Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomas
\- Celestial Monsters by Aiden Thomas
\- Light From Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki
\- Belly of the Beast: The Politics of Anti-Fatness as Anti-Blackness by Da’Shaun L. Harrison
\- Heavyweight by Solomon J. Brager
\- The Seep by Chana Porter
\- The Devourers by Indra Das
\- The First Bright Thing by J. R. Dawson
\- The Bruising of Qilwa by Naseem Jamnia
\- Feed Them Silence by Lee Mandelo
\- Station Six by S.J. Klapecki
\- Junker Seven by Olive J. Kelley
\- Hammajang Luck by Makana Yamamoto

↓ find me in more places ↓
🎵 tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@starrysteph
📸 insta: https://www.instagram.com/starry.steph
🦋 bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/starrysteph.bsky.social
📚 storygraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/profile/starrysteph
📖 goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/147956803-steph-starrysteph
💌 email: starrystephbooks@gmail.com
more: https://beacons.ai/starrysteph

☆ resources ☆
🇵🇸 learn more about the history of Palestine: https://decolonizepalestine.com/
🇨🇩 learn more about what's happening in the DRC: https://friendsofthecongo.org/
🇸🇩 Sudan Solidarity Collective: https://sudansolidarity.com/

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34 books

1

[Celestial\\
\\
Steph\\
\\
• Jan 25 2025](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/)

[trans book recs](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/item/3xa2rpvoOEER7fWslYBN/)

queer voices and stories matter and these ones (just a tiny selection of trans and nonbinary books i’ve read & loved) are phenomenal!

📚 books mentioned:
\- Hammajang Luck by Makana Yamamoto
\- Vagabonds! by Eloghosa Osunde
\- Hell Followed With Us by Andrew Joseph White
\- The Sunbearer Trials by Aiden Thomas
\- Junker Seven by Olive J. Kelley
\- Light From Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki
\- The Undetectables by Courtney Smyth
\- An Unkindness of Ghosts by Rivers Solomon
\- Pet by Akwaeke Emezi
\- The Salt Grows Heavy by Cassandra Khaw
\- The Stars Undying by Emery Robin

#horrorbooks #scifibooks #fantasybooks #transbooks #nonbinarybooks #starrysteph #nycinfluencer #nycbooktok #bookstagram @harpervoyagerus @riverheadbooks @peachtreeteen @fiercereads @torbooks @titanbooks @akashicbooks @randomhousekids @faberbooks.us @tornightfire @orbitbooks\_us

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11 books

[Celestial\\
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Steph\\
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• Nov 23 2024](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/)

[disability december](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/item/mVTrWWZJ8qLGJcBoIoUl/)

let’s get ready for #DisabilityDecember! i hope you’ll participate and pick up some books with disability representation next month (and beyond).

thank you so much to the Disability December team for including me!

reading about disabled main characters has meant a lot to me, and I tried to include a couple books that I haven’t recommended as frequently on this list. don’t worry though, i’m sure I’ll make some sort of post begging everyone to read Sick Kids in Love before the month is up. 😉

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5 books

[Celestial\\
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Steph\\
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• Jul 18 2024](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/)

[the BEST books for disability pride month](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/item/JLEjBECZC7EpbsVtBTeA/)

we love a disability pride month roundup!

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10 books

[Celestial\\
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Steph\\
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• Mar 23 2024](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/)

[mood reader assistance!](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/item/q0D7vh45q8qZn0JI1Hb6/)

it’s day TWO of the #TransRightsReadathon 2024, and today i’m here to help out my beloved mood readers. which photo caught your eye? 📚 books shown: - Freshwater by Akwaeke Emezi - An Unkindness of Ghosts by Rivers Solomon - The Echo Wife by Sarah Gailey - The Salt Grows Heavy by Cassandra Khaw i

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3 books

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• Mar 13 2024](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/)

[trans\* sci fi books](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/item/2elXclerEQSID4tXp7dv/)

are you a sci fi lover? i hope you check out these amazing reads either way!

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4 books

[Celestial\\
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Steph\\
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• Jan 15 2024](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/)

[queer sci fi books](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/item/qoI76vW0xFIdaUorYfJv/)

if you are not actively trying to consume queer sci fi books … what can i say? you’re missing out. 💔 don’t worry, i’m here to help.

