With World Mental Health Awareness Month having ended in October, we decided to put together a comprehensive list of books aimed at both neurodivergent children and parents of neurodivergent children, as well as neurodivergent adults.
For this guide, we have mostly included non-fiction titles designed to provide tools and help to those who deal with neurodivergence, but we have also added some children’s and young adult fiction titles that provide strong fictional depictions of neurodivergence within a context that should make the topic easier to grasp. In our guide we’ve got books that address ADHD, OCD, PDA, Autism, sensory overload, and even schizophrenia.
The inspiration for this guide stems from seeing the books published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers – who have specialised in publishing books on autism, social work, and arts therapies since 1987. More recently Jessica Kingsley have begun to focus more on mental health, gender diversity, adoption, and neurodiversity so you will notice that the majority of the non-fiction titles on this list have been published by Jessica Kingsley.
While not featured in our guide, we also have to give a big shout out to Bloomsbury, who have recently released a new series of Dyslexia-friendly editions of some of their classic fiction titles, including The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, Circe by Madeline Miller, and The Dutch House by Ann Patchett.
For Neurodivergent Children
A Day with No Words
9781736949795 | Simon & Schuster | HB
Tiffany Hammond
A must-read that belongs in every home and classroom, A Day With No Words invites readers into the life of an Autism Family who communicates just as the child does, without spoken language.
The American Library Association Booklist starred review boasts, “The story is written from the boy’s first-person perspective, however–a clever choice in that it gives readers a direct look into his mind and reinforces the book’s crucial statement that nonverbal people have as many words and as much intelligence as anyone else. Cosgrove’s art, throughout, does an amazing job of transporting readers into his perspective, employing various color tones, metaphoric imagery, and ‘camera’ angles to reflect the deep expressiveness contained in every page […] through this book, neurotypicals’ eyes will be opened, and everyone in Autistic Families will feel seen–and heard.”
A Day With No Words is a colorful and engaging picture book for young readers shares what life can look like for families who use nonverbal communication, utilizing tools to embrace their unique method of “speaking.”
The story highlights the bond between mother and child and follows them on a day where they use a tablet to communicate with others.
Written by an autistic mother of two autistic sons and the creator behind the popular @Fidgets.and.Fries social media platform and illustrated by Kate Cosgrove (IG @k8cosgrove), A Day With No Words successfully normalizes communication methods outside of verbal speech and provides representation of neurodiversity and autism in a way that affirms and celebrates.
Too Much!
9781419764264 | Abrams | HB
Jolene Gutiérrez
A reassuring rhyming picture book about sensory overload and what you can do when everything is too much
When feelings go on overload, I pause and breathe and all is . . . slowed. Sometimes everything is too much! Too loud, too bright, and all too overwhelming. Writing from her own experience with sensory processing disorder, Jolene Gutiérrez’s compassionate picture book explores the struggles of a sensorily sensitive child and how they settle themselves. Joined by Angel Chang’s beautiful illustrations, young readers will learn that it’s OK if some days are too much.
An extensive author’s note to caregivers and educators explores sensory systems, sensory processing issues, and specific information about how to support kids with overstimulated nervous systems as they learn to soothe themselves.
My Unique ADHD World
9781839973352 | Jessica Kingsley | HB
Joanne Steer
A quirky, eye-catching and interactive – the perfect illustrated book to help your 5-9-year old (and you!) understand their ADHD diagnosis
“They just don’t get it!” I bet you have said that before…
Maybe if you knew more about ADHD, you could help your friends, family and teachers understand too. Everyone has things they are good at and things they find more difficult. ADHD can give you some special strengths – however, it can also make some things more difficult for you. Let’s explore what ADHD means for you with fun facts and by hearing all about other ADHD children’s experiences too!
You can even write (or doodle) what you already know and what you have learnt about so that you can teach your friends, family and teachers all about you and YOUR UNIQUE ADHD!
ADHD Is Our Superpower!
