Out on a Limb

Canadian disabled author Hannah Bonam-Young writes a romance about a type of couple often overlooked, not only in the romance genre but in media overall: a disabled couple. Out on a Limb demonstrates that disability does not stop people from being romantic, sexual, and becoming parents.

Winnifred “Win” is a 28-year-old woman who is incredibly independent, partly due to her upbringing and partly because of the fact that she feels the need to compensate for her limb difference, a smaller arm and hand. While at a Halloween party, Win, dressed as a pirate, hook hand and all, meets Bo, another pirate, this time with a peg leg and Win has a one-night stand with him. Later, Win discovers she is pregnant and faces the difficult decision of what to do. While Win has always secretly wanted to be a mother, she must deal with both her lack of support systems and her own limiting beliefs about her disability in order to embrace motherhood.

As Win comes to terms with the situation, she decides to tell Bo that he is the father. Although Bo is overjoyed with the news, he is also dealing with his own internalized ableism as he is a new leg amputee due to cancer treatment. The two decide to move in together in a roommate-type relationship. As they believe that would be best for the baby. While Bo is able to provide financially for the 3 of them, he feels insecure about his newly disabled body. Win, who was born with her limb difference, is able understand Bo’s struggle better than anyone. While Win and Bo plan on raising the baby as a couple, platonically, the plan changes as they let each other into their lives. They not only find companionship but also ease each other’s fears about parenthood and the future, in a way only someone who faces challenges can.

Out on a Limb not only provides much-needed disability representation for the romantic genre, it also attempts to address many issues related to accessibility when your situation is constantly changing. While many of these changes are welcomed, what should you do when you never thought these things would be possible? However, the most significant takeaway is how someone can overcome their own self-imposed barriers.

Michaela Rye is a librarian at Richmond Public Library. For more great reads, visit www.yourlibrary.ca