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4 books

Posts about this book from across Bindery

[Celestial\\
\\
Steph\\
\\
• Jun 20](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/)

[🏳️‍🌈🔮look into my eyes …. i know what you want to read.](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/item/QYzqVZBBMGZ2z5hQKQ1U/)

🏳️‍🌈🔮look into my eyes …. i know what you want to read.

here are some mind reader queer book recs for pride!

* * *

21 books

[Celestial\\
\\
Steph\\
\\
• Feb 26](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/)

[sci fi with disabled characters](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/item/3pdGAwJIAIniy6FEMYyA/)

part three of science fiction and fantasy book recommendations with disabled characters! :)

📚 books mentioned:
\- The Stardust Grail by Yume Kitasei
\- We Have Reached the End of Our Show by Ali Gordon
\- An Unkindness of Ghosts by Rivers Solomon

thank you to Wilding Press for the gifted copy!

.

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3 books

[chronicallybookish\\
\\
Kaley\\
\\
• Jan 25](https://chronicallybookish.binderybooks.com/)

Join for free

[February is almost upon us! If you’re participating in the Read Disabled 2026 challenge, you may be planning what to read for February’s prompts, so I wanted to tell you a bit about the books I’m planning to read, and recommend some other books I’ve loved that fit next month’s prompts! \\
\\
**February Main Prompt: A Book by a Black Author** \\
\\
**_What I’m Reading:_ King of the Neuro Verse** by Idris Goodwin (ADHD representation, lived experience)\\
\\
February is Black History Month here in the U.S., and I wanted to honor that with this month’s prompt. For much of American History, Black voices and their role in our country’s history was silenced. The aim of Black History Month is to uplift those previously suppressed stories and the impact that the Black community has had on America, as well as continue to strive for racial equality and justice.\\
\\
Because Black History Month celebrates Black History, specifically, I originally wanted to prioritize a historical fiction book by a Black author for this prompt. However, because I am choosing to read only books by disabled authors for this challenge, I was unable to find a book that fit those prompts.\* I will be prioritizing books about Black history in my reading outside of this challenge, and decided to instead choose a book about Black disabled joy with _King of the Neuro Verse_ by Idris Goodwin. This is a YA coming-of-age novel in verse following Pernell as he finds his self-expression and first love while working to catch up on his classwork during summer school. \\
\*There are not _no_ books by Black disabled authors that are historical fiction! In my searching I found Sorrowland (set in the 20th century ft. low vision rep) and An Unkindness of Ghosts (technically this is futuristic scifi, but the society that the MC lives in is based on the Antebellum South ft. lived experience autism rep) by Rivers Solomon, however these books are also horror novels, which is a genre that I personally cannot read. Alternately, Octavia E. Butler’s works all heavily metaphorize disability in their themes and worldbuilding according to modern disability scholars, which makes them eligible for this prompt as well–I just chose to go with a literal representation of disability in my choice for this prompt. I intend to also read _Kindred_ in February, just not specifically for this challenge.\\
\\
**_My Recommendations:_**\\
\\
**Pet** by Akwaeke Emezi (non-verbal representation)\\
\\
I do not know how to pitch this book, but bear with me–it feels high concept literary-fantasy to me, while still being accessible to read, as it is a YA novel written with teens in mind. Our main character Lucille lives in a utopian world in which monsters no longer exist, but when her blood seems to accidentally summon Pet, a winged and horned creature, she is forced to reconsider what she has always been told. Pet says that he is here to hunt a monster, and Lucille must learn what monstrosity really is, and save the world from the monsters that no one else will admit exist.\\
\\
_My Rating:_ 3.75 stars (circa 2024)\\
\\
**Act Your Age, Eve Brown** by Talia Hibbert (autism representation, lived experience)\\
\\
If you have not read _Get a Life, Chloe Brown_, start there–but since our book club already read books 1 and 2 in this series, I thought I’d skip straight to book 3 for this recommendation. Eve Brown is the youngest of the Brown sisters, and she’s also kind of a hot mess. Desperate to prove herself, Eve interviews for a job at a bed and breakfast…and then proceeds to run over the owner with her car. Now Jacob is in a cast and Eve has taken the job and committed herself to taking care of him as he heals. Though Eve and Jacob could not be more different on the surface, the more time they spend together, the more the animosity between them grows into something else.\\
\\
_My Rating:_ 5 stars (circa 2022)\\
\\
**Icarus** by K. Ancrum (EDS representation, lived experience)\\
\\
Another YA book that reads like literary fiction, though this one pitches itself as a contemporary romance. Our titular character Icarus is a thief who steals priceless artefacts and replaces them with his father’s forgeries. When Icarus is caught by the son of the man he is stealing from, he expects to be turned in, but Helios has been under house arrest by his father, and he gives Icarus something far more dangerous in exchange for freedom: friendship that grows into something more, something that could damn them both.\\
\\
_My Rating:_ 3.75 stars (circa 2024)\\
\\
**February Bonus Prompt: A Romance Novel** \\
\\
**_What I’m Reading:_ A Love Song for Ricki Wilde** by Tia Williams (unsure of representation)\\
\\
February is, of course, also the month that features Valentine’s day, and as such a romance prompt is all but required. The book for this prompt does need to be capital-R _Romance_, aka genre romance–and not just romantic fiction. Paranormal, historical, and even (arguably) fantasy romance all count, so long as the romance storyline is the A-plot and the book ends in a Happily Ever After (or a Happily For Now).\\