9781787757301 | Jessica Kingsley | TPB
Soli Lazarus
If you have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), you might struggle with things like concentrating in school, or sitting still, or remembering lots of instructions. But ADHD is also a superpower.
In this book you will meet different girls and boys with ADHD who can do amazing things. You might recognise some of these strengths as things that you can do too! Some of these strengths help with everyday life, like being able to hyper-focus on a task or having boundless energy to try new things. Some strengths are superpowers for interacting with others, like having a strong sense of what is fair or entertaining friends and family to make them feel happy.
These awesome ADHD kids also share things that you can ask grown-ups to do to help you, like providing visual aids, creating calm spaces, communicating effectively and being kind and patient.
This book also provides guidance for parents and teachers, with advice on how they can support children with suspected or diagnosed ADHD at home or in the classroom, and provides further resources and bonus content.
We are the Dyspraxia Champions!
9781839979101 | Jessica Kingsley | TPB
Alison Patrick
If you’re dyspraxic, you might struggle with things like balance, being messy or breaking things, or even spatial awareness. But dyspraxic kids also have lots of talents and strengths.
In this book you will meet different dyspraxic children who can do amazing things. You might recognise some of these strengths as things that you can do too!
Some dyspraxic children have excellent memories, some are super flexible, some love making their friends laugh, or have brilliant imaginations, some are great at focusing really hard, and some have loads of energy, and bounce off the walls!
Each character also shares things that you can ask grown-ups to do to support you, like giving you exercises to strengthen your body, setting routines at school and home to help with your anxiety, aids to help with handwriting, and allowing fidget toys or doodling to help you focus.
This book also provides guidance for parents and teachers, with advice on how they can support children with suspected or diagnosed dyspraxia at home or in the classroom, and provides further resources and bonus content.
When I See Blue
9781510109803 | Orion | PB
Lily Bailey
New town, new school, but the bully is in Ben’s head …
There are 4 things you should know about Ben:
1. He’s 12 years old
2. He’s the new kid at school
3. His special number is 4
4. He has a bully in his brain
Sometimes Ben’s brain makes him count to 4 to prevent bad things happening. Sometimes it makes him tap or blink in 4s. Mostly it makes the smallest things feel impossible. And with a new school, a moody big brother, an absent dad and a mum battling her own demons, Ben feels more out of control than ever. But then he meets April, and with his new friend, Ben might finally figure out how to stand up to the bully in his brain, once and for all.
An authentic and affecting #ownvoices story about living life with OCD, from the inspiring author and mental health activist, Lily Bailey. Perfect for readers of A Kind of Spark and Wonder.
What Makes a Lemur Listen?
9781913339364 | Flying Eye | PB
Samuel Langley-Swain
‘Just like all ring-tailed lemurs, Maki liked to bathe in the sun and huddle under the moon. BUT one thing Maki DIDN’T like to do, was LISTEN!’
Join Maki on his adventures through the Madagascan forest, where things may not be as they seem. Can clever chameleon, Sofina, help Maki to listen when it matters the most?
For children, this charming story is about a loveable lemur who learns to listen. For adults, the text explores neurodiversity, demand avoidance & alternative parenting styles.
Me and my Brian
9780008672928 | Barrington Stoke | PB
Helen Rutter
With help from his grandma, Josh finds a way to quieten his overactive ‘Brian’ in this gently humorous and empathetic tale about family and mental health by bestseller Helen Rutter.
Josh has always called his brain Brian, and Brian can sometimes be his best friend, helping Josh with tests and giving him brilliant moneymaking ideas. But he can also be Josh’s worst enemy, keeping him awake at night worrying, and telling him that his family’s problems are all Josh’s fault.
When the arguments at home get really bad, Josh is sent to live with his grandma, who lives in a weird shack in the middle of nowhere. At first Brian’s voice gets louder and louder, and Josh feels out of control. But as he helps his grandma in the garden, growing their own food, and with all the jobs that need to be done around the shack, Josh starts to realise that she understands him and Brian better than anyone.
