Books Featuring Neurodivergent Characters

Updated: Nov 24

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

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)

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)

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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Additions from our community:

Elementary: Hey Warrior by Karen Young
Elementary: Fifty-Four Things Wrong with Gwendolyn Rogers by Caela Carter
Elementary: Twice Exceptional Number One Boy by Brooke Shapiro
Elementary: A Friend for Henry by Jenn Bailey
Elementary: A Boy Called Bat by Elan K. Arnold
Middle / High School: The Awesome Autistic Go-To Guide: A Practical Handbook for Autistic Teens and Tweens by Yenn Purkis and Tanya Masterman
High School / Adult: Taking Flight: College for Students with Disabilities, Diverse Learners and Their Families by Perry LaRoque
High School / Adult: Sharing the Transition to College: Words of Advice for Diverse Learners and Their Families by Jennifer Sullivan
Adults: A Boy Made of Blocks by Keith Stuart
Adults: ADHD is Awesome by Penn and Kim Holderness (Audio book recommended)
Adults: We're Not Broken: Changing the Autism Conversation by Eric Garcia
Adults: How to ADHD: An Insider's Guide to Working with Your Brain by Jessica McCabe
Adults: Ungifted by Scott Barry Kaufman
Adults: To Be Gifted and Learning Disabled: Strength-Based Strategies for Helping Twice-Exceptional Students With LD, ADHD, ASD, and More by Susan M. Baum Ph.D., Robin Schader Ph.D., Steven V. Owen Ph.D.
Adults: Is This Autism?: A Guide for Clinicians and Everyone Else by Donna Henderson, Sarah Wayland, Jamell White