Autism and ADHD Book Guide - for Children, Young People, Parents and Professionals
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To quote Elle McNicoll, incredibly talented and awesome neurodivergent author, “Every child deserves to see themselves reflected positively in stories…The world needs unapologetically neurodivergent characters.”
In this book guide you will find book recommendations for children about autism, ADHD and neurodiversity, and non-fiction and fiction recommendations for autistic and ADHD tweens and teens, as well as recommendations for parents and professionals. Many of these books have been a source of comfort for me, and I hope that they may be just as valuable to someone else!
You can buy my book guide as a downloadable PDF on the store page of my website here.
Note: I have done my best to check the suitability of these books for different ages, but if purchasing for a child or young person, please research yourself to confirm it is appropriate for their age and understanding.
General Neurodiversity
Wonderfully Wired Brains: An Introduction to the World of Neurodiversity by Louise Gooding and Ruth Burrows
Neurodiversity! What's That?: An introduction to neurodiversity for kids by Nadine Ramina Arthur
Perfectly Norman: A Big Bright Feelings Book by Tom Percival
Dexter! The AMAZING School Dog! by Lucy Plunkett and Sian Bowman
Amazing Me, Amazing You by Christine McGuinness
The Same But Different by Molly Potter and Sarah Jennings
Invisible Isabel by Sally J. Pla and Tania de Regil
Too Much: An overwhelming day by Jolene Gutierrez and Angel Chang
Meesha Makes Friends: A Bright Big Feelings Book by Tom Percival
Every Brain is Beautiful: A Little Kids’ Guide to Neurodiversity by Sara Furlong
Neurodivergent Ninja by Mary Nhin
Your Beautiful Brain and Anxiety by Sara Furlong
Children - Autism
Being Autistic (and what that actually means) by Niamh Garvey and Rebecca Burgess
The Abilities in Me: Autism by Gemma Keir and Adam Walker-Parker
My Awesome Autism: Helping children learn about their autism diagnosis (The Eddie Series) by Nikki Saunders
Leo and the Octopus by Isabelle Marinov and Chris Nixon
When Things Get Too Loud: A Story about Sensory Overload by Anne Alcott
I am Bloc by Jaja Choktanasiri
A Day with No Words by Tiffany Hammond and Kate Cosgrove
My Mummy is Autistic: a picture book and guide about recognising and understanding difference by Heath Grace and Joanna Grace
The Secret Life of Rose by Jodie and Rose
Bear, Bobbin and The Winter Festival by Val Jones and Leanne Coelho
The Panda on PDA: A Children’s Introduction to Pathological Demand Avoidance by Glòria Durà-Vilà and Rebecca Tatternorth
Ready Eddie Go! The Birthday Party: Finding out about parties with friends! by Nikki Saunders
Children - ADHD
Loud! by Rose Robbins
The Fizzy Brain: a children’s book about neurodiversity written by a 7 year old (with a little help from mum) by Noah Faria and Renata Formoso
The Abilities in Me: ADHD by Gemma Keir and Adam Walker-Parker
Cloud Boy by Greg Stobbs
My Amazing ADHD Brain: A Child’s Guide to Thriving with ADHD by Emily Snape
The Girl Who Always Could: An empowering tale of the ADHD experience for girls, and the power of self love by Katie Trowse and Tilly Paterson
My Brain is a Race Car: A Children's Guide to a Neuro-Divergent Brain by Nell Harris
My Brain Needs Glasses by Annick Vincent
A Dragon With ADHD by Steve Herman
My Unique ADHD World by Joanne Steer & Claire Berry and Abigail Tompkins
Cally & Jimmy: Twins Together by Zoe Antoniades and Katie Kear
ADHD, Tics & Me by Susan Ozer & Inyang Takon and Sophie Kennedy
Autistic/ADHD Tweens - Non Fiction
A Different Sort of Normal by Abigail Balfe
Autism, Identity and Me: A Practical Workbook to Empower Autistic Children and Young People Aged 10+ by Rebecca Duffus
Autism, Bullying and Me: The Really Useful Stuff You Need to Know About Coping Brilliantly with Bullying by Emily Lovegrove