Aaron Slater, Illustrator
9781419753961 | Abrams | HB
Andrea Beaty
An uplifting story about the power of art, finding your voice, and telling your story even when you’re out of step with your peers from the #1 bestselling creators of Sofia Valdez, Future Prez and Ada Twist, Scientist! Aaron Slater loves listening to stories and dreams of one day writing them himself.
But when it comes to reading, the letters just look like squiggles to him, and it soon becomes clear he struggles more than his peers. When his teacher asks each child in the class to write a story, Aaron can’t get a single word down. He is sure his dream of being a storyteller is out of reach . . . until inspiration strikes, and Aaron finds a way to spin a tale in a way that is uniquely his.
The Asparagus Bunch
9781801300469 | Welbeck | PB
Jessica Scott-Whyte
A fresh and irreverent comedy starring a cast of neurodiverse characters – guaranteed to be one of the funniest novels you’ll read this year.
Leon John Crothers is 4779 days old (thirteen years and one month, if you’re mathematically challenged). He has been ‘moved on’ from six different schools and most people think he has an attitude problem. Leon doesn’t care for the label, in the same way that he doesn’t care for Tim Burton, supermarket trolleys, train fanatics or Bounty bars.
This time, however, things may turn out differently, as help comes from where he least expects it – Dr Snot, a physician at pains to help Leon navigate ‘normal’ and classmates, Tanya and Lawrence, who both face their own challenges. When school bully Glen Jenkins humiliates Leon in the school canteen and almost destroys Lawrence, Leon very reluctantly agrees to the formation of a club, The Asparagus Bunch.
How Leon manages to navigate school woes and family drama – and astonishingly ends up with not one but two friends – is nothing short of a miracle, or maybe just simply down to being different.
Do you want more children’s book recommendations? Check out our list of 30 Children’s Books for Mental Health Awareness Month
For Neurodivergent Teens/Young Adults
So, I’m Autistic
9781839972263 | Jessica Kingsley | TPB
Sarah O’Brien
‘There isn’t a secret manual outlining exactly how to get through your teens and young adulthood as an autistic individual, but this book provides a script for how to do what adulthood will make you do anyway, in a way that is most accessible for you”.
You’ve just received an autism diagnosis, so why do you still feel so lost when it comes to what autism actually means for you?
Written by autistic advocate Sarah O’Brien, this book gives a much-needed introduction into what autism is and removes the myths, stereotypes and stigma that surround it. Sarah provides insights into what to do after diagnosis and how to approach and navigate the process of informing those in your life, from your family and friends to your teachers or manager at work. Utilising her own experience of feeling lost after diagnosis and navigating all of the ‘firsts’ of adolescence and young adulthood Sarah provides an honest and friendly voice to guide you through it all.
Intelligent and clearly-written, this is the fact-led and information rich resource that will answer your questions about autism, introduce you to your new community and set you up to thrive as an autistic adult.
Keedie
9781913311988 | Bounce | PB
Ellie McNicoll
Before there was Addie, there was Keedie. Five years before the events of A Kind of Spark, Keedie is figuring out how to be her bold, brave self in a town that wants her to be quiet. Her twin sister Nina seems to care more about being popular, and Keedie knows her little sister Addie is more similar to her than her family knows.
When she starts standing up to people’s bullies for them, everyone wants her to pretend nothing is wrong with the way things are in Juniper. But firecracker Keedie wants things to change… and she wants things to be better for Addie. As she sets out to right wrongs and stand up for the truth, the sleepy town of Juniper is about to wake up and see that Keedie is one of a kind.
Young, Autistic and ADHD
9781839976735 | Jessica Kingsley | TPB
Sarah Boon
Navigating life as a young autistic person with ADHD isn’t always easy. Luckily, Sarah Boon is here to share her own experiences, helping you to explore how autism and ADHD overlap and identify the strategies that will make day-to-day life easier.
With chapters focused on adulting, relationships and communication, emotional wellbeing, and mental health, navigating the workplace and more, this book offers practical, tried-and-tested guidance to help you understand your autism and ADHD and overcome some of the hurdles that adulthood may throw your way.
