Books
Hey there! If you're on the lookout for some awesome books, We've got you covered. This selection features some seriously cool authors and covers a range of topics about navigating life as an Autistic young person. So, get ready to feel motivated and empowered by these amazing reads!
Different Not Less, Chloe Hayden
Growing up, Chloé Hayden felt like she'd crash-landed on an alien planet where nothing made sense. Eye contact? Small talk? And why are you people so touch-oriented? She moved between 10 schools in 8 years, struggling to become a person she believed society would accept, and was eventually diagnosed with autism and ADHD. When a life-changing group of allies showed her that different did not mean less, she learned to celebrate her true voice and find her happily ever after.
This is a moving, at times funny story of how it feels to be neurodivergent as well as a practical guide, with advice for living with meltdowns and shutdowns, tips for finding supportive communities and much more.
Whether you're neurodivergent or supporting those who are, Different, Not Less will inspire you to create a more inclusive world where everyone feels like they belong
Taking off the mask, Dr Hannah Louise Belcher
'I realised I had been camouflaging my whole life - I'd been trying to mask my autistic traits and fit in with all the non-autistic people around me.'
Growing up autistic can often feel as though you have to become a chameleon in social situations, camouflaging yourself to fit in with a seemingly neurotypical world. Combining lived experience with scientific research and practical advice, this book is the essential guide to understanding why you mask and how to feel confident without one.
Focusing on diagnostic devices like the Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire (CAT-Q) to discover the situations in which you mask the most and why, alongside a range of techniques, from CBT, compassion based therapy, DBT, and mindfulness to relieve anxiety and reduce stress, this guide gives you all the tools and confidence you need to re-connect with yourself, the things you love and finally, take off your mask.
The Spectrum Girl's Survival Guide: How to Grow Up Awesome and Autistic
This essential go-to guide gives you all the advice and tools you'll need to help you flourish and achieve what you want in life. From the answers to everyday questions such as 'Am I using appropriate body language?' and 'Did I say the wrong thing?', through to discussing the importance of understanding your emotions, looking after your physical and mental health and coping with anxiety and sensory overloads, award-winning neurodiversity campaigner Siena Castellon uses her own experiences to provide you with the skills to overcome any challenge.
With practical tips on friendships, dating, body image, consent and appearance, as well as how to survive school and bullying, The Spectrum Girl's Survival Guide gives you the power to embrace who you are, reminding you that even during the toughest of teen moments, you are never alone.
The Secrets of My Spectrum by Callum Knight
Part memoir and part guidebook to gaining a deeper understanding, The Secrets of My Spectrum offers a one-of-a-kind insight into the Autism Spectrum —written by a sixteen-year-old.
For years, Callum struggled to navigate the world he lived in and meet social expectations before being told he was autistic at age thirteen. Wishing others understood more about the challenges of being on the spectrum, the teen shares his insights, perceptions, reactions, and experiences, from the triggers that lead to anxiety and shutdowns to tips for coping with stressful situations such as travelling, socialising, and communicating.
With honesty and forthrightness, The Secrets of My Spectrum explores the challenges—and the great gifts—that come with living on the spectrum.
Attacking Anxiety: A Step-by-Step Guide to an Engaging Approach to Treating Anxiety and Phobias in Children with Autism
Drawing on the principles of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), this book sets out a clear, enjoyable, step-by-step approach for addressing the sorts of anxieties, fears and phobias that are so common in children and teens with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and related challenges.
Using this easy-to-follow model, parents and professionals will have the tools they need to help children and teens cope with and sometimes overcome anxieties caused by everyday occurrences. The book covers seven common scenarios, from fears of environmental sounds and visiting the doctor or dentist, to anxieties around transitions, changes to schedules and an intolerance for making mistakes. The model can be adapted to suit almost any anxiety or phobia and is ideal for use at home, at school and in clinical settings where it can be integrated into a variety of treatment approaches and styles.
Anxiety Survival Guide for Teens: CBT Skills to Overcome Fear, Worry, and Panic
If you have anxiety, your fears and worries can keep you from feeling confident and independent. Teen milestones such as making friends, dating, getting good grades, or taking on more mature responsibilities, may seem much more difficult. And if you're like countless other anxious teens, you may even avoid situations that cause you anxiety altogether-leaving you stuck in a cycle of worry and avoidance. So, how can you take control of your anxiety before it takes control of you?
