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Books Featuring Neurodivergent Characters

Writer's picture: REEL AdminREEL Admin

Updated: 5 days ago

Need a holiday gift or some winter break reading? Check out this list of books featuring neurodivergent characters, organized by grade.


Elementary

  • Just Ask: Be Different. Be Brave. Be You. by Sonia Sotomayor and Rafael Lopez (differences)

  • The World Needs Who You Were Made to Be by Joanna Gaines (differences)

  • The Invisible Boy by Trudy Ludwig (feeling invisible)

  • The Girl Who Thought In Pictures: The Story of Temple Grandin by Julia Finley Mosca (autism)

  • You’re So Clumsy Charley by Jane Binnion (neurodiversity, dyspraxia)

  • My Brother Charlie by Holly Robinson Peete (autism)

  • The Girl Who Heard Colors by Marie Harris (synesthesia)

  • Thank you, Mr. Falker by Patricia Palacco (dyslexia)

  • Aaron Slater, Illustrator by Andrea Beaty (dyslexia)

  • All Dogs Have ADHD by Kathy Hoopman (ADHD)

Middle grades

  • Forget Me Not by Ellie Terry (girl Tourette)

  • Stanley Will Probably Be Fine by Sally J. Pla (boy anxiety)

  • Can You See Me? By Libby Scott and Rebecca Westcott (girl autism)

  • Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine (girl aspergers)

  • Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt (girl dyslexia)

  • Ungifted by Gordon Korman (ADHD, boy)

  • Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper (Cerebral palsy/non-speaking, girl)

  • Mango Shaped Space by Wendy Mass (girl, synesthesia)

  • Mighty Jack by Ben Hatke (boy, autistic sibling)

  • Rules by Cynthia Lord (girl, autistic sibling)

High school

  • The Spectrum Girl's Survival Guide: How to Grow Up Awesome and Autistic by Siena Castellon (founder of ND week)

  • The 57 Bus by Dashka Slater (nonbinary, autism)

  • The State of Grace by Rachael Lucas (girl, autism)

  • Challenger Deep by Neal Shusterman (boy, mental health/anxiety/depression)

  • Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime (ASD boy)

  • Marcelo in the Real World - Francisco W. Stork (ASD boy)

  • 10 Things I Can See From Here - Carrie Mac (Anxiety girl)

  • Kat and Meg Conquer the World - Anna Priemaza (ADHD, Anxiety, girls)

  • The Love Letters Of Abelard And Lily - Laura Creedle (ADHD, girl)

  • A Dragonbird in the Fern - Laura Rueckert (dyslexia, girl, fantasy)

  • Underdogs - Chris Bonnello (ND, dystopia)

Adults

  • Being Twice Exceptional by Melanie Hayes

  • Normal Sucks by Jonathan Mooney

  • The Dyslexic Advantage by Brock Eide and Fernette Eide

  • Divergent Mind by Jenara Nerenberg

  • Differently Wired by Deborah Reber

  • Originals by Adam Grant

  • Uniquely Human: A Different Way of Seeing Autism by Barry Prizant

  • The Journal of Best Practices: A Memoir of Marriage, Asperger Syndrome, and One Man’s Quest To Be a Better Husband By David Finch

  • My Thirteenth Winter: A Memoir By Samantha Abeel (Dysgraphia, girl)

  • The Rosie Project by Graeme Simison (Fiction, man, autism, a little trite, but quite charming)

  • Raising Twice-Exceptional Children: A Handbook for Parents of Neurodivergent Gifted Kids by Emily Kircher-Morris



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