\\
I decided to go with _A Love Song for Ricki Wilde_ for this one because I adored _Seven Days in June_ and finally snagged myself a copy of this one back in November. It’s also set in February, which makes this the perfect time to read it. I’ve seen this one on disability recommendation posts with a mixture of vague disability categories assigned to it (“mental health”, “invisible illness”, “chronic pain”), but have been unable to ascertain specifics. If it turns out there isn’t disability representation I’ll end up using the Chronically Romantic book club’s February pick ( _Dukes and Dekes_ by Torie Jean) but I’m trying to push myself to read additional books alongside the book club selections to push myself to read even more books by disabled authors.\\
\\
I know very little about this book except that it follows our main character Ricki as she moves to Harlem to chase her dream of opening a flower shop, and on one February evening meets a mysterious man who turns her life upside down. There is a magical realism bent to this one as well, and I believe it involves time travel/blurring between the present day and the Harlem Renaissance.\\
\\
_My Recommendations:_\\
\\
**Two Wrongs Make a Right** by Chloe Liese (anxiety and autism representation, both lived experience)\\
\\
Chloe Liese is a master of disability representation, and Two Wrongs Make a Right is no exception. This is a Much Ado About Nothing retelling following Jamie and Bea, who could not be more wrong for each other, as they join forces to concoct a plan for revenge on their meddling, matchmaking friends: They’re going to fake date, and then they’re going to fake a disastrous break-up. But the longer they pretend, the less they feel like they’re faking, and they can’t help but wonder if their friends were so off the mark with their matchmaking.\\
\\
_My Rating:_ 4.75 stars (circa 2022)\\
\\
**You Don’t Have a Shot** by Racquel Marie (anxiety, lived experience)\\
\\
Vale’s life revolves around soccer, but when she starts a fight with her long-time rival Leticia, everything she’s been working towards becomes suddenly out of reach. Her only hope for redemption? Winning the tournament at her summer soccer camp. But when she arrives, she learns she will be co-captaining the team with none other than Leticia herself.\\
\\
_My Rating:_ 4.75 stars (circa 2023)\\
\\
**Finding Gene Kelly** by Torie Jean (endometriosis representation, lived experience)\\
\\
If I have the opportunity to recommend Torie’s books, I will be doing so. She writes what is, truly, some of the best chronic illness representation I have ever read. When Evie needs a fake date to bring home to keep her overbearing mother at bay, she last person she wants it to be is Liam Kelly, her childhood friend turned nemesis, but when he unexpectedly turns up in Paris, it appears he’s her only hope. But in order to make this farce convincing, Liam insists on practice dates that ignite long-suppressed sparks in Evie.\\
\\
_My Rating:_ 5 stars (circa 2022)\\
\\
**Both Prompts: A Romance Book by a Black Author** \\
\\
I know for some people, reading two books per month for a reading challenge can be too much of a stretch, but if you’re interested in being a completionist: here are books that count for _both_ prompts simultaneously!\\
\\
**Reggie and Delilah’s Year of Falling** by Elise Bryant (migraine representation, lived experience and dyslexia representation)\\
\\
This YA contemporary romance follows Reggie and Delilah when they first meet on New Year’s Eve, and then continue to connect through chance meetings on subsequent holidays (Valentine’s, St. Patrick’s Day, etc)--as if the universe itself is pushing them together. I _loved_ this book, and I don’t want to say more for risk of spoiling things, but it’s one of my favorite YA contemporaries.\\
\\
_My Rating:_ 4.75 stars (circa 2023)\\
\\
**Before I Let Go** by Kennedy Ryan (depression representation, lived experience)\\
\\
This is one of the (if not _the_) best books I have ever read in my entire life. It will tear your heart out of your chest, crush it into a million pieces, and stitch it back together in a way that makes you believe in love like never before. After the devastating loss of a stillbirth, Yasmin and Josiah’s marriage fell apart. Now, they are finding a new rhythm, coparenting their children and learning to find joy again. But they are drawn to each other, even know, and as they heal they begin to reconnect–but doing so reopens old wounds, and they must find out if it is too late for them to find forever.\\
\\
_My Rating:_ 5 stars (circa 2024)\\
\\
**Outdrawn** by Deanna Grey (anxiety representation, lived experience, and carpal tunnel representation)\\
\\
Noah has finally gotten her foot in the door to achieving her dream–her viral web comic scored her a job at a legendary comic company. There’s nowhere for her to go but up, if not for the fact that Sage is standing in her way. Sage and Noah have been rivals since art school, and now they’re assigned to work as a team on a career-defining comic release. The more they butt heads and are forced to spend time in close proximity, the more sparks begin to fly.\\
\\
_My Rating:_ 4.5 stars (circa 2024)\\
\\
**What will you read?** \\
\\
I love how much people show up for the Read Disabled challenge every year, and I love seeing what everyone reads--if you've decided what you're reading for either prompt, leave a comment! \\
\\
And if you have Storygraph but haven't officially joined the challenge yet, you can do so _HERE_.\\
\\
While reading books by disabled authors is not required for this challenge, it is encouraged, and all of the authors featured here are disabled, though they may not have the specific disabilities represented.\\
\\
Thank you all so much for participating--I hope you enjoy your February reads!\\
\\
Join for free or login](https://chronicallybookish.binderybooks.com/item/hOFAQosKpiETqZ64axW4/)