Accessible and supportive, Young, Autistic and ADHD is the ultimate companion guide for autistic ADHDers, giving you all the advice, you need to celebrate your neurodivergent self.
Made You Up
9780062290113 | HarperCollins | PB
Francesca Zappia
Reality, it turns out, is often not what you perceive it to be sometimes, there really is someone out to get you. Made You Up tells the story of Alex, a high school senior unable to tell the difference between real life and delusion.
Alex fights a daily battle to figure out the difference between reality and delusion. Armed with a take no prisoners attitude, her camera, a Magic 8Ball, and her only ally (her little sister), Alex wages a war against her schizophrenia, determined to stay sane long enough to get into college. She’s pretty optimistic about her chances until classes begin, and she runs into Miles. Didn’t she imagine him? Before she knows it, Alex is making friends, going to parties, falling in love, and experiencing all the usual rites of passage for teenagers. But Alex is used to being crazy. She’s not prepared for normal.
Funny, provoking, and ultimately moving, this debut novel featuring the quintessential unreliable narrator will have readers turning the pages and trying to figure out what is real and what is made up.
Shake It Up!
9781787759794 | Jessica Kingsley | TPB
Quincy Hansen
When you see a problem go unsolved do you feel compelled to act?
Does seeing an injustice light a fire within your soul?
Do you have a burning passion to take action, or to witness change within your own life, your community, or the world? If so, you may have the makings of an advocate.
This inspiring book by autistic blogger Quincy Hansen encourages autistic teens to find their voice and make a difference in the world around them. Featuring interviews with young autistic change-makers and addressing issues like self-image, harmful stereotypes and communication barriers, Shake It Up! aims to build readers’ confidence, and inspire them to take action to change the world to be a better place.
Lover Birds
9780008626570 | HarperCollins | PB
Leanne Egan
With an irresistible enemies-to-lovers romance, and perfect for fans of Alice Oseman and Becky Albertalli, Lover Birds is a beautifully-written, inclusive and heart-pounding romance.
When Isabel Williams moves to Liverpool, she criticises seemingly everything in Eloise Byrne’s life – her city, her accent, her trademark boldness – so if, when she catches Isabel staring, Eloise feels her pulse race, it must be because they hate each other. It surely couldn’t be for any other reason, could it? Eloise needs to get her ADHD under control in time for A-Levels, but when she meets Isabel, school becomes the least of her concerns. What begins as outright contempt turns into an oddly satisfactory rivalry, but for their rivalry to shift further into romance, their relationship must withstand Isabel’s classism, Eloise’s distrust, and whatever secrets their friends are hiding from them.
With a wonderful cast of characters, an irresistible romance, and an incredibly moving and powerful portrayal of ADHD, Lover Birds is an unmissable debut from an extraordinary new voice in YA fiction.
Tilly in Technicolor
9781035403981 | Headline | BPB
Mazey Eddings
A story that celebrates neurodivergent love and making your own space in a world that wasn’t built for you
Tilly Twomley is desperate for change. White-knuckling her way through high school with flawed executive functioning has left her burnt out and ready to start fresh. A summer internship and the required travel around Europe promises a much-needed change of scenery as she plans for her future. The problem is, Tilly has no idea what she wants.
Oliver Clark knows exactly what he wants. His autism has often made it hard for him to form relationships with others, but his love of color theory and design allows him to feel deeply connected to the world around him, and he’s taking summer internship to build his resume before he starts design school. Everything is going as planned until he suffers through the most disastrous international flight of his life, all turmoil stemming from lively and exasperating Tilly. Oliver is forced to spend the summer with a girl that couldn’t be more his opposite – feeling things for her he can’t quite name.
As the duo’s neurodiverse connection grows, they learn that some of the best parts of life can’t be planned, and are forced to figure out what that means as their disastrously wonderful summer comes to an end.