Wired Differently: 30 Neurodivergent People You Should Know by Joe Wells and Tim Stringer
The Autism Friendly Guide to Periods by Robyn Steward
Perfectly Weird, Perfectly You: A Scientific Guide to Growing Up by Camilla Pang
The Awesome Autistic Go-To Guide: A Practical Handbook for Autistic Teens and Tweens by Yenn Purkis and Tanya Masterman
ADHD is Our Superpower! by Soli Lazarus and Adriana Camargo
The Autistic Guide to Adventure by Allie Mason and Ella Willis
Growing Up Autistic and Happy: A Perfectly Weird Guide to Being Perfectly You by Camilla Pang and Laurène Boglio
The Awesome Autistic Guide to Feelings and Emotions: Finding Your Comfort Zone by Yenn Purkis and Tanya Masterman
Can I Tell You About ADHD by Susan Yarney and Chris Martin
Autistic Tweens - Fiction
A Kind of Spark by Elle McNicoll
Keedie by Elle McNicoll
Vivi Conway and the Sword of Legend by Lizzie Huxley-Jones
Paws by Kate Foster
Good Different by Meg Eden Kuyatt
Frankie’s World: a Graphic Novel by Aoife Dooley
Speak Up! by Rebecca Burgess
Boy Underground by Isabelle Marinov
Ellen Outside The Lines by A. J. Sass
Can You See Me?: A powerful story of autism, empathy and kindness by Libby Scott and Rebecca Westcott
Do You Know Me?: Expected to fit in, proud to stand out by Libby Scott and Rebecca Westcott
Moojag and the Auticode Secret by N. E. McMorran
ADHD Tweens - Fiction
The Boy with the Butterfly Mind by Victoria Williamson
Reggie Houser Has The Power by Helen Rutter
Tornado Brain by Cat Patrick
The Girl Who Broke The Sea by A. Connors
Check Mates by Stewart Foster
Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief (Book 1): Percy Jackson and The Olympians by Rick Riordan
Show Us Who You Are by Elle McNicoll
Focused by Alyson Gerber
The Love Letters of Abelard and Lily by Laura Creedle
The Extraordinaries by T J Klune
Fifty-Four Things Wrong With Gwendolyn Rogers by Caela Carter
It’s the End of the World and I’m in My Bathing Suit by Justin A. Reynolds
TEENS
Autistic Teens - Non Fiction
Queerly Autistic: The Ultimate Guide For LGBTQIA+ Teens On The Spectrum by Erin Ekins
The Spectrum Girls Survival Guide: How To Grow Up Awesome and Autistic by Siena Castellon
The Autistic Teen’s Avoidant Eating Workbook by Dr Elizabeth Shea and Tim Stringer
The Teen’s Guide to PDA by Laura Kerbey and Eliza Fricker
Different Not Less: A Neurodivergent’s Guide to Embracing Your True Self and Finding Your Happily Ever After by Chloe Hayden
Young, Autistic and ADHD: Moving into Adulthood When You’re Multiply Neurodivergent by Sarah Boon
My Autism Journal by Carly Jones
The Teenager’s Guide to Burnout: Finding the Road to Recovery by Dr Naomi Fisher and Eliza Fricker
Unmasked: The Ultimate Guide to Autism, ADHD and neurodivergence by Ellie Middleton
How Not to Fit In: An Unapologetic Guide to Navigating Autism and ADHD by Jess Joy & Charlotte Mia
So I’m Autistic: An Introduction to Autism for Young Adults and Late Teens by Sarah O’Brien
How To Be You: Say Goodbye to Should, Would and Could So That You Can by Ellie Middleton
ADHD Teens - Non Fiction
Scatter Brain: How I finally got off the ADHD rollercoaster and became the owner of a very tidy sock drawer by Shaparak Khorsandi
The ADHD Teen Survival Guide: Your Launchpad to an Amazing Life by Soli Lazarus and Kara McHale
ADHD is Awesome: A Guide To (Mostly) Thriving With ADHD by Penn and Kim Holderness
The Teenager’s Guide to Burnout: Finding the Road to Recovery by Dr Naomi Fisher and Eliza Fricker
ADHD an A-Z: Figuring it Out Step by Step by Leanne Maskell
The ADHD Focus Friend: A Planning and Productivity Workbook by Grace Koelma
The ADHD Workbook for Teen Girls by Catherine J. Mutti-Driscoll
How Not to Fit In: An Unapologetic Guide to Navigating Autism and ADHD by Jess Joy & Charlotte Mia
Me, Myself and ADHD by Molly Brooks Dridge
Now It All Makes Sense: How An ADHD Diagnosis Changed My Life by Alex Partridge
