Need a holiday gift or some winter break reading? Check out this list of books featuring neurodivergent characters, organized by grade.
Elementary
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)
Middle grades
Forget Me Not by Ellie Terry (girl Tourette)
Stanley Will Probably Be Fine by Sally J. Pla (boy anxiety)
Can You See Me? By Libby Scott and Rebecca Westcott (girl autism)
Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine (girl aspergers)
Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt (girl dyslexia)
Ungifted by Gordon Korman (ADHD, boy)
Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper (Cerebral palsy/non-speaking, girl)
Mango Shaped Space by Wendy Mass (girl, synesthesia)
Mighty Jack by Ben Hatke (boy, autistic sibling)
Rules by Cynthia Lord (girl, autistic sibling)
High school
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)
Adults
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
Looking for an easy way to support REEL and our programs? As a new nonprofit, we are trying to be creative about how we fund our current and expanding programs. Amazon Smile is the easiest way for you to help us out! Just visit this link to easily designate REEL2e (our legal name) as the beneficiary of your Amazon shopping. Then, each time you go to Amazon to shop, be sure to start at https://smile.amazon.com. Voila! Your shopping will generate donations for REEL's programs and services. As the holidays approach, it's a great time to get started.