The Luis Ortega Survival Club
9780571374403 | Faber & Faber | PB
Sonora Reyes
What happens when the weight of words are too heavy to hold that voicing them seems impossible? From the bestselling author The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School comes a revenge story told with nuance, heart, and the possibility of healing.
Ariana Ruiz wants to be noticed. But as an autistic girl who never talks, she goes largely ignored by her peers—despite her bold fashion choices. So when cute, popular Luis starts to pay attention to her, Ari finally feels seen.
Luis’s attention soon turns to something more, and they have sex at a party—while Ari didn’t say no, she definitely didn’t say yes. Before she has a chance to process what happened and decide if she even has the right to be mad at Luis, the rumour mill begins churning and boys at school now see Ari as an easy target, someone who won’t say no.
Through a mysterious note in her locker and an unexpected Tumblr follower, it becomes apparent that Ari is one of many who who have been assaulted by Luis. And so a group of unlikely students come together, determined to expose Luis for the predator he is. In the process, a once lonely Ari, finds herself with an eclectic group of genuine friends, including her growing feelings for the very last girl she expected to fall for.
But in order to take Luis down, she’ll have to come to terms with the truth of what he did to her that night—and risk everything to see justice done.
Chaos Theory
9781398516069 | Simon & Schuster | PB
Nic Stone
The #1 New York Times bestselling author of Dear Martin delivers a gripping romance about two teens: a certified genius living with a diagnosed mental illness and a politician’s son who is running from his own addiction and grief. Don’t miss this gut punch of a novel about mental illness (bipolar disorder), loss, and discovering you are worthy of love.
Scars exist to remind us of what we’ve survived . . .
Since Shelbi enrolled at Windward Academy as a senior and won’t be there very long, she hasn’t bothered making friends. What her classmates don’t know about her can’t be used to hurt her – you know, like it did at her last school.
Andy Criddle is not okay. At all.
He’s had far too much to drink.
Again. Which is bad.
And things are about to get worse.
When Shelbi sees Andy at his lowest, she can relate. So she doesn’t resist reaching out. And there’s no doubt their connection has them both seeing stars . . . but the closer they get, the more the past threatens to pull their universes apart.
#1 New York Times bestselling author Nic Stone delivers a tour de force about living with grief, prioritizing mental health, and finding love amid the chaos.
Wild and Crooked
9781547600021 | Bloomsbury | HB
Leah Thomas
Critically-acclaimed author Leah Thomas blends a small-town setting with the secrets of a long-ago crime, in a compelling novel about breaking free from the past.
In Samsboro, Kentucky, Kalyn Spence’s name is inseparable from the brutal murder her father committed when he was a teenager. Forced to return to town, Kalyn must attend school under a pseudonym . . . or face the lingering anger of Samsboro’s citizens, who refuse to forget the crime.
Gus Peake has never had the luxury of redefining himself. A Samsboro native, he’s either known as the “disabled kid” because of his cerebral palsy, or as the kid whose dad was murdered. Gus just wants to be known as himself.
When Gus meets Kalyn, her frankness is refreshing, and they form a deep friendship. Until their families’ pasts emerge. And when the accepted version of the truth is questioned, Kalyn and Gus are caught in the center of a national uproar. Can they break free from a legacy of inherited lies and chart their own paths forward?
For neurodivergent parents and parents of neurodivergent children
Parenting When You’re Autistic
9781839978784 | Jessica Kingsley | TPB
Pooky Knightsmith
Parenting is hard. It’s one of those universal constants, like water being wet or grass being green. And being neurodivergent can add an extra layer of tricky to the whole thing. So what can you do?
Speaking from a wealth of experience as both a mental health expert and an autistic parent, Pooky Knightsmith guides you through the joys and challenges of raising children in a neurotypical world. From self-care and special interests to meltdowns and managing conflict, the tips and strategies in this book will help you to build a positive relationship with your child, whether they’re neurotypical or neurodivergent, all while looking after your own mental health.
