Finding the best teen fiction books with dyslexia representation is a strong focus for Empowering Books. Even though Disability Book Week has just come to a close. If you missed the official festivities by a few days, don’t worry! At Empowering Books, we believe advocacy and great storytelling are always in season, which is why we’re sharing our top picks for dyslexic protagonists below.
Why Dyslexia Representation Matters in YA
For many teens, dyslexia isn’t just about “flipping letters.” It’s about navigating a world that often feels like it’s written in code. In young adult fiction, seeing a protagonist who struggles with traditional reading but excels in “non-traditional” ways, like strategy, art, or sports, is incredibly empowering. It moves the narrative away from “disability as a problem” and toward “disability as a different way of processing.”
The 2026 Release to Watch: The Novel YAME (Sequel to OSU)
While we are celebrating existing titles, we have to look ahead to one of the most exciting upcoming releases for our community. Arriving at the end of 2026, the novel YAME is set to again be gripping and empowering (sequel to OSU, by Sensei Sarhn).
YAME follows the story of 16 (now 17 year old) dyslexic protagonist, Olive, who finds her confidence within her historical struggles. While the school system might view her dyslexia as a hurdle, her ability as a martial artist continues to strengthen.
Current Favorites: Best Teen Fiction Books with Dyslexia Representation
While we count down the months until the YAME book launch (end of 2026), here are our top picks for books that get the teen, dyslexic representation experience right:
- OSU (Sensei Sarhn): This novel brings the spirit of the karate dojo to the dyslexic experience. As an “Own Voices” dyslexic author writing for her dyslexic daughter, Sensei Sarhn centers on a protagonist who finds her strength through martial arts. The story explores the Japanese karate “Osu” spirit: the “patience under pressure” required to navigate a world of text that wasn’t built for her. It’s a powerful reminder that discipline and spirit can overcome any literacy hurdle.
- Percy Jackson & The Olympians (Rick Riordan): Rick Riordan famously wrote Percy as dyslexic and ADHD to empower his son, proving that a different brain is often a “hero’s brain.”
- Fish in a Tree (Lynda Mullaly Hunt): A beautiful, emotional journey of a girl who realizes her “hidden” disability doesn’t mean she isn’t smart—it just means she thinks outside the box.
Better Late Than Never for Disability Week
We might be posting this a few days after the official “Disability Book Week” ended, but that’s the point: Representation should be an ongoing conversation. Whether you are a reader looking for yourself in a book or a fan waiting for the release of YAME in late 2026, remember that your way of seeing the world is a skill, not a setback.
Leave a Reply