Children's Books About the Autism Spectrum (Juvenile Fiction/Juvenile Nonfiction)

These are just a sample of recommended Juvenile fiction and Juvenile nonfiction on the topic of Autism. These books are all available through the Sussex County Library System.

Updated December 13, 2024
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Bat and the end of everything
Arnold, Elana K.
Paper Book
The third book in the funny and joyful series Katherine Applegate has called "tender and important," by National Book Award finalist Elana K. Arnold. Bixby Alexander Tam (nicknamed Bat) has been the caretaker for Thor, the best skunk kit in the world...but the last day of...
A boy called Bat
Arnold, Elana K
Paper Book
The first book in a funny, heartfelt, and irresistible young middle grade series starring an unforgettable young boy on the autism spectrum. For Bixby Alexander Tam (nicknamed Bat), life tends to be full of surprises--some of them good, some not so good. Today, though, is a...
The space we're in /
Balen, Katya,
Paper Book
Ten-year-old Frank has trouble navigating his relationship with his younger brother Max who is autistic. Frank loves soccer, codes, riding his bike, and playing with his friends. His brother Max is five. Max only eats foods that are beige or white, hates baths, and if he has to...
Anything but typical /
Baskin, Nora Raleigh.
Paper Book
Told from the first-person perspective of an autistic boy, Nora Raleigh Baskin's novel is an enlightening story for anyone who has ever worried about fitting in. Jason Blake is an autistic twelve-year-old living in a neurotypical world. Most days it's just a matter of time before...
Al Capone does my shirts /
Choldenko, Gennifer,
Paper Book
Moose Flannagan moves with his family to Alcatraz so his dad can work as a prison guard and his sister, Natalie, can attend a special school.  But Natalie has autism, and when she's denied admittance to the school, the stark setting of Alcatraz begins to unravel the tenuous coping mechanisms...
Anybody here seen Frenchie?
Connor, Leslie
Paper Book
A big-hearted, beautiful, and funny novel told from multiple viewpoints about neurodiversity, friendship, and community from the award-winning author of The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle, Leslie Connor. Eleven-year-old Aurora Petrequin's best friend has never spoken a word to her. In fact,...
Uniquely wired : a book about autism and its gifts
Cook, Julia
Paper Book
Superstar /
Davis, Mandy,
Paper Book
Lester's first days as a fifth grader at Quarry Elementary school are not even a little bit like he thought they would be--the cafeteria is too loud for Lester's ears. Before, Lester was always taught at home, and he liked it that way. But that's finished...
Who is Temple Grandin?
Demuth, Patricia
Paper Book
Autism did not stop her--in fact, it helped Temple Grandin become a brilliant scientist and inventor. Temple Grandin wasn't officially diagnosed with autism until she was in her 40s, but she knew at an early age that she was different from her family and classmates. She couldn't...
Frankie's world
Dooley, Aoife,
Paper Book
From acclaimed Autistic Irish comedian Aoife Dooley comes a fresh and funny debut middle-grade graphic novel about fitting in and standing out. Frankie is different from everyone in her class, and she can't figure out why. She has trouble concentrating, and her classmates tease her...
Mockingbird /
Erskine, Kathryn.
Paper Book
In Caitlin's world, everything is black or white. Things are good or bad. Anything in between is confusing. That's the stuff Caitlin's older brother, Devon, has always explained. But now Devon's dead and Dad is no help at all. Caitlin wants to get over it, but as an eleven-year-old girl with...
How to build a hug :
Guglielmo, Amy,
Paper Book
Amy Guglielmo, Jacqueline Tourville, and Giselle Potter come together to tell the inspiring story of autism advocate Dr. Temple Grandin and her brilliant invention: the hug machine. As a young girl, Temple Grandin loved folding paper kites, making obstacle courses, and building...
Slider /
Hautman, Pete,
Paper Book
Competitive eating vies with family expectations in a funny, heartfelt novel for middle-grade readers by National Book Award winner Pete Hautman. David can eat an entire sixteen-inch pepperoni pizza in four minutes and thirty-six seconds. Not bad. But he knows he can do better....
Brother :
Hudgens, Bridget,
Paper Book
