Book Review: “These Bodies Ain’t Broken” — A Haunting Celebration of Disabled Heroes
- Kim Bartosch
- Oct 10
- 4 min read
Updated: Oct 29
What happens when horror meets disability representation? "These Bodies Ain’t Broken", edited by Madeline Dyer, takes this question and crafts an anthology that’s as chilling as it is revolutionary. Following Dyer’s Being Ace, this collection aims to rewrite who gets to be a hero — and, more importantly, who gets to survive the story.
Published by Page Street YA, this anthology gathers both bestselling and emerging authors to deliver a series of tales where disabled and chronically ill teens fight back — against ghosts, death, and societal expectations alike. The result? A collection that is both terrifying and affirming, diving into subgenres like paranormal, gothic, and body horror while centering marginalized voices often left out of the genre.
Thank you to the editor and publisher for the book and my honest review. Book Tour is sponsored by Toppling Stacks Tours. Scroll down to read my full review!
Stories That Stood Out
Among the anthology’s chilling lineup, three stories lingered in my mind long after reading:
🩸 “Baby Teeth” by Mo Netz — A tale that confronts bullying with eerie intensity. Though it felt slightly overdone in parts, its raw emotion makes it hard to forget. Netz captures that visceral fear of being othered — and turns it into a weapon.
💀 “Kissed by Death” by Fin Leary — One of my favorites. The agender representation and its intersection with disability adds rich emotional depth. Leary doesn’t shy away from exploring how identity and societal norms can create inner and outer conflict, making this story both poignant and unsettling.
🌊 “Us, of the Water” by Anandi — Perhaps the most haunting story of all. Its depiction of ASD and ADHD is incredibly well done — authentic, eerie, and deeply immersive. It nails what it might feel like to exist with a neurological difference, blending psychological horror with empathy and dread.
Each of these stories brings something unique to the table, showing that horror doesn’t need to rely on clichés to unsettle. Instead, it can reflect the real-life struggles of those who live in bodies society often misunderstands or fears.
Why This Anthology Works
These Bodies Ain’t Broken succeeds because it dares to challenge traditional horror narratives. Too often, disability in horror is used as a metaphor for monstrosity — but here, disabled and chronically ill teens take the spotlight as heroes. They fight monsters not just outside of themselves but within, redefining what strength, survival, and defiance mean.
Madeline Dyer curates these stories with care and intention. The anthology doesn’t just showcase diversity for diversity’s sake — it explores intersectionality in a genre that desperately needs it. From Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome to PTSD, from diabetes to Crohn’s disease, these characters show that horror can be both inclusive and bone-chilling.
A Few Caveats
While the anthology shines in its representation and creativity, some stories tread familiar territory. A few plots feel slightly predictable or overly polished — especially for readers well-versed in YA horror. However, even when the ideas aren’t groundbreaking, the perspectives are. The power lies in who’s telling the story and how their experiences reshape the horror landscape.
Final Thoughts
If you’re craving a horror anthology that offers something different — something that celebrates the strength and complexity of disabled teens — These Bodies Ain’t Broken deserves a place on your shelf. It’s unsettling, heartfelt, and empowering, proving that fear doesn’t always come from monsters under the bed. Sometimes, it comes from being seen, from existing in a world that doesn’t understand your body — and choosing to fight anyway.
Madeline Dyer has assembled a collection that isn’t afraid to get under your skin — in the best way possible. 🕯️
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️☆ (4/5 stars)
Content Warning: Body horror
About the book:
Publisher: Page Street YA
Publishing date: October 7, 2025
Genre: YA Horror, Anthology
Rep: mental illness, chronic illness, disability
Synopsis:
Madeline Dyer, editor of Being Ace, developed this anthology to challenge expectations about who can be a hero. Centering disabled and chronically ill teenagers protecting others from ancient evils, vanquishing ghosts, and defying death, these stories explore horror sub-genres including paranormal, gothic, psychological, and body horror. With a diverse array of own-voices representation for Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Crohns Disease, Diabetes, PTSD, and more each entry complicates traditional horror with new perspectives.
Contributors include bestselling and award-winning as well as emerging authors: Dana Mele, Lillie Lainoff, Soumi Roy, Fin Leary, S.E. Anderson, K. Ancrum, Pintip Dunn, Lily Meade, Mo Netz, P.H. Low, and Carly Nugent.
About the editor:
Madeline Dyer (she/her) is a novelist, anthologist, poet, and literary academic, drawn to dark and monstrous stories. Her debut anthology Being Ace (Page Street YA, 2023) received a starred review from School Library Journal and was named a 2024 Lammy Award Finalist at the Lambda Literary Awards, commemorating “outstanding LGBTQ+ literature from 2023.” Her debut novel Untamed (Prizm Books, 2015) also won the 2015 SIBA award for Best Dystopian Novel.
Madeline also writes romance and light-hearted contemporary fiction as Elin Annalise.
She is represented by Amy Collins at Talcott Notch Literary.
Madeline teaches writing and has a 2:1 BA (hons) degree in English from the University of Exeter and an MFA (distinction) in Creative Writing from Kingston University. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Creative Writing at the University of Bristol, where she is researching and writing about traumatized girls and monstrous women in the Gothic, and exploring the intersections between Prehistory and the Gothic.
In 2020, Madeline founded YA Thriller Con, an online celebration of everything thriller, crime, and mystery that ran for three years. YA Thriller Con is currently on hiatus while Madeline focuses on her writing.
She has a herd of Shetland ponies, loves anything ghostly, and can frequently be found exploring wild places. At least one notebook is known to follow her everywhere she goes.
Sounds like a good read.
This book fascinates me. I relate to it in several ways. I choose this book if I win.
I would like to receive the Amazon gift card.
What a concise review.