[February READ DISABLED Prompts and Recommendations!](https://chronicallybookish.binderybooks.com/item/hOFAQosKpiETqZ64axW4/)

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16 books

1

[Celestial\\
\\
Steph\\
\\
• Aug 16 2025](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/)

[what’s your favorite sci fi sub genre? science fiction books for lifeeee!!](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/item/3kkfFJxjOg8Ox42WO3Ut/)

what’s your favorite sci fi sub genre? science fiction books for lifeeee!!

thank you to Pantheon, Flatiron, Bindery, and Astra House for the gifted copies!

* * *

13 books

[Tattooed Bibliophiles\\
\\
Zee\\
\\
• Jun 20 2025](https://tattooedbibliophile.binderybooks.com/)

Join for free

\\
\\
Join for free or login](https://tattooedbibliophile.binderybooks.com/item/bevz96N6MIR2oe1KwPFl/)

[Why Science Fiction Is the Most Important Genre (Yes, I’m Biased. No, I Won’t Be Taking Questions.)](https://tattooedbibliophile.binderybooks.com/item/bevz96N6MIR2oe1KwPFl/)

Sci-Fi is the most important genre (I said what I said) #scifibooktok #scifiauthor #scifibooks

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12 books

1

[Tattooed Bibliophiles\\
\\
Zee\\
\\
• Mar 21 2025](https://tattooedbibliophile.binderybooks.com/)