Bridget and Carlton are as close as any sister and brother. But their relationship is particularly special. Carlton has autism and is almost completely nonverbal. He's smart, funny, creative, and loving. He has immense challenges in speaking full sentences.  Bridget's fierce loyalty to and...
Get a grip, Vivy Cohen! /
Kapit, Sarah
Paper Book
In this perfectly pitched novel-in-letters, autistic eleven-year-old Vivy Cohen won't let anything stop her from playing baseball--not when she has a major-league star as her pen pal. Vivy Cohen is determined. She's had enough of playing catch in the park. She's ready to pitch...
Good different /
Kuyatt, Meg Eden,
Audiobook
Rules
Lord, Cynthia.
Paper Book
This Newbery Honor Book is a heartfelt and witty story about feeling different and finding acceptance--beyond the rules.Twelve-year-old Catherine just wants a normal life. Which is near impossible when you have a brother with autism and a family that revolves around his disability. She's spent years...
Team players /
Lupica, Mike
Paper Book
Cassie must learn that you can't "fix" someone else after a girl with Aspergers joins her softball team in the fourth and final book of the Home Team series from New York Times bestselling author and sports-writing legend Mike Lupica. Cassie Bennett is great at being in...
Rain reign /
Martin, Ann M.,
Paper Book
A New York Times Bestseller! Rose Howard is obsessed with homonyms. She's thrilled that her own name is a homonym, and she purposely gave her dog Rain a name with two homonyms (Reign, Rein), which, according to Rose's rules of homonyms, is very special. Not everyone...
A kind of spark /
McNicoll, Elle,
Paper Book
Perfect for readers of Song for a Whale and Counting by 7s, a neurodivergent girl campaigns for a memorial when she learns that her small Scottish town used to burn witches simply because they were different. "A must-read for students and adults alike." ...
The girl who thought in pictures :
Mosca, Julia Finley,
Paper Book
NSTA Best STEM Books for K-12 Selection NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Books Selection Dolly Gray Children's Literature Award Recipient A Mighty Girl Book of the Year If you've ever felt different, if you've ever been low, if you don't quite fit in, there's a name...
A bird will soar /
Myers, Alison Green,
Paper Book
WINNER OF THESCHNEIDER FAMILY BOOK AWARD A heartfelt and hopeful debut about a bird-loving autistic child whose family's special nest is in danger of falling apart. Axel loves everything about birds, especially eagles. No one worries that an eagle will fly too far...
Planet Earth is blue /
Panteleakos, Nicole,
Paper Book
"Tender and illuminating. A beautiful debut." --Rebecca Stead, Newbery Medal-winning author of When You Reach Me A heartrending and hopeful debut novel about a nonverbal girl and her passion for space exploration, for fans of See You in the Cosmos, Mockingbird, and...
All my stripes :
Rudolph, Shaina.
Paper Book
A helpful story for kids with autism spectrum disorders as they follow a young zebra who learns to understand how he is different from the rest of his classmates.  "It teaches us to embrace not only who we are, but also to embrace the people around us who are...
Ellen outside the lines /
Sass, A. J.,
Paper Book
Thirteen-year-old Ellen Katz feels most comfortable when her life is well planned out and people fit neatly into her predefined categories. She attends temple with Abba and Mom every Friday and Saturday. Ellen only gets crushes on girls, never boys, and she knows she can always rely on her best...
Can you see me? /
Scott, Libby,
Paper Book
A coming-of-age story about learning to celebrate yourself -- and teaching the world to recognize you, too -- perfect for fans of R. J. Palacio's Wonder!"This glimpse into the world of a young autistic girl is astonishingly insightful and honest. Tally's struggles to 'fit in' are heart...
Counting by 7s
Sloan, Holly Goldberg
Paper Book
In the tradition of Out of My Mind, Wonder, and Mockingbird, this is an intensely moving middle grade novel about being an outsider, coping with loss, and discovering the true meaning of family. Willow Chance is a twelve-year-old genius, obsessed with nature and...
Autism
Squire, Ann.
Paper Book
Autism affects millions people around the world by limiting their ability to communicate and interact socially with other people.Some face minor difficulties, while others are so severely affected that they require special assistance throughout their lives. Readers (Grades 3-5) will find out what it...

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