Although these are organised into rough age categories, these are only a guide and many of the children’s books will appeal to teenagers as well as adults. These can also be useful for siblings or friends to help them better understand the Autistic person in their life.
Articles
Teen Vogue’s article on young Autistic women promoting positive narratives around Autism on social media: https://www.teenvogue.com/story/tiktok-creators-paige-layle-autism
Books
Picture Books
Just Right for You by Melanie Heyworth
A Day With No Words by Tiffany Hammond
Tiffany Hammond shares A Day with No Words on YouTube
Remarkable Remy by Melanie Heyworth, illustrated by Nathaniel Eckstrom
Gabby’s Glimmers by Alice McSweeney, Scott Neilson and Laura Hellfeld
Slipper the Penguin: A Story About Embracing Neurodivergence by Amy Marschall
Amazing Me, Amazing You by Christine McGuinness
The Autistic Boy in the Unruly Body by Gregory C Tino
My Amazingly Abundant Autistic Senses by Gregory C Tino
I Am the Rainbow and the Rainbow is Me by Alice McSweeney
I Am the Sunshine and the Sunshine is Me by Alice McSweeney
Children’s Fiction/TV
The Secret of Haven Point by Lisette Auton
The Stickleback Catchers by Lisette Auton
Lights Up by Lisette Auton
The Starlight Rebel by Lisette Auton
A Kind of Spark by Elle McNicoll – the award-winning story of an 11-year-old autistic girl as she campaigns for a memorial in memory of the witch trials that took place in her Scottish hometown. Also a BBC TV series.
Can You See Me? by Libby Scott and Rebecca Westcott – Based on diary entries written by eleven-year-old Libby Scott, based on her own experiences of being Autistic, this novel was written in collaboration with author Rebecca Westcott.
Do You Know Me? by Libby Scott and Rebecca Westcott – The second book in the series. Tally is autistic and proud. She used to feel like she had to hide her autism, but now Tally is determined to make sure people see who she really is.
Ways to Be Me by Libby Scott and Rebecca Westcott – A prequel to the first two books in the series, this third book follows Tally’s experience of being diagnosed as Autistic in primary school as she struggles to navigate life at school and at home
All the Pieces of Me by Libby Scott and Rebecca Westcott – Tally navigates the confusion of life as an Autistic teenager in this fourth book in the series.
Children’s Non-Fiction
A Different Sort of Normal by Abigail Balfe -An illustrated memoir giving lots of useful information about autism for young people, written by an Autistic writer and illustrator
Growing up Autistic and Happy by Camilla Pang – A Perfectly Weird Guide to Being Perfectly You
Autism, Identity and Me by Rebecca Duffus and Lyric Rivera – A Practical Workbook to Empower Autistic Children and Young People Aged 10+
Square Me, Round World: Stories of Growing Up in a World Not Built for You by Chelsea Luker and Eliza Fricker (illustrator)
Being Autistic (and what that actually means) by Niamh Garvey and Rebecca Burgess (illustrator)
The Secret Life of Rose: inside an autistic head by Rose Smitten and Jodie Clarke
The Awesome Autistic Guide to Being Proud by Yenn Purkis and Tanya Masterman
The Awesome Autistic Guide to Feelings and Emotions by Yenn Purkis and Tanya Masterman
The Awesome Autistic Guide to Other Humans by Yenn Purkis and Tanya Masterman
Standing Up for Myself: An empowering book for Neurodivergent kids and teens about boundaries, sensitivity, personal space, consent, power play and self advocacy by Evaleen Whelton
Minding My Sensitive Self by Evaleen Whelton – A guide for kids who feel a lot, think deeply, and need space to be themselves
Autism, Bullying and Me: The Really Useful Stuff You Need to Know About Coping with Bullying by Emily Lovegrove
The Kids’ Simple Guide to PDA by Laura Kerbey and Eliza Fricker
Unlocking the Power of My PDA Brain by Jennifer Huffman
All About Diversity by Felicity Brooks and Mar Ferrero (Illustrator)
Break the Mould: How to Take your Place in the World by Sinead Burke and Natalie Byrne (Illustrator)
Amazing Activists Who Are Changing Our World by Rebecca Schiller and Sophie Beer (Illustrator)
Graphic Novels
I Go Quiet by David Ouimet – Graphic novel not specifically about autism but very relatable particularly for those who experience situational mutism
Young Adult Fiction/TV
Underdogs by Chris Bonnello (of Autistic Not Weird) – An action-packed dystopian drama following a group of neurodivergent teenagers on their quest to free the British people from an army of cloned soldiers
The Boy Who Steals Houses by CG Drews
A Thousand Perfect Notes by CG Drews
On the Edge of Gone by Corinne Duyvis
Hollow by Taylor Grothe – An autistic teen is entangled in a secretive community of outcasts in this eerie YA cult horror
Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute by Talia Hibbert
Keedie by Elle McNicoll
Like a Charm by Elle McNicoll
Like a Curse by Elle McNicoll
Role Model by Elle McNicoll
Show Us Who You Are by Elle McNicoll
Some Like it Cold by Elle McNicoll
Wish You Were Her by Elle McNicoll
Afrotastic by Kala Allen Omeiza (Young Adult Fiction)
The Worst Saturday Ever by Kala Allen Omeiza (Young Adult Fiction)
Real When I’m With You by Lucy Powrie
Geek Girl by Autistic author Holly Smale (also a Netflix TV series) – Awkward teen Harriet has always wanted to fit in. Until she gets scouted by a top London model agent and learns that some people are meant to stand out
This is the Way the World Ends by Jen Wilde
LGBTQ+ Teen Fiction
Hazelthorne by CG Drews – gothic queer YA horror and dark romance about an inherited estate, murderous relatives, and a garden with a taste for blood
Don’t Let the Forest In by CG Drews – queer YA horror and dark academia romance
Sad Girl Hours by Anna Zoe Quirke
Something to be Proud of by Anna Zoe Quirke
Ellen Outside the Lines by A J Sass
Changelings: An Autistic Trans Anthology edited by Ryan Vale and Ocean Riley
Young Adult Non-Fiction
Different, Not Less: A neurodivergent’s guide to embracing your true self and finding your happily ever after by Chloe Hayden
The Autistic Teen Girl’s School Survival Guide by Gracie Barlow
The Spectrum Girl’s Survival Guide by Siena Castellon
Young, Autistic and Burnt Out: A book for autistic young people by autistic young people by Jodie Clarke
Young, Autistic and ADHD: Moving into adulthood when you’re multiply-neurodivergent by Sarah Boon
Shake it Up: How to be Young, Autistic and Make an Impact by Quincy Hansen
Being an Ally edited by Shakirah Bourne and Dana Alison Levy
The Autistic Guide to Puberty: A Practical Survival Handbook by Victoria Ellen
The Young Person’s Guide to Autistic Burnout by Viv Dawes and Josh Dawes (Illustrator)
Non-Fiction for LGBTQ+ Teens
The Awesome Autistic Go To Guide: A Practical Handbook for Autistic Teens and Tweens by Yenn Purkis and Tanya Masterman
The Awesome Autistic Guide for Trans Teens by Yenn Purkis and Sam Rose
Children and Young People’s Book Lists
Children’s books about autism – a useful book list from Not an Autism Mom
UK Services
The Mix – support for the under 25s including a chat service and a counselling service
Scotland Services
Salvesen MIndroom – advocacy and support for Neurodivergent children and young people up to 25, with or without a formal diagnosis
The Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland – provides information about children’s human rights in Scotland and investigates in situations where their human rights have not been upheld