April is Autism Awareness Month and I'm celebrating with some of my favorite books about autistic characters by autistic authors. Whether you're looking to understand someone else's experiences better, or to be affirmed and understood, here's a few of my favorites with representation that is authentic and joyful.
The many half-lived lives of Sam Sylvester
MacGregor, Maya, author.
YOUNG ADULT FICTION MacGregor, Maya
LGBTQ+, Young Adult, Thriller, Suspense
An autistic nonbinary eighteen-year-old moves to a new town and school with the support of their loving father and finds friends in an LGBTQ-plus club, but they all must come together to solve the decades-old murder of a teenage boy and confront the demons lurking in Sam's past.
May the best man win
Ellor, ZR (Zabé R.), author.
YOUNG ADULT FICTION Ellor Zr
LGBTQ+, Young Adult, Romance
"Jeremy Harkiss, cheer captain and student body president, won't let coming out as a transgender boy ruin his senior year. Instead of bowing to the bigots and outdated school administration, Jeremy decides to make some noise--and how better than by challenging his all-star ex-boyfriend, Lukas for the title of Homecoming King? Lukas Rivers, football star and head of the Homecoming Committee, is just trying to find order in his life after his older brother's funeral and the loss long-term girlfriend--who turned out to be a boy. But when Jeremy threatens to break his heart and steal his crown, Lukas kick starts a plot to sabotage Jeremy's campaign. When both boys take their rivalry too far, they jeopardize the entire dance. To save Homecoming, they'll have to face the hurt they're both hiding--and the lingering butterflies they can't deny"--Provided by publisher.
This spin on the cheerleader/football player trope was so much fun to read, featuring two messy teens trying to survive senior year homecoming. I loved the autistic representation we see in Lukas and the fun antics that ensue as these two boys battle it out for homecoming king.
- Bailey
Act your age, Eve Brown
Hibbert, Talia, author.
FICTION Hibbert Talia
Romance
"Eve Brown is a certified hot mess. No matter how hard she strives to do right, her life always goes horribly wrong--so she's given up trying. But when her personal brand of chaos ruins an expensive wedding (someone had to liberate those poor doves), her parents draw the line. It's time for Eve to grow up and prove herself even though she's not entirely sure how. Jacob Wayne is in control. Always. The bed and breakfast owner is on a mission to dominate the hospitality industry and he expects nothing less than perfection. So when a purple-haired tornado of a woman turns up out of the blue to interview for his open chef position, he tells her the brutal truth: not a chance in hell. Then she hits him with her car supposedly by accident. Yeah, right. Now his arm is broken, his B&B is understaffed, and the dangerously unpredictable Eve is fluttering around, trying to help. Before long, she's infiltrated his work, his kitchen and his spare bedroom. Jacob hates everything about it. Or rather, he should. Sunny, chaotic Eve is his natural-born nemesis, but the longer these two enemies spend in close quarters, the more their animosity turns into something else. Like Eve, the heat between them is impossible to ignore and it's melting Jacob's frosty exterior."
I think of this quite book fondly as it is one of the first books where I truly felt represented and understood--isn't it amazing how literature holds that power! But more than that, it's a beautiful and hilarious romance between two autistic characters, utilizing the grumpy x sunshine and hate-to-love tropes! Hibbert's writing is so much fun, and can be read as a stand-alone or as a sequel to the other Brown Sisters books!
- Bailey
We're not broken : changing the autism conversation
Garcia, Eric, 1990- author.
618.9285882 /Garcia
Garcia began writing about autism because he was frustrated by the media's coverage of the myths that the disorder is caused by vaccines, the narrow portrayals of autistic people as white men working in Silicon Valley. As a Latino, a graduate of the University of North Carolina, and working as a journalist covering politics in Washington D.C., Garcia realized he needed to put into writing what so many autistic people have been saying for years; autism is a part of their identity; they don't need to be fixed. From education to healthcare, he explores how autistic people wrestle with systems that were not built with them in mind. -- adapted from jacket
This non-fiction is incredibly informative, with chapters organized thematically, with the author taking care to examine every issue or theme from all sides, including empirical studies, legislation and history, and stories from autistic people with various support needs. It discusses so many misconceptions about autism and is one of my go-to recommendations for those looking to learn more about autism.
- Bailey
Ellen outside the lines
Sass, A. J., author.
jFICTION Sass, A. J.
