List
Neurodiverse Experiences: Grades 3-5
These books feature neurodivergent and autistic characters and their experiences. When possible, we focused on titles that were created by authors and illustrators who identify as neurodivergent.
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A Boy Called Bat
2017 by Arnold, Elana K.Get this itemBixby Alexander Tam (Bat for short) thrives on routines and structure, so when his mom, who works as a veterinarian, comes home late from work, that is not okay. When she gets home, she tells him about the reason she was late--a baby skunk they quickly name Thor. Over the course of the book, Bat works to convince his mom that Thor should stay with their family, rather than be surrendered to a wild animal rescue.
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Speak Up!
2022 by Burgess, RebeccaGet this itemStruggling to fit in at school because of her autism, Mia expresses her feelings through singing and songwriting as viral internet sensation Elle-Q, who many of her classmates adore. While she's initially nervous to perform live locally and reveal her identity, Mia is able to grow and advocate for herself and her needs.
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Being Autistic (and What That Actually Means)
2024 by Garvey, NiamhGet this itemWritten and illustrated by autistic adults, this illustrated guide to being autistic explores sensory sensitivities, communication and social interaction, emotional regulation, and more while assuring young readers that it's okay to be autistic.
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Frankie's World
2022 by Dooley, AoifeGet this itemEleven-year-old Irish Frankie can't understand why she's so different from everyone else and thinks that it must be that she's more like her absent father than the rest of her family, so she starts a quest to find her birth dad. Getting an autism diagnosis validates Frankie's differences and helps her to better appreciate how her brain works.
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Wonderfully Wired Brains
2023 by Gooding, LouiseGet this itemThis nonfiction title introduces readers to the basics of neurology and how brains work before diving into more details on a variety of "wonderfully wired brain" conditions including autism, ADHD, dyslexia, anxiety, and more. The book also includes a history of neurodiversity and some famous neurodiverse people.
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The Many Mysteries of the Finkel Family
2021 by Kapit, SarahGet this itemLara is trying to find her "thing": her sister has art, her brother has science, and she's hoping to have FIASCCO (the Finkel Investigative Agency Solving Consequential Crimes Only). As she dodges her sister's interest in FIASCCO, she uncovers a number of family secrets, and getting frustrated with her family, reveals them all--with not great results. Will she be able to recover her family and gain their forgiveness?
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Good Different
2023 by Kuyatt, Meg EdenGet this itemWritten in verse, this book follows Selah, a 12-year-old with autism who is struggling with the many changes coming with starting middle school. She tries to follow her "normal person" rules until an outburst with a classmate leads to a threat of expulsion. As she works to understand herself, she hopes she can help her school to understand her as well. Note: The audiobook is also read by a autistic narrator.
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Not If I Can Help It
2019 by Mackler, CarolynGet this itemWilla lives with her father and brother, hangs out with her best friend Ruby, and loves her life to be just the way it is since it makes managing her sensory processing disorder easier. When her father surprises her by announcing he's been dating Ruby's mother, her carefully constructed life spirals out of control.
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Honestly Elliott
2022 by McDunn, GillianGet this itemAspiring chef Elliott is dealing with a variety of challenges on top of his ADHD, making his sixth grade year especially difficult. He's struggling to connect with his dad, his friends don't want to work on a project with him, and he still doesn't want to talk about "The Incident" in therapy. Despite this, he's able to make a new friend in popular Maribel while working on a group project to establish a gluten-free pie business.
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Show Us Who You Are
2022 by McNicoll, ElleGet this itemCora doesn't mind being autistic, except for when her teachers or classmates make her feel bad about being different. So when she meets Adrien, who has ADHD and knows what it's like to not quite fit, they become immediate friends. However, complications ensue when Adrien's father recruits Cora for his program uploading human personalities to holograms, emphasizing an interest in her autistic insight.
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Invisible Isabel
2024 by Pla, Sally J.Get this itemIntroverted Isabel is overwhelmed by the too much-ness of her five siblings, the meanness of her new classmate Monica, and her many worries. As her worries continue to take over, Isabel works to help the adults in her life understand her. Written in verse, this book includes some illustrations throughout.
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Izzy at the End of the World
2023 by Reynolds, K. A.Get this itemIzzy, who has autism, her dog Akka, and a baseball bat are faced with the alien apocalypse in this survival story. Will she and a teen she finds because of her late mom's journal that predicted the alien invasion be able to save the world from aliens, or will the world as they know it fall apart?
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Ellen Outside the Lines
2022 by Sass, A. J.Get this itemEllen Katz, a queer, Jewish 13-year-old with autism, is working out how to deal with changing friendships and new experiences while on a class trip to Barcelona.
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Can You See Me?
2020 by Scott, LibbyGet this itemWritten as a collaboration between Libby Scott, an autistic 11-year-old, and Rebecca Westcott, a neurotypical adult, this story follows Tally, an autistic 11-year-old who is getting ready to start sixth grade. Determined to fit in, Tally attempts to hide her autism and act "normal" so that she can keep her best friend and not get bullied. The book is interspersed with entries from Tally's diary that include interesting autism facts.
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