Always authentic, always practical, sometimes funny, and never judgemental, this book is an essential read for ADHD and neurodivergent parents (and future parents!) looking for advice from someone who’s been there and made it work.
A Different Kind of Parenting
9781805012955 | Jessica Kingsley | TPB
Eliza Fricker
“Our story is a story that’s happening right now, to other families in systems around the world. To those families, I want to say: I see you, and I want shine a light on your experiences so you know you are not alone.”
In this heart-warming and supportive new book, The Sunday Times bestselling author and illustrator Eliza Fricker lifts parents of neurodivergent kids from the dark days of grappling with impenetrable, underfunded systems, and shows them how life can become brighter – often by finding joy in the things that may seem small to everyone else but are huge milestones for our children.
Honest, full of humour and laced with advice that can be implemented into hectic day-to-day life, this is the little shot of hope that will keep you going when times seem toughest.
A Different Way to Learn
9781839973635 | Jessica Kingsley | TPB
Naomi Fisher
‘If you are a parent worrying whether self-directed education will work for your child, because you have been told that they have special needs which can only be met in the school system – think again’
Neurodivergent children experience and interact with the world differently to many of their peers. Standard educational systems often fail to adapt to their unique strengths and ways of learning. School, and even the act of learning, can become a source of great anxiety and trauma. Self-directed education offers an alternative to traditional schools that can help neurodivergent children develop at their own pace and thrive.
Blending theory, practical advice and lived experience, clinical psychologist Naomi Fisher introduces the world of self-directed learning and tailoring the learning environment to your child.
This comprehensive overview of self-directed learning is packed with ideas on how to implement it at home and includes interviews from parents of neurodivergent children on how you can make learning differently work for you and your child
Where Do I Start?
9781839975523 | Jessica Kingsley | TPB
Kate Laine-Toner
Recognising that your child is autistic is a pivotal moment for parents and carers. While it can lead to positives in terms of understanding behaviour and accessing support, the diagnostic process itself can be a huge source of anxiety, stress, guilt and worry.
But it’s going to be ok – because right here you have the ultimate guidebook to navigating the emotions and challenges that these early stages present.
From weathering the initial impact of a potential diagnosis, to self-care strategies and finding new parameters for success, reading this book is like being taken by the hand and shown how to look after your own mental health while supporting your child. Each chapter is full of guidance from someone who’s been where you are now, and tells you what you really need to know so you can journey from panic and uncertainty to confidence, acceptance and strength.
Raising an ADHD Child
9781839970214 | Jessica Kingsley | PB
Fin O’Regan & Zoe Breezer
How can I support my child’s executive functions?
Where do I start with medication?
What can I do to start planning my child’s future?
This guide is a comprehensive and practical look at everything you need to know when parenting a child with ADHD. Beginning with the basics, you’ll get to grips with terminology, have popular myths debunked, and learn how to effectively communicate with your child, as well as understand how to work in tandem with schools, medical professionals, partners and your extended family.
Exploring everything from how to harness hyperfocus to supporting and nourishing your child’s executive functions, this is the ADHD parenting guide to always keep in your back pocket.
Helping Your Child with PDA Live a Happier Life
9781787754850 | Jessica Kingsley | TPB
Alice Running
Drawing on the author’s personal experience of parenting a child with PDA, this insightful and informative guide offers strategies and tips for all aspects of daily life, including sensory issues, education and negotiation.
Full of advice and support, this book is not intended to provide information on how to change your children. Rather, it is focused on creating the type of environment that will allow children to be authentically themselves, thereby enabling them to flourish and thrive.
Parenting a Dyslexic Child
9781787754263 | Jessica Kingsley | TPB
Edited by Gillian Ashley
Drawing on the expert knowledge and research gathered by the British Dyslexia Association, this is a complete guide to parenting a child with dyslexia. Covering assessment, diagnosis, home and school support, emotional development and more, this empowering book has everything you need to help your child reach their full potential.