Join for free

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As I lay here in bed, cozy with my family all tucked into their warm beds, my mind can't help but drift to the trans kids who aren’t as lucky. Whether they’re stuck under the roof of unsafe people, trapped in a family that won't accept them, living on the streets, in a country hell-bent on demonizing them—these kids aren’t safe. They’re not warm, they’re not happy, and that just _devastates_ me.\\
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Earlier today, I posted a video with one book for the Trans Rights Readathon because, frankly, I don’t have the spoons to get into it with all the trolls and bigots on these apps. Instagram’s a dumpster fire, TikTok’s gone through more transformations than a changeling, and let’s be real—the thing that was supposed to be a safe space for millions is now quietly shifting gears to help the billionaires. But tonight, as I lie awake thinking about my trans neighbors, I know I have to dig deeper. I must find the spoons, even if they’re buried under the weight of it all. Because here’s the thing: this is how it always starts. Nazis didn’t just go after Jews—they came for trans, gay, and disabled people first.\\
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I’m terrified. Not just for _trans people_, but for all of us. The thing that terrifies me most isn’t just the rise of hate, but the _silence_ from people who won’t stand up until it directly affects them. By the time it does, it’s already too late. That’s the road to ruin, and I refuse to walk it.\\
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So, I’m vowing right now to find the spoons. To dig deeper. To fight tooth and nail, because, quite frankly, this is the _only_ thing that matters now. Not my survival—but everyone’s survival.\\
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**Fighting the Good Fight: The Trans Rights Readathon** \\
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And in that spirit, I’m throwing my full weight behind the Trans Rights Readathon. If you haven’t heard of it, it’s an annual call to action for readers to uplift books written by or about trans, nonbinary, 2Spirit, and gender-nonconforming authors and characters, in honor of Trans Day of Visibility on March 31st. From March 21 onward, the goal is to read, amplify, and, of course, raise funds for causes that support the trans community. This year, I’m aiming to raise $400–$500 for _Point of Pride_, an amazing organization that provides financial support for trans folks in need of health and wellness care.\\
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If you want to join me in this mission, subscribe to any of my paid tiers this month, and all of my proceeds will go directly to Point of Pride. After this month, you can drop back down to the free tier—I get it, times are tough right now.\\
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**Privilege, Self-Care, and the Fight for Marginalized Voices** \\
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I want to take a moment to acknowledge my privilege. I’ve got a job that feeds my family comfortably, and trust me, I don’t take it for granted. (And let’s be real, this job is thanks to DEI initiatives—yep, white women benefit from affirmative action the MOST.) This platform, though, this is my side gig. My hobby. My self-care. It’s where I can channel all the rage and frustration and _do something_ to push back against the hate machine. Everything I make from this goes right back into promoting marginalized authors. Sometimes that’s buying books by marginalized authors to read and review, and sometimes it’s donations to other Bindery creators like @michael.laborn and @fromthemixedupdesk. One day, I hope to fund a marginalized sci-fi author’s audiobook or help with marketing costs. This month? It’s going to Point of Pride.\\
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**The Fight for Independent Bookstores and More** \\
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As an extra incentive to subscribe this month, EVERY subscriber, both paid and free, will be entered into a giveaway for a **$50 gift card to** **_Bookshop.org_**, an online bookstore that supports independent booksellers—the true rebels fighting for their lives against the Amazon empire. If you’re not down with the corporate machine, this is where you want your book money to go. (Or if you're an audio nerd like me, Libro.fm is a great resource!)\\
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**Read for Trans Rights, Read for All of Us** \\
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Trans people are people. It’s as simple as that. If you’re not reading books by trans, queer, disabled, Black, Brown, and Indigenous authors and featuring those characters _all year long_, what the hell are you doing? Reading about people who aren’t like you _expands_ your world. It helps you see things from their perspective, helps you walk a mile in their shoes. And guess what? That’s the real reason people want to ban these books. They can’t stand it when we normalize the humanity of trans, queer, and marginalized folks. They need us to stay divided, to dehumanize, and they need it to feel powerful. And they need to convince you that queer people aren’t _real_ people so they can justify their bigotry. Because the billionaires are making them feel powerless and those billionaires know it - so they create media to point the hate of the weak minded at the marginalized. \\
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But we _see through it_. We know better. So read, keep reading, and lift up these voices. We’re not just reading for the plot—we’re reading for justice. We’re reading to smash the system that thrives on hate.\\
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As always: _FUCK NAZIS_, fight the system, and be the revolution. Read books by trans authors, with trans characters. Keep pushing back against the machine. This is _our_ fight, and we’re not backing down.\\
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K thanks, byeeee. ✌️](https://tattooedbibliophile.binderybooks.com/item/hPWnorEWov8dRCkKlEgV/)

