Autism

Anything But Typical

We believe that books are a great way to raise awareness and improve understanding of different experiences.

This booklist aims to provide a range of children's and teens' books that feature characters who are autistic, or who have Autistic Spectrum Conditions.

  • Finding My Voice

    Author: Aoife Dooley

    Interest level: 9-11

    Reading age: 9+

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  • Finding My Voice

    Author: Aoife Dooley

    Interest level: 9-11

    Reading age: 9+

    When Frankie starts secondary school, she wants to make friends and be cool, but also be herself and not be too different. How can…

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  • Boy Underground

    Author: Isabelle Marinov

    Interest level: 9-11

    Reading age: 9+

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  • Boy Underground

    Author: Isabelle Marinov

    Interest level: 9-11

    Reading age: 9+

    Hugo explores the tunnels and catacombs under Paris, discovering robbers, monsters and even just how brave he can be. Funny and wa…

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  • Frankie’s World

    Author: Aoife Dooley

    Interest level: 9-11

    Reading age: 9+

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  • Frankie’s World

    Author: Aoife Dooley

    Interest level: 9-11

    Reading age: 9+

    This lovely, often funny, relatable and sensitive story about Frankie, a girl with autism, was inspired by the author Aoife Dooley…

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  • My Mummy is Autistic

    Author: Heath Grace and Joanna Grace

    Interest level: 6-12

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  • My Mummy is Autistic

    Author: Heath Grace and Joanna Grace

    Interest level: 6-12

    Reading age:

    Five-year-old Heath explains in his own (very young but very wise) words what he has learnt about his mum’s experience of autism.&…

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  • Ways To Be Me

    Author: Rebecca Scott and Libby Westcott

    Interest level: 9-11

    Reading age: 9+

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  • Ways To Be Me

    Author: Rebecca Scott and Libby Westcott

    Interest level: 9-11

    Reading age: 9+

    Co-written by an author and a young autistic person, the book introduces us to Tally and her family on the road to a diagnosis.&nb…

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  • A Kind of Spark

    Author: Elle McNicoll

    Interest level: 9-11

    Reading age: 9+

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  • A Kind of Spark

    Author: Elle McNicoll

    Interest level: 9-11

    Reading age: 9+

    When 11 year old Addie, who is autistic, learns about the 16th century women who were persecuted for witchcraft, she starts to lob…

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  • Can You See Me?

    Author: Libby Scott and Rebecca Westcott

    Interest level: 9-11

    Reading age: 9+

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  • Can You See Me?

    Author: Libby Scott and Rebecca Westcott

    Interest level: 9-11

    Reading age: 9+

    Starting secondary school is a daunting time for any 11 year old – and Natalia is no exception. This is a powerful, readable …

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  • A Friend for Henry

    Author: Jenn Bailey Illustrator: Mika Song

    Interest level: 4-7

    Reading age: 5+

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  • A Friend for Henry

    Author: Jenn Bailey Illustrator: Mika Song

    Interest level: 4-7

    Reading age: 5+

    Henry’s keen to make friends in his class, but it’s proving a bit of a challenge. His autism is hinted at but not referred to dire…

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  • Me and My Sister

    Author: Rose Robbins

    Interest level: 4-6

    Reading age: 5+

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  • Me and My Sister

    Author: Rose Robbins

    Interest level: 4-6

    Reading age: 5+

    A delightful insight into sibling life is delivered through appealing animal characters in this simple and effective picture book,…

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  • The Space We’re In

    Author: Katya Balen Illustrator: Laura Carlin

    Interest level: 9-12

    Reading age: 9+

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  • The Space We’re In

    Author: Katya Balen Illustrator: Laura Carlin

    Interest level: 9-12

    Reading age: 9+

    A heart-rending read about having a severely autistic brother, from the perspective of the older sibling, Frank. The addition…

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  • Maria and Me

    Author: Maria Gallardo and Miguel Gallardo

    Interest level: 9-13

    Reading age: 9+

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  • Maria and Me

    Author: Maria Gallardo and Miguel Gallardo

    Interest level: 9-13

    Reading age: 9+

    This is essentially a father’s description of life with his autistic daughter. However, its humorous voice and quirky graphic book…