Based in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), this book helps you identify your "monkey mind"-the primitive part of the brain where anxious thoughts arise. You'll also be able to determine if you suffer from generalized anxiety, phobias, social anxiety, panic and agoraphobia, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), or separation anxiety. Full of powerful yet simple cartoon illustrations, this book will teach you practical strategies for handling even the toughest situations that previously caused you to feel anxious or worried.
The Awesome Autistic Go-To Guide: A Practical Handbook for Autistic Teens and Tweens
This book explores what it feels like to be a young person on the autism spectrum and looks at all the brilliant things people on the autism spectrum can do.
Full of insights about being awesome and autistic, this book celebrates the strengths of understanding the world in a different way. It looks at all the reasons being you and thinking differently can be totally awesome! It also has tips for managing tricky situations such as meltdowns, sensory differences and anxiety. It includes fun activities and diary pages where you can write your thoughts and feelings to help you concentrate on your strengths and work on your challenges.
This book helps you develop the confidence to be who you are and help you live life with as little stress and anxiety as possible.
The Awesome Autistic Guide to Feelings and Emotions: Finding Your Comfort Zone
Understanding your feelings and emotions is an incredibly important part of learning to become your most awesome autistic self!
Yenn, Tanya and a tiny meerkat called Min are here to help you find out everything you need to know about your feelings and emotions, using tips and tricks they have picked up along the way to help you calm your brain down when it feels overloaded.
From anger and worry to sadness and joy, emotions can come in all shapes and sizes with some feeling really big and others feeling much smaller (or even feeling like nothing), this book explores why we experience certain emotions, what they mean and how we can find the ultimate autistic comfort zone!
All the Pieces of Me: The fourth powerful story of autism, empathy and kindness from the bestselling authors of Can You See Me?
Year 9 can be tough for everyone, but for Tally it feels even tougher. Everything seems to be changing as she and her friends get older. Make-up, boys, social media, GCSE prep - why is it all starting to feel so different?
Tally has always known that being autistic means some things are harder for her than they are for other people. But becoming a teenager has left Tally feeling like she has no idea who she even is anymore...
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The fourth book by Libby Scott and Rebecca Westcott, following on from Ways to be Me, Can You See Me? and Do You Know Me?
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When Libby's mum shared a short piece of Libby's writing online it soon went viral, with tens of thousands of people saying that Libby's writing helped them understand autism for the first time
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This fictionalised portrayal of a young autistic girl is written by Rebecca Westcott, with diary entries by Libby Scott, making it a truly original and authentic book that will give readers of all ages a deeper understanding of what it's like to be autistic
Frankie's World: A two-colour graphic novel about standing-out and fitting-in when you feel different.
Frankie knows she's not like anyone else in her class: she's different, but she can't quite figure out why.
Is it the new freckle on her nose, or the fact she's small for her age? Or that she has to go to the hospital sometimes? Everyone else seems to think she's weird too, and they make fun of her at school.
Frankie's dad left when she was a baby - maybe he was different too? It would explain why she always feels like an alien. So she and her best-friend Sam, embark on a mission to track him down.
Nurturing Your Autistic Young Person, Cathy Wassell
As the parent of a child recognised as autistic as a pre-teen or teen, it can often feel difficult to find the answers you need. Children who make it to late primary/early secondary age before being picked up by the system tend to present with traits that are harder to spot, meaning it can be harder to engage professionals in the diagnostic process and gather the necessary support.
Cathy Wassell, CEO of Autistic Girls Network, has tailored this handbook to support parents with older children or teenagers who are at the identification stage, walking them through the basics in an engaging and accessible manner. She addresses key challenges for this age group, including co-occurring conditions, puberty, and safeguarding, as well as looking to the future, advising on schooling options, and beyond.
Designed to help parents become fully informed and ensure a nurturing and positive environment for our autistic young people, this is a guide with a focus on difference - not deficit.
Queerly Autistic: The Ultimate Guide For LGBTQIA+ Teens On The Spectrum
In this empowering and honest guide for LGBTQIA+ autistic teens, Erin Ekins gives you all the tools you need to figure out and explore your gender identity and sexuality.
From coming out to friends and family, staying safe in relationships and practicing safe sex, through to self-care and coping with bullying, being out and about in the LGBTQIA+ community and undergoing gender transition, this book is filled with essential information, advice, support and resources to help you on your journey, and also works as a primer on all things LGBTQIA+ for non-autistic teens who are just figuring it all out.