With accessible guidance on reading, writing, spelling, organisation and study skills, this book will also help you to build self-belief in your child whilst ensuring that you care for yourself along the way. This book provides clear information on how dyslexia affects children and families at all stages of life, with insights on communicating with schools and ensuring the best support in all environments.
For neurodivergent adults & friends and family of neurodivergent people
Different, Not Less
9781761500169 | Murdoch | BPB
Chloe Hayden
A neurodivergent’s guide to embracing your true self and finding
your happily ever after
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.
All About PDA
9781839977565 | Jessica Kingsley | HB
Kathy Hoopmann
All About PDA follows in the best-selling footsteps of Kathy Hoopmann’s All Cats are on the Autism Spectrum and All Dogs have ADHD. Through engaging text and full-colour photographs, this book shows how PDAers see and experience the world and highlights the unique characteristics that make them special.
A perfect introduction to PDA for those recently diagnosed, as well as their families, friends, and the people who work with them!
Notes for Neuro Navigators
9781839978685 | Jessica Kingsley | TPB
Jolene Stockman
“Being autistic is full-on, but being in the life of someone who is autistic? This can be epic, world-changing love.”
In a world built for neurotypicals, how can you help autistic loved ones navigate their way to happiness?
Packed with strategies and honest, down-to-earth advice, autistic author Jolene Stockman explores the myriad ways you can boost the autistic in your life: from creating safe spaces and supporting self-care, to changing your own perspective, and advocating for them with others.
Picking up this book is the next step in your journey towards enhancing the lives of autistics – so welcome! It’s time to find out how we can help those we love to navigate the current world, and work together to build a brighter one that supports us all.
The Pocket Guide to Neurodiversity
9781839970146 | Jessica Kingsley | TPB
Daniel Aherne
At least one in seven people are thought to be neurodivergent. So what exactly is neurodiversity? What does ‘executive functioning’ mean? What are ‘spiky profiles’?
In this simple guide, expert speaker and trainer Daniel Aherne provides a clear introduction to neurodiversity and the four most common neurodivergent identities of autism, ADHD, dyslexia and dyspraxia. Using an analogy of a cactus needing a desert to grow in, he emphasises the importance of getting the environment right for neurodivergent people, rather than expecting them to adapt to the neurotypical world. Daniel, who himself has ADHD, also explains how neurodivergent people often have great strengths alongside areas of difficulty, and writes about the interplay between diagnoses, as well as unpacking tricky concepts such as working memory, sensory processing, communication differences and more.
Busting common misconceptions and setting out simple tips and guidance for supporting the neurodivergent people around you, whether among your family, friends or at your school, college or workplace – or if you yourself are ND and want to improve the understanding of others – this essential guide will help us all celebrate neurodiversity and foster more inclusive communities.
Learning from Neurodivergent Leaders
9781805011422 | Jessica Kingsley | TPB
Dr Nancy Doyle
Neurodivergent people often thwarted in academic and corporate careers because we don’t know the unwritten social codes of large organisations, even though we excel at strategic thinking.
Practical, inspiring and no-nonsense, this book is full of essential advice on the core principles of leadership – and how to capitalise on neurodivergent strengths whilst navigating common pitfalls. Whether you’re already a leader – or just starting out on your leadership journey, this is your bible for self-care, self-evaluation and self-advocacy.
Only available March 2025
What Works for Autistic Adults
9781399804639 | John Murray Press | TPB
Luke Beardon
Imagine a world where an autistic adult doesn’t just survive, but thrives…
Imagine a world where an autistic person is included, engaged and cherished for how they are; a world which changes for autistic people, rather than changing the person.
What Works for Autistic Adults brings the conversation about inclusivity into the forefront and turns it on its head. Instead of modifying the autistic individual and making exceptions or special circumstances, Luke shows how the world can, should and must change to accommodate your needs or those of the autistic person you love, live or work with.
He identifies the aspects that impact on life most – partners, friends, work or college, and environment – and outlines the steps that can and should be taken by everyone involved to create an autism-friendly landscape and improve outcomes all round.
