April is Autism Awareness Month! What better time to learn more about Autism
Spectrum Disorder? Here is a selection of fiction and non-fiction books which
touch on the perspectives of people with autism or their family members. Consider
picking one of these up for your next book club read:
Fiction books:
- The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon: This New York Times Best seller tells the story of a man with autism who investigates the suspicious death of a neighborhood dog.
- House Rules by Jodi Picoult: This is a story about Jacob Hunt, a teen with Asperger’s syndrome. Although he’s hopeless when it comes to reading social cues or expressing his thoughts and ideas, he has a knack for forensic analysis. He keeps tabs on crimes and tells local cops what to do.
Nonfiction books:
- The Reason I Jump: The Inner Voice of a Thirteen Year Old with Autism by Naoki Higashida: This story sheds light on one thirteen-year-old boy with autism’s very unique thoughts, feelings, and perceptions about the world around him.
- Uniquely Human: A Different Way if Seeing Autism by Barry Prizant: The author suggests a new way of approaching therapy for individuals with autism which seeks to understand the individual’s experience and what underlies their symptoms (I.e., social language problems, sensory challenges, and repetitive behavior patterns).
For more book ideas, visit https://www.autismspeaks.org/blog/books-about-autism.