Written by an inspirational autistic queer woman, this is a must-read for every autistic teen wanting to live their very best queer life
The Reason I Jump: one boy's voice from the silence of autism
This groundbreaking book, written by Naoki Higashida when he was only thirteen, provides some answers. Severely autistic and non-verbal, Naoki learnt to communicate by using a 'cardboard keyboard' - and what he has to say gives a rare insight into an autistically-wired mind. He explains behaviour he's aware can be baffling such as why he likes to jump and why some people with autism dislike being touched; he describes how he perceives and navigates the world, sharing his thoughts and feelings about time, life, beauty and nature; and he offers an unforgettable short story. Proving that people with autism do not lack imagination, humour or empathy.
The Autism-Friendly Guide to Periods
Written by autistic author Robyn Steward, this is a detailed guide for young people aged 9 to 16 on the basics of menstruation. Created in consultation with young people, an online survey and a group of medical professionals, this is a book that teaches all people about periods, which can be a scary and overwhelming issue.
Promoting the fact that everyone either has periods or knows someone who does, the book reduces the anxiety girls face in asking for help. It offers direct advice on what periods look and feel like and how to manage hygiene and pain. It also breaks up information using flaps and step-by-step photos of how to change pads and tampons, it discusses alternatives to tampons and pads, and gives information about possible sensory issues for people with autism.
The Awesome Autistic Guide for Trans Teens
Calling all awesome autistic trans teens! Yenn Purkis and Sam Rose want you to live your best authentic life - and this handy book will show you how!
With helpful explanations, tips and activities, plus examples of famous trans and gender divergent people on the autism spectrum, this user-friendly guide will help you to navigate the world as an awesome autistic trans teen.
Covering a huge range of topics including coming out, masking, different gender identities, changing your name, common issues trans and gender divergent people face and ways to help overcome them, building a sense of pride and much, much more, it will empower you to value yourself and thrive exactly as you are.
A Different Sort of Normal: The award-winning true story about growing up autistic
Hi! My name is Abigail, and I'm autistic. But I didn't know I was autistic until I was an adult-sort-of-person*.
This is my true story of growing up in the confusing 'normal' world, all the while missing some Very Important Information about myself.
There'll be scary moments involving toilets and crowded trains, heart-warming tales of cats and pianos, and funny memories including my dad and a mysterious tub of ice cream. Along the way you'll also find some Very Crucial and Myth-busting Information about autism.
If you've ever felt different, out of place, like you don't fit in . . . this book is for you.
The Awesome Autistic Guide to Other Humans: Relationships with Friends and Family
Let's face it, other humans can be difficult to understand sometimes!
There is no need to worry! Yenn, Tanya and a tiny meerkat called Min are here to help you find out everything you need to know about friendships, improving relationships with your family members, and how to deal with disagreements that can arise with the people in your life.
Answering the difficult questions like 'What makes a good friend?' and 'Why do adults tell me to do things?' this book gives you helpful tips, tricks, and advice you need to help you understand other humans whilst staying true to your own awesome autistic self!
Sensory: Life on the Spectrum: An Autistic Comics Anthology
A colorful and eclectic comics anthology exploring a wide range of autistic experiences—from diagnosis journeys to finding community—from contributors with autism.
From artist and curator Bex Ollerton comes an anthology featuring comics from thirty autistic creators about their experiences of living in a world that doesn’t always understand or accept them. Sensory: Life on the Spectrum contains illustrated explorations of everything from life pre-diagnosis to tips on how to explain autism to someone who doesn’t have it, to suggestions for how to soothe yourself when you’re feeling overstimulated. With unique, vibrant comic-style illustrations and the emotional depth and vulnerability of memoir, this book depicts these varied experiences with the kind of insight that only those who have lived them can have.
Different Not Less, Chloe Hayden
Growing up, Chloé Hayden felt like she'd crash-landed on an alien planet where nothing made sense. Eye contact? Small talk? And why are you people so touch-oriented? She moved between 10 schools in 8 years, struggling to become a person she believed society would accept, and was eventually diagnosed with autism and ADHD. When a life-changing group of allies showed her that different did not mean less, she learned to celebrate her true voice and find her happily ever after.
This is a moving, at times funny story of how it feels to be neurodivergent as well as a practical guide, with advice for living with meltdowns and shutdowns, tips for finding supportive communities and much more.
Whether you're neurodivergent or supporting those who are, Different, Not Less will inspire you to create a more inclusive world where everyone feels like they belong