Diverse Characters, LGBTQ+
"Ellen, an autistic thirteen-year-old, navigates a new city, shifting friendships, a growing crush, and her queer and Jewish identities while on a class trip to Barcelona, Spain"--
This middle grade novel is such a charming, wholesome book that perfectly captures the inner struggles of so many autistic teens: the desire to be seen as "normal" as peers, even when the energy to do so it is to the individual's detriment. Reading about Ellen making new friends and exploring a new place is so much fun to encounter for kids, and was so delightful to read as an adult.
- Bailey
Pet
Emezi, Akwaeke, author.
YOUNG ADULT FICTION Emezi Akwaeke
Diverse Characters, LGBTQ+, Dystopian, Fantasy
There are no monsters anymore. In the city of Lucille, Jam and her best friend, Redemption, have grown up with this lesson all their life. Then Jam meets Pet, a creature made of horns and colors and claws, who emerges from one of her mother's paintings and a drop of Jam's blood. Pet has come to hunt a monster-- and the shadow of something grim lurks in Redemption's house. How do you save the world from monsters if no one will admit they exist? -- adapted from jacket
This book features a non-verbal teen who lives in a world where there are no more monsters--until her mother's painting comes alive and tells her that's a lie. This is fast-paced, whimsical, and emotional, with a healthy of balance of some dark themes alongside radical depictions of trans joy and autistic joy.
- Bailey
The kiss quotient
Hoang, Helen, author.
FICTION Hoang Helen
Romance
"A heartwarming and refreshing debut novel that proves one thing: there's not enough data in the world to predict what will make your heart tick. Stella Lane thinks math is the only thing that unites the universe. She comes up with algorithms to predict customer purchases--a job that has given her more money than she knows what to do with, and way less experience in the dating department than the average thirty-year-old. It doesn't help that Stella has Asperger's and French kissing reminds her of a shark getting its teeth cleaned by pilot fish. Her conclusion: she needs lots of practice--with a professional. Which is why she hires escort Michael Phan. The Vietnamese and Swedish stunner can't afford to turn down Stella's offer, and agrees to help her check off all the boxes on her lesson plan--from foreplay to more-than-missionary position... Before long, Stella not only learns to appreciate his kisses, but crave all of the other things he's making her feel. Their no-nonsense partnership starts making a strange kind of sense. And the pattern that emerges will convince Stella that love is the best kind of logic.."--
This book seems to have cemented itself as THE autistic romance book of the last few years, and for good reason--it's delightful! This is such a fun and lighthearted romance, with two fantastic companion novels as well!
- Bailey
Two wrongs make a right
Liese, Chloe, author.
FICTION Liese Chloe
Romance
"There's much ado about everything when two adversaries become allies and fake a relationship to fool their meddling friends in this swoony, inclusive reimagining of the Bard's beloved play Much Ado About Nothing. Jamie and Bea have nothing in common except a meet-disaster and the mutual understanding that they couldn't be more wrong for each other. But when the people closest to them play Cupid and trick them into dating, Jamie and Bea realize they have something else in common after all-an undeniable need for revenge. Soon their plan is in place: 1. Fake date. Obnoxiously. Convince the meddlers they're madly in love. 2. Break up. Spectacularly. Dash everyone's hopes and put a stop to the matchmaking madness - once and for all. To convince everyone they've actually fallen for each other, Jamie and Bea will have to nail the performance of their lives. But as their final act nears and playing parts becomes easier than not, what once felt fake now seems all too real. What if Cupid's arrow wasn't so off the mark? And what if two wrongs do make a right?"--
This romance is such a treat, with two neurodivergent main characters who find themselves fake dating for revenge and falling in love in the process. If you enjoy opposites attract and fake dating, I highly recommend checking this one out!
- Bailey
Speak up!
Burgess, Rebecca, author, artist.
jGRAPHIC NOVEL Burgess
Graphic Novels
"Twelve-year-old Mia is just trying to navigate a world that doesn't understand her true autistic self. While she wishes she could stand up to her bullies, she's always been able to express her feelings through singing and songwriting, even more so with her best friend, Charlie, who is nonbinary. Together, they've taken the internet by storm; little do Mia's classmates know that she's the viral singer Elle-Q! But while the chance to perform live for a local talent show has Charlie excited, Mia isn't so sure"
This graphic novel is a delight, as Mia navigates not just the struggles of middle school, but also manages her secret online identity as a popular singer! Watching Mia navigate friendships and come into her own was a joy to read; this is perfect for tweens and teens, and also for adults looking to learn more about experiences of autistic teen in their life!
- Bailey
This YA thriller blends mystery with contemporary as Sam navigates life at a new school and works with new friends to solve a decades-old murder. I adore the way Sam's autism is such an integral part of their life or experience without overshadowing their personality or driving the plot. The mystery was intriguing and left me guessing until the end!
- Bailey