As a teenager, you may have to plan where you flirt around accessible public restrooms. At least it was for me. As a child with interstitial cystitis, I longed for a book that reflected my experience of going through high school with the added complexity of an embarrassing and long-term condition. Where was my sassy heroine, with a head full of plans and a bladder full of sores? What about my friends with IBS, endometriosis, and chronic fatigue? Don’t they deserve representation too?

Fortunately, we are starting to see more articles like this in mainstream publications. Here are six of her YA novels that realistically depict what it’s like to be a teenager with a chronic illness.

Sage, a high school volleyball star, is almost certain to attend her dream university after graduation, but a genetic heart condition threatens to ruin everything. There she meets her junior Ren, who is horrified by the power her thoughts and actions have to influence the fate of her loved ones. The girls’ interwoven stories demonstrate how socio-economic status, family structure, and community expectations influence how they access emotional support for their disabilities. This book is a must-read for anyone who doesn’t know what to say or how to help someone who is struggling with a diagnosis.

This amazing verse novel is about what it’s like to live with stomach problems. The premise is simple. Two teenage girlfriends, strangers, are locked in the same hospital room being treated for Crohn’s disease. The story is realistic, painfully hilarious, and the author creates vivid characters based on her own life and dispenses helpful but often profane advice. This may be especially helpful for those who have been hospitalized.

Deanie, by Judy Blume

Deanie, a novel about a teenager with scoliosis, was first published in 1973, but the book’s depiction of feeling betrayed by her body is as relevant today as it was 50 years ago. there is. In “Deenie,” Bloom said he wanted to explore the relationship between a teenager coming to terms with the effects of a diagnosis and a parent dramatically mourning the person his daughter was meant to be. This dynamic makes 13-year-old Deenie’s decision to finally accept her own body and honor its needs feel like a true victory.

The novel’s main character is Veronica, a high school senior who suffers from hip dysplasia. Although her painful condition has prevented her from standing on land, she shines as an expert swimmer in the water. She dreams of one day performing with a troupe of mermaids at a cutely kitschy theme park in a Florida town, much to the chagrin of her Peruvian parents. When the theme park announces mermaid auditions, Veronica must consider what kind of pain she can endure, both physically and mentally. In this book, Sylvester brilliantly draws the parallels between sexual objectification and medical objectification, of being seen only as a collection of parts rather than as a human being. As her story progresses, Veronica realizes that owning her body means being able to control decisions about how to care for it, challenge it, and share it. Masu.

“Cursed” by Carol Ruth Silverstein

At the beginning of Cursed, protagonist Ricky Bloom declares that “almost no one cares” about his illness. Overwhelmed by her diagnosis of juvenile arthritis, she secretly skips school, but in order to avoid repeating her ninth grade due to increased absences, she returns to school and meets the ruthless monster waiting for her. You have to deal with administrators and stupid bullies. Her foul-mouthed and difficult Ricky is good at building walls to protect her feelings, but can she learn to love the vulnerable and damaged parts of herself that she tries so hard to hide? This book really highlights the role of advocacy and care in improving someone’s life.

A single tick bite drove Priya, a Stanford freshman, completely insane. Suddenly, she returned to her home while recovering from her Lyme disease, being comforted by her online chronic illness support group. But when her member Brigid stops responding to messages, Priya steals her family’s car and crosses state lines to make sure she’s okay. But when she arrives, Priya discovers that the mysterious monthly illness Brigid has been telling the group about is more complicated than she reveals. That means Brigid is a werewolf. Lycanthropy and Other Chronic Illnesses is a funny and heartfelt book with a surprising premise: transgender and disabled people, chronically ill people and racial minorities, queer and enigmatic people, etc. , is a great representation of many identities and intersectionality. Essentially, this novel feels like a love letter to the internet community that brings people together. This is a reminder that friendships, whether virtual or in person, can save lives.