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...
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,...
Superstar /
Davis, Mandy,
Paper Book
A Bank Street College of Education Best Children's Book of the Year! "Lester's first-person narrative is honest and pure." --Kirkus (starred review) Perfect for fans of Fish in a Tree and Wonder, this uplifting debut novel from Mandy Davis follows...
Frankie's world. [online electronic book]
Dooley, Aoife
Ebook
Mockingbird.
Erskine, Kathryn.
Paper Book
THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD WINNER and ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT NOVELS OF OUR TIME FOR YOUNG READERS Caitlin has Asperger's. The world according to her is black and white; anything in between is confusing. Before, when things got confusing, Caitlin went to her older brother, Devon,...
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...
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...
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." ...
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 : a story for children with autism.
Rudolph, Shaina
Paper Book
"Zane rushes home to tell his mother about problems he faced during his school day, and she reminds him that while others may only see his "autism stripe," he has stripes for honesty, caring, and much more."--Provided by publisher.
Ellen outside the lines. [online electronic book]
Sass, A. J.
Ebook
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 O.
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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