[Rage Against the Machine: Read Sci-fi Books for the Trans Rights Read-a-Thon](https://tattooedbibliophile.binderybooks.com/item/hPWnorEWov8dRCkKlEgV/)

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6 books

3

[Celestial\\
\\
Steph\\
\\
• Mar 9 2025](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/)

[30+ trans & nonbinary book recs \| trans rights readathon 2025 prep!](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/item/2R9lRBsd146BIun8UfBo/)

feel free to recommend your favorite trans book in the comment section (or pitch your own if you're an author)!!

let's fill these comments with love so this video doesn't end up on the scary side of the algorithm.

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34 books

1

[Celestial\\
\\
Steph\\
\\
• Jan 25 2025](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/)

[trans book recs](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/item/3xa2rpvoOEER7fWslYBN/)

queer voices and stories matter and these ones (just a tiny selection of trans and nonbinary books i’ve read & loved) are phenomenal!

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11 books

[Celestial\\
\\
Steph\\
\\
• Nov 23 2024](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/)

[disability december](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/item/mVTrWWZJ8qLGJcBoIoUl/)

let’s get ready for #DisabilityDecember! i hope you’ll participate and pick up some books with disability representation next month (and beyond).

thank you so much to the Disability December team for including me!

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5 books

[Tattooed Bibliophiles\\
\\
Zee\\
\\
• Nov 14 2024](https://tattooedbibliophile.binderybooks.com/)

Join for free

[If you like sci-fi books with eMoTiOnAL dAmAgE this book is for you! Of the books that should be on the required reading list for advanced english, this is absolutely one of them. Rivers doesn't miss, they really don't. CHECK THE TRIGGERS!\\
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Blurb:\\
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Aster has little to offer folks in the way of rebuttal when they call her ogre and freak. She's used to the names; she only wishes there was more truth to them. If she were truly a monster, she'd be powerful enough to tear down the walls around her until nothing remains of her world.\\
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Aster lives in the lowdeck slums of the HSS Matilda, a space vessel organized much like the antebellum South. For generations, Matilda has ferried the last of humanity to a mythical Promised Land. On its way, the ship's leaders have imposed harsh moral restrictions and deep indignities on dark-skinned sharecroppers like Aster. Embroiled in a grudge with a brutal overseer, Aster learns there may be a way to improve her lot--if she's willing to sow the seeds of civil war.](https://tattooedbibliophile.binderybooks.com/item/26gUY7waAVwWoSFB1P2A/)

[An Unkindness of Ghosts by Rivers Solomon](https://tattooedbibliophile.binderybooks.com/item/26gUY7waAVwWoSFB1P2A/)

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1 book

1

[Celestial\\
\\
Steph\\
\\
• Jul 18 2024](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/)

[the BEST books for disability pride month](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/item/JLEjBECZC7EpbsVtBTeA/)

we love a disability pride month roundup!

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10 books

[Celestial\\
\\
Steph\\
\\
• Mar 23 2024](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/)

[mood reader assistance!](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/item/q0D7vh45q8qZn0JI1Hb6/)

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3 books

[Celestial\\
\\
Steph\\
\\
• Mar 13 2024](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/)

[trans\* sci fi books](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/item/2elXclerEQSID4tXp7dv/)

are you a sci fi lover? i hope you check out these amazing reads either way!

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4 books

[Celestial\\
\\
Steph\\
\\
• Jan 15 2024](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/)

[queer sci fi books](https://celestial.binderybooks.com/item/qoI76vW0xFIdaUorYfJv/)

if you are not actively trying to consume queer sci fi books … what can i say? you’re missing out. 💔 don’t worry, i’m here to help.

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4 books