10 Books with Positive Autistic Representation

Published on 6 April 2023 at 17:19

April is Autism Acceptance Month! This is an important distinction from Autism Awareness Month. These days, most people in the US are already aware of the existence of autism, but a lack of acceptance upholds discrimination in many schools and educational programs, medical and social services, as well as insurance coverage and employment, and has led to violence, filicide and other forms of harm. As a result, the autistic community advocates for autism acceptance as a way to push back against stigma and to encourage accessibility and inclusion.

 

Many times, the voices that are amplified in autism advocacy are the voices of people who don't have autism. To help raise autistic voices, the list of books below are all written by people with autism. Let's celebrate the autistic community through literature!

Image Description: A dark brown wood grain set the backdrop. Centered in the foreground is the word "AUTISM," lettered in white capital letters.

Credit: Annie Splatt/Unsplash via Webador

10 Books by Autistic Authors

  1. Act Your Age, Eve Brown (Talia Hibbert): This romantic comedy celebrates two autistic protagonists in an interracial relationship. You can learn more about the book, its author, and where to buy it on the author website. There are two other books in this series. You can read or listen to the book for free on Internet Archive.
  2. Between Two Thorns (Emma Newman): This urban fantasy is book one of The Split Worlds series. You can learn more about the book, its author, and where to by it on the author website. You c an read or listen to the book for free on Internet Archive.
  3. Even If We Break (Marieke Nijkamp): Another work of fiction, this queer horror-mystery is about five friends in a cabin in the woods. You can learn about the book, its author, and where to buy the book on the author website. I couldn't find a free copy through my usual online libraries, but WorldCat and GoogleBooks are good ways to look for libraries that carry the books you want.
  4. Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Asperger's (John Elder Robison): This memoir covers the experiences and adventures of John Elder Robison, an early advocate in the autistic community. You can listen to the audiobook for free on LearnOutLoud or read for free on Internet Archive. The book is available for purchase on Amazon.
  5. On the Edge of Gone (Corrine Duyvis): Set in Amsterdam, this apocalyptic thriller has an autistic lead who searches for her transgender sister as a comet fast approaches earth. It is available to read for free on Open Library. You can buy the book as a hard copy, in e-reader form, and as an audiobook from Barnes and Noble.
  6. Ten Steps to Nanette: A Memoir Situation (Hannah Gadsby): A memoir by the famed comedian, Hannah Gadsby, the book details formative moments of Gadsby's life. I couldn't find the book through the free online library resources that I usually use, but check WorldCat or GoogleBooks to find a library near you that carries this book. You can also buy the book in all its forms on Amazon.
  7. The Outside (Ada Hoffmann): This sci-fi book has AI Gods, post-human angels, and an autistic protagonist. Learn more about the book, its author, and where to buy it on the author website. Use WorldCat or GoogleBooks to find it at a library near you.
  8. The Reason I Jump (Naoki Higashida): This popular memoir elevates the perspective of a non-speaking member of the autistic community. It is available to read or listen for free through Open Library or for purchase from Random House Group. You can also watch the movie based on the book on Netflix.
  9. Thinking in Pictures (Temple Grandin): A memoir by the famous animal scientist, Temple Grandin, this book is available to read or listen for free from Open Library. You can learn more about Grandin, her work, and the book as well as where to buy it on her website.
  10. We're Not Broken (Eric Garcia): This book by the journalist, Eric Garcia incorporates stories from interviews and experiences in both the author's life and in the lives of other autistic people. You can learn more about the author and the book on Garcia's website and buy the book in all its forms from Barnes and Noble.  Use WorldCat or GoogleBooks to find it at a library near you.

Sources:

Want to join the conversation? Follow Underground Bookshelf on social media:

Like what you read? Share with people in your network:

«   »

Add comment

Comments

There are no comments yet.