Happy World Autism Day! This week’s recommendations are books about autistic people or by autistic authors. I had a lot of fun making this list—it gives me an excuse to recommend one of my favorite modern authors of all time, Andrew Joseph White; it also got me to read a book about Temple Grandin who I’ve very quickly come to admire. Without further ado, enjoy!

(in no particular order)

• Compound Fracture by Andrew Joseph White: Miles Abernathy, an autistic trans man in West Virginia, is sixteen when he survives a harrowing attempt on his life. From there, Miles is pulled knee-deep into the 100-year feud between his own family and the Davies’—the feud started when Miles’ great-great-grandfather, Saint Abernathy, led a miners’ strike all those years ago and was executed at the hands of law enforcement. In the present day, Miles has proof that the current Sheriff Davies, was actually at fault for the “accident” that injured Miles’ father, disfigured some, and killed others. When Miles begins to see the ghost of Saint, he takes it as a sign that he must end this feud and the town’s corruption—armed with photographic evidence, the help of his friends, and eventually his parents, Miles is determined to expose the corruption in his town—the sheriff’s son who tried to kill him, and the sheriff himself who tried to kill Miles’ father. Written by an autistic author, this book makes a point to show how trauma, fear, and stress can impact the autistic mind—as well as showing neurodivergence within families. Truly an impactful experience about identity, corruption, and standing up for what’s right. I will add a warning, this book is very gory at times and any potential readers should heed the trigger warnings provided by the author.
• Temple Grandin by Sy Montgomery: I’ll preface this by admitting that when I picked up this biography, I didn’t actually know who Temple Grandin was. This book provides a thorough and insightful look into the life of an autistic woman who navigated the world during a time with limited understanding and resources about autism. Grandin persevered and used her unique perspective to her advantage, which led her to become one of the most influential figures in the American farm industry. She used her unique understanding of animals, her ability to relate to them, to help develop revolutionary new techniques in the realm of humane animal handling—her pioneering work in animal behavior and humane livestock handling not only revolutionized the industry but also inspired multiple films and books. After discovering through this book that Grandin herself was also an author (and writes handily about the autistic experience), I was eager to explore her work, which I discuss later in this list. Overall, this is an excellent biography about an inspiring woman whose contributions extend far beyond her field. I will note that some of the language used in the book reflects outdated terminology and includes broad claims about autism that may not resonate with everyone on the spectrum.
• The Luis Ortega Survival Club: Ariana Ruiz is a partially nonverbal autistic girl—she usually goes unnoticed. When the popular and charismatic Luis Ortega starts paying attention to her, she can’t help but enjoy it—he makes her feel seen and special where others will ignore her. Luis convinces her to step out of her comfort zone and join him at a party—she feels like she shouldn’t—Luis’ ex, Shawni, told her to stay away from him—but she gathers up all her courage, gets dressed up, and goes out to a big party with her not-quite-boyfriend. At the party, Luis takes Ari up to the bedroom, overwhelmed and nonverbal, she is physically incapable of saying no. When it’s over, she leaves the party in tears, wishing she could wash the whole night, and Luis, clean off. To make matters worse, Ari is now worried that Shawni may be out to get her for being with Luis. Everything turns on its head when Ari is contacted by a group of students who have also been wronged by Luis, and are now set on taking him down. With the help of the titular “Luis Ortega Survival Club”, Ari sets out to show Luis, and everyone else at school, that what he did was not okay—along the way she finds herself repairing her relationship with her parents, discovering friends, healing, and even finding love. This book is fantastic representation for nonverbal autistic people and also delivers a powerful message about the autonomy of the voiceless—a powerful and cathartic reading experience about the many different kinds of strength and how to take action when it feels as though a world is against you. Be warned, this book depicts sexual assault, bullying, and mature themes.
• The Autistic Brain by Temple Grandin: After reading Montgomery’s biography on Grandin, I ran to pick up this book and hear Grandin’s voice for myself. In doing so, I was treated to a fascinating exploration of how autism shapes perception, cognition, and daily life. Drawing from both scientific research and her own experiences, Grandin offers a deep dive into the neurology of autism, including the latest findings (as of 2013) in brain imaging and genetic studies. She discusses how autistic people think, acknowledging the difficulty it can pose, but also how these differences can be strengths rather than weaknesses. One of the most compelling aspects of this book is Grandin’s ability to connect personal anecdotes with hard science—her insights into sensory processing, pattern recognition, and problem-solving manage to be both entertaining and educational—a hard balance to maintain and yet Grandin does so masterfully. She also makes a strong case for moving beyond the limitations of traditional autism diagnoses and instead focusing on the unique abilities of each individual. While this book is an excellent resource for understanding autism from both a personal and scientific perspective, I will note for the reader’s sake that some of the language reflects an older framework of autism discussions, which may feel outdated to some readers. Overall, this book is entertaining, accessible, interesting, and educational—a perfect blend of all the things that make a book a page-turner.

This list was super fun to make and also taught me a lot that I hadn’t previously known. Happy World Autism Day! Keep reading TC!