Covering every setting, from social situations to office or other professional environments, and in all circumstances, Luke’s book shows how no-one should have to struggle to exist within the parameters of a world they don’t understand. What Works for Autistic Adults will give you the dialogue, tools and starting points to involve every loved one, family member or colleague as advocates for a world where you, or any other autistic adult, can truly flourish.
Autism Working
9781787759831 | Jessica Kingsley | TPB
Michelle Garnett & Tony Attwood
Autism is associated with many qualities that are highly sought after by employers such as reliability, persistence, attention to detail, creativity in problem solving and many others. The key to success in the workplace is understanding these strengths and identifying the support you need to help you flourish.
This self-guided workbook provides advice, strategies and activities to manage the difficulties that can arise at work. You will be given the tools to help minimise anxiety, sensory overload, unhelpful thinking patterns, difficulties with social communication, and organisation and planning problems.
The activities are interactive, and you can approach them on your terms. They can be dispersed throughout the day or week, and the workbook and accompanying videos include everything you need to set and achieve your employment goals. The course can also be undertaken with the assistance of a mentor, and the workbook includes resources and videos to help them support you.
Obsessive, Intrusive, Magical Thinking
9781785789632 | Icon Books | PB
Marianne Eloise
Obsessive was, still is, my natural state, and I never wondered why. I didn’t mind, didn’t know that other people could feel at peace. I always felt like a raw nerve, but then, I thought that everyone did.
Writer and journalist Marianne Eloise was born obsessive. What that means changes day to day, depending on what her brain latches onto: fixations with certain topics, intrusive violent thoughts, looping phrases. Some obsessions have lasted a lifetime, while others will be intense but only last a week or two.
Obsessive, Intrusive, Magical Thinking is a culmination of a life spend obsessing, offering a glimpse into Marianne’s brain, but also an insight into the lives of others like her. From death to Medusa, to Disneyland to fire, to LA to her dog, the essays explore the intersection of neurodivergence, fixation and disorder, telling the story of one life underpinned and ultimately made whole by obsession.
My Nonidentical Twin
9780751584073 | Little Brown | BPB
Meg Evie
One ordinary girl. One life-changing condition. How Tourette’s changes your world.
Hey guys, you might know me already from one of my social media channels where I talk about the highs and lows of living with Tourette’s Syndrome. I’ve loved sharing those times with you and – as there are lots of things I can’t fit into a 60 second video – I’ve decided to write a book! It’s the full story of how I came to be diagnosed and how having Tourette’s has changed my life. Writing it has given me an opportunity to talk about things I haven’t felt ready to share before – for some reason it’s easier to put down private things in written words than in a video!
I talk about the many other illnesses I’ve been through and the dreams that it’s affected – about my school days, relationships and my very lowest points – but I also talk about what I’ve managed to achieve in spite of all the obstacles. I hope it’ll make you laugh and make you think, and empower you to realise that no matter what you’re facing in life, there are always ways to deal with the challenges.
It’s also so important to me that people understand what life is like with a disability, so we can be compassionate towards each other. I’ve bared my soul in this book to hopefully help others to do this. I’m so excited (and just a little bit nervous) for you to read it!
Evie Meg xxx
How to ADHD
9781805221258 | Profile Books | TPB
Jessica McCabe
From the host and creator of the award-winning HOW TO ADHD Youtube channel
In How to ADHD, Jessica McCabe reveals the insights and tools that have changed her life, while offering an unflinching look at the realities of every day with ADHD. Sharing stories of her struggles with the condition, which spiralled as she approached adulthood, Jessica offers expert-backed guidance for adapting your environment, routines and systems to work with the ADHD brain, including how to:
- boost your organisational skills and learn why doing more starts with doing less
- facilitate your focus and fight distractions by decreasing the noise
- build your time wisdom by planning backwards to prioritise more effectively
Presented in an ADHD-friendly design and packed with practical advice and tools, How to ADHD is an affirming, warm and helpful guide that will help you recognise your challenges, tackle ‘bad brain days’, and to ultimately be kinder to yourself.