Braille Books with a Character Who Is Blind and/or Deaf for Middle & High School

Mary Dingus, Librarian from the Missouri School for the Blind, has been kind enough to share a list of braille books with a character who is blind and/or deaf for middle and high school students.  

 

Most books available from National Library Service (NLS) or Seedlings Braille Books for Children.

 

Firmament by Tim Bowler

While struggling to cope with the death of his father, a gifted musician, fourteen-year-old Luke must deal with a dangerous bully, a lonely old woman, a blind young girl, his mother’s romantic involvement, and his own musical talent.  

 

Light a Single Candle by Beverly Butler

Fourteen-year-old Cathy becomes increasingly despondent over the loss of her sight until a seeing-eye dog comes into her life.  

 

Things Not Seen by Andrew Clements

When fifteen-year-old Bobby wakes up and finds himself invisible, he and his parents and his new blind friend Alicia try to find out what caused his condition and how to reverse it.  

 

Things That Are by Andrew Clements

Still adjusting to being blind, Alicia, first met in Things Not Seen (RC 54713, BR 17135), must outwit an invisible man following Bobby, once invisible himself. This man’s demands threaten Bobby, Alicia’s family, and perhaps global security. Sequel to Things Hoped For (RC 63723). For grades 6-9. (2008)

 

Blindsided by Priscilla Cummings 

Fourteen-year-old Natalie attends a boarding school for the blind to learn braille, cane use, and self-protection skills. After she and her roommate are attacked by drunks, Natalie must decide whether to retreat to her parents’ home or actively claim an independent life. Some violence. For grades 6-9. (2010)

 

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall: The Diary of Bess Brennan by Barry Denenberg 

In 1932, a twelve-year-old girl who lost her sight in an accident keeps a diary, recorded by her twin sister, in which she describes life at Perkins School for the Blind in Watertown, Massachusetts.  

 

The Seeing Summer by Jeannette Eyerly

Carey is heartbroken to learn that the new girl next door is blind. She soon discovers, though, that she and her neighbor are more alike than different, especially when two thugs kidnap the girls and dump them in a deserted warehouse.  

 

What Would Joey Do? by Jack Gantos

Hyperactive Joey tries to hold things together as he is homeschooled with a hostile blind girl, his feisty grandmother copes with emphysema, and his father shows up on a motorcycle to taunt his mother. For grades 5-8. (2003) 

 

Follow My Leader by James B. Garfield

At first eleven-year-old Jimmy is discouraged by losing his sight in a firecracker accident. Gradually he learns to read braille, use a cane, and do things for himself. But working with his own guide dog, Leader, makes the biggest and best change. For grades 4-7. (1957)

 

The Silver Donkey by Sonya Hartnett

France, World War I. An English army deserter, blinded by war and clutching a small silver donkey good-luck charm, is discovered in the woods by two young sisters. He relates four tales about donkeys while the girls arrange his return home across the Channel. For grades 5-8. (2004)  

 

Seeing Lessons: The Story of Abigail Carter and America’s First School for Blind People by Spring Hermann

When ten-year-old Abby Carter attends the newly established school for the blind in Boston in 1832, she proves that blind people can learn and be independent.  

 

The window by Jeanette Ingold

When she comes to live with relatives on a Texas farm, fifteen-year-old Mandy encounters the grandmother she never knew and begins to come to terms with her blindness caused by the automobile accident that killed her mother. For grades 7-9.

 

Run by Kody Keplinger

When Bo convinces her best friend Agnes to steal away into the night, Agnes, who is legally blind, doesn’t know what Bo is running from–but their bond is worth the risk. Strong language and some descriptions of sex. For senior high and older readers. (2016)

 

Lumber camp library by Natalie Kinsey-Warnock

Ruby wants to be a teacher, but after her father’s death in a logging accident she must quit school to care for her ten brothers and sisters, until a chance meeting with a lonely old blind woman transforms her life.  For grades 3-6.

 

Messenger by Lois Lowry

(Series: Giver ; book 3)  

Teenage Matty lives with blind Seer in Village, the utopia from Giver (BR 9626) and Gathering Blue (BR 15631). When the changing community wants to close itself to outsiders, Matty journeys through hostile forests to save Village’s founding principles. For grades 5-8 and older readers. (2004)

 

I’ll be seeing you by Lurlene McDaniel

Carley, a girl whose face has been deformed by cancer surgery, meets Kyle while he is in the hospital recovering from an accident that has left him temporarily blind, and while she wants the best for her new friend, she is worried about what is going to happen to their relationship once Kyle recovers his sight.  High School

 

A girl’s best friend by Harriet May Savitz

Laurie, who has been blind since birth, has some rough times when she moves to a new school and her dog, Jessie, begins showing signs of old age. She is determined to handle her problems and, with the help of a loving family and good friends, gets back on track.  For grades 5-8.

 

Owning it : stories about teens with disabilities, edited by Donald R. Gallo

Ten tales of teens dealing with school, teachers, parents, friends, the opposite sex–and a physical or mental disability. In “See You” two legally blind classmates are bullied. “Brainiac” portrays a girl’s return to college after a brain-damaging accident. Some violence and some strong language For senior high readers. (2008)  

 

Out of Sight by Kristie Smith-Armand

(Series: Adventures of Abby Diamond ; book 1)  

Abby Diamond is a ten year old girl who loves to solve the mysteries that surround her and her three best friends: Neils, Andrea and Alison. Being blind does not stop this girl detective from solving the mysterious cases that happen in her home and at school. Abby is smart, self reliant and ready to take on any problems that come her way, along with her friends, a.k.a The Three Musketeers.  For grades 5-8.

 

Sky; a novel in three sets and an encore by Roderick Townley

New York City, 1959. Fifteen-year-old Alec (Sky) Schuyler’s passion is jazz. When his father objects to his playing the piano, Sky leaves home. He finds a mentor in a blind African American jazz musician and relies on support from friends.  For senior high readers.

 

Hannah by Gloria Whelan

Hannah, a blind girl living in Michigan in the late nineteenth century, doesn’t go to school, until a new teacher comes to board at their house.  For grades 3-6.

 

Hurt go happy by Ginny Rorby

Thirteen-year-old Joey Willis, deaf since age seven, has an overprotective mother who refuses to let her daughter learn sign language . When Joey meets neighbor Dr. Mansell and his sign-user chimpanzee Sukari her world blooms with possibilities. But a crisis involving Sukari brings Joey some heavy responsibilities.For grades 6-9. Schneider Award. (2006)

 

Belonging by Virginia M. Scott

After contracting meningitis, a fifteen-year-old girl becomes deaf and must struggle with accepting her hearing loss and being accepted by her friends and family.  For senior high readers.