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  • The Guggenheim Mystery

    Author: Robin Stevens (based on an idea by Siobhan Dowd)

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  • The Guggenheim Mystery

    Author: Robin Stevens (based on an idea by Siobhan Dowd)

    Interest level:

    Reading age:

    When Ted Spark's Aunt Gloria is framed for the theft of a painting from the Guggenheim Museum, he must race through the streets of…

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  • The State of Grace

    Author: Rachael Lucas

    Interest level: 12+

    Reading age: 12+

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  • The State of Grace

    Author: Rachael Lucas

    Interest level: 12+

    Reading age: 12+

    Grace is nearly 16, and like many girls her age, has a lot on her mind - but they're heightened by the fact that Grace has Asperge…

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  • Mockingbird

    Author: Kathryn Erskine

    Interest level: 11+

    Reading age: 10+

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  • Mockingbird

    Author: Kathryn Erskine

    Interest level: 11+

    Reading age: 10+

    A high school shooting has left a small American town devastated.

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  • Through the Eyes of Me

    Author: Jon Roberts Illustrator: Hannah Rounding

    Interest level: 3-5

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  • Through the Eyes of Me

    Author: Jon Roberts Illustrator: Hannah Rounding

    Interest level: 3-5

    Reading age:

    Told in the first person, the book delivers a simple but effective glimpse into Kyla’s life, with help from her father (the author…

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  • Dandelion Clocks

    Author: Rebecca Westcott

    Interest level: 9+

    Reading age: 9+

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  • Dandelion Clocks

    Author: Rebecca Westcott

    Interest level: 9+

    Reading age: 9+

    Powerful, memorable and accessible, the book also boasts a very positive depiction of a character with Asperger's Syndrome.

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  • The Reason I Jump

    Author: Naoki Higashida

    Interest level: 13+

    Reading age: 12+

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  • The Reason I Jump

    Author: Naoki Higashida

    Interest level: 13+

    Reading age: 12+

    An invaluable tool for family members trying to understand autistic behaviour but also a fascinating and powerful read in its own …

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  • My Brother Sammy

    Author: Becky Armitage and David Armitage

    Interest level: 5+

    Reading age: 6+

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  • My Brother Sammy

    Author: Becky Armitage and David Armitage

    Interest level: 5+

    Reading age: 6+

    If only his brother was “normal”. Mum says that Sammy is “special” but the narrator doesn’t want a s…

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  • Every Shiny Thing

    Author: Cordelia Jensen and Laurie Morrison

    Interest level: 11-14

    Reading age: 11+

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  • Every Shiny Thing

    Author: Cordelia Jensen and Laurie Morrison

    Interest level: 11-14

    Reading age: 11+

    Alcohol addiction, non-traditional families, bereavement and social inequality are just some of the themes in this unusual coming-…

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  • Car Wash Wish

    Author: Sita Brahmachari

    Interest level: 13+

    Reading age: 7+

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  • Car Wash Wish

    Author: Sita Brahmachari

    Interest level: 13+

    Reading age: 7+

    Fourteen-year-old Hudson has Asperger's Syndrome, and knows his brain works differently. This entertaining and thought-provoking s…

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  • Speak Up!

    Author: Rebecca Burgess

    Interest level: 9-11

    Reading age: 9+

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  • Speak Up!

    Author: Rebecca Burgess

    Interest level: 9-11

    Reading age: 9+

    Mia is a secret superstar musician, writing song lyrics that her friends love. But in real life she’s bullied for being different.…

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  • The Circle Breakers

    Author: Patience Agbabi

    Interest level: 9-11

    Reading age: 9+

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  • The Circle Breakers

    Author: Patience Agbabi

    Interest level: 9-11

    Reading age: 9+

    The third book in The Leap Cycle series, this is a great example of a thrilling timeslip adventure which embraces diversity and in…

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