Small Talk: 10 ADHD lies and how to stop believing them by Richard and Roxanne Pink
The Teenage Girl’s Guide to Living Well with ADHD: Improve your Self-Esteem, Self-Care and Self Knowledge by Sonia Ali
Autistic Teens - Fiction
Something to be Proud Of by Anna Zoe Quirke
Geek Girl by Holly Smale
Afrotistic by Kala Allen Omeiza
The State of Grace by Rachael Lucas
Finding Phoebe by Gavin Extence
Underdogs by Chris Bonnello
Some Like it Cold by Elle McNicoll
Tilly in Technicolor by Mazey Eddings
The Boy Who Steals Houses by C.G. Drews
About the Boy by Leah Nicole Whitcomb
The Many Half-Lived Lives of Sam Sylvester by Maya Macgregor
On the Edge of Gone by Corinne Duyvis
ADHD Teens: Fiction
A Kind of Spark by Elle McNicoll
A List Of Cages by Robin Roe
Lakelore by Anna-Marie McLemore
Playing Tyler by T L Costa
The Byways by Mary Pascual
Only Here, Only Now by Tom Newlands
Underdogs by Chris Bonnello
Above All Else by Dana Alison Levy
Tilly in Technicolor by Mazey Eddings
The Love Letters of Abelard and Lily by Laura Creedle
Lover Birds by Leanne Egan
Motorcycles, Sushi & One Strange Book by Nancy N. Rue
Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
Your Child is Not Broken: Parent Your Neurodivergent Child Without Losing Your Marbles by Heidi Mavir
Nurturing Your Autistic Young Person: A Parent’s Handbook to Supporting Newly Diagnosed Teens and Pre-Teens by Cathy Wassell
Sincerely, Your Autistic Child: What People on the Autism Spectrum Wish Their Parents Knew About Growing Up, Acceptance, and Identity by Emily Paige Ballou
Girl Unmasked: How Uncovering My Autism Saved My Life by Emily Katy
PDA in the Family: Life After the Lightbulb Moment by Steph Curtis
A Different Kind of Parenting: Neurodivergent families finding a way through together by Eliza Fricker
Black Rainbow by Danielle Jata-Hall
Can’t Not Won’t: A Story About A Child Who Couldn’t Go To School by Eliza Fricker
When the Naughty Step Makes Things Worse: Parenting for Children (and Adults) Who Need Something Different by Dr Naomi Fisher and Eliza Fricker
A Different Way to Learn: Neurodiversity and Self-Directed Education by Dr Naomi Fisher
Parenting When You’re Autistic by Pooky Knightsmith
How to Raise Happy Neurofabulous Children: A Parents’ Guide by Katy Elphinstone
Supporting Spectacular Girls: A Practical Guide to Developing Autistic Girls’ Wellbeing and Self-Esteem by Helen Clarke
The Educator’s Experience of Pathological Demand Avoidance: An Illustrated Guide to Pathological Demand Avoidance and Learning by Laura Kerbey
The Teacher’s Introduction to Pathological Demand Avoidance: Essential Strategies for the Classroom by Clare Truman
Girl Unmasked: How Uncovering My Autism Saved My Life by Emily Katy
Autism, Identity and Me: A Professional and Parent Guide by Rebecca Duffus
Safeguarding Autistic Girls: Strategies for Professionals by Carly Jones MBE
Can’t Not Won’t: A Story About A Child Who Couldn’t Go To School by Eliza Fricker
Square Pegs: Inclusivity, compassion and fitting in - a guide for schools by Fran Morgan with Ellie Costello, edited by Ian Gilbert
Teachers! How Not to Kill the Spirit in Your ADHD Kids by Sarah Templeton
Autism and Masking: How and Why People Do It, and the Impact It Can Have by Dr Felicity Sedgewick, Dr Laura Hull and Helen Ellis
Untypical: How the World Isn’t Built for Autistic People and What We Should All Do About it by Pete Wharmby
Of course there is my own book Girl Unmasked: How Uncovering My Autism Saved My Life, which I tend to say is suitable for ages 16+, but it depends on the young person and their experiences!
Hopefully there is something on this list that is suitable for yourself or whoever you’re looking for.
You can buy the book guide as a downloadable PDF here.
I feel so lucky to live in a world where there are books :)
Love, Emily x
GIRL UNMASKED (The Sunday Times Bestseller) is available to order from Amazon and all major bookstores!
https://linktr.ee/girlunmasked.