Essays

These essays speak specifically to representation in various forms of media and entertainment (though I have a special love for literature and comic books). They blend fun with the history of exclusion, how the past impacts the present, and how to enjoy imperfect characters that were written imperfectly. If you have an essay topic request or would like to submit an essay you've written, please reach out to me at contact.undergroundbookshelf@gmail.com.


Ten Braille Facts by Alex Chan

Thank you to Alex Chan for allowing me to repost this article which introduces braille to readers who may be unfamiliar with this form of text. You can find this article in its original form on the author's website. It was originally posted on July 1, 2019.

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"Spy for Spy" by Alex Chan

This essay was originally posted on July 8, 2023 at Spy for Spy – alexwlchan. Visit Alex Chan's website for more discussions like this essay which breaks down the aforementioned play.

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The Selfish Case for Public Libraries by Alex Chan

Thank you to Alex Chan for sharing their article: "The Selfish Case for Public Libraries," with the Underground Bookshelf community. In this essay, Alex discusses all the personal reasons she has for visiting a library. The essay was originally posted to their website here.

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Large Eyes, Pointy Chins, Pointy Noses: How Manga Became Manga by Eike Exner

Thank you so much to Eike Exner for sharing this discussion on the history and cultural influences of Manga as well as the development of the artistic style and its growth in popularity over the years. This article was originally printed in the Art and Architecture section of Yale University Press on April 11, 2025. Exner expounds on the subject matter in his book, Manga: A New History of Japanese Comics. You can find the original version of the article here.

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Spoonie Writer: Ignoring Writing Advice by Joey Paul

Once again, I'd like to thank Joey Paul for sharing one of the posts from her "Spoonie Writer" series in which she offers advice and personal experiences from working as a disabled writer. Paul is a prolific young adult writer who crosses the crime, mystery, paranormal, dystopian and urban fantasy genres. This post was originally shared on March 3, 2025, at Bug Books: Joey Paul Online.

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Self-Love for People with Disabilities by Nanika Sissoko

Thank you to Nanika Sissoko, founder of Nicki's Positivity Project, for sharing her "10 Affirmations Emphasizing Self-Love and Positivity for Individuals with Disabilities." Nanika has a developmental delay and learning disability. She works to support the mental health of people with disabilities through Nicki's Positivity Project. She also has experience in art and graphic design. Nanika originally shared the affirmations as a graphic design she created. For anyone using a screen reader, the affirmations are repeated under the image. Thanks again, Nanika!

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Spoonie Writer: Writing on Bad Days by Joey Paul

I'd like to extend a big thank you to author, Joey Paul, for giving me permission to share her blog post on Underground Bookshelf. Paul is a prolific young adult writer who crosses the crime, mystery, paranormal, dystopian and urban fantasy genres. She is also disabled and keeps a "Spoonie Writer" series on her blog in which she offers advice and personal experiences from working as a disabled writer. Over to you, Joey!

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