Neurodiversity Celebration Week: Books with neurodivergent characters

Next week is Neurodiversity Celebration Week, and to celebrate, I'm sharing a list of book recommendations with neurodivergent characters.

When reading books, it's great to see representation of different cultures, ethnicities, disabilities, and backgrounds. Diversity and inclusion are becoming more and more prevalent in our modern world, and as the week of March 17th to March 23rd is Neurodiversity Celebration Week, I thought I'd share some books that include neurodiversity representation.

It can be a challenge for non-neurodivergent authors to write about neurodivergent characters. But whether an author is neurodivergent or not, it is important to represent those who are in literature, especially when children's reading rates are on a steep decline.

Reading allows people to see themselves represented and to find comfort in reading stories about others just like them. So, here are 10 recommendations for books with neurodivergent characters.

Children's and Teens Book Recommendations

Cloud Boy by Greg Stobbs

Cloud Boy is a heart-warming story about a young boy, Bobby, who finds it hard to focus on one thing at a time and has so much energy that it lifts him into the clouds.

The Boy Who Cried Ghost by Ian Eagleton

Ian Eagleton has written a coming-of-age story that shares an insight into what having OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) is actually like and portrays it in a celebrative and inclusive way.

Frankie's World by Aoife Dooley

Aoife Dooley uses their real-life experiences to tell this relatable story about Frankie, an autistic girl, as she learns who she is.

Wider than the Sea by Serena Molloy

Wider than the Sea shows readers the story of Ró, a girl who struggles to make sense of words and hides it from those around her.

Can You See Me? by Libby Scott and Rebecca Westcott

Can You See Me? tells the story of Natalia, an 11-year-old girl, who is just trying to fit in and break the stereotypes surrounding autism.

A Kind of Spark by Elle McNicoll

Addie is a young, autistic girl and is the protagonist of A Kind of Spark, in which she campaigns for her voice to be heard as she sets out to discover the true story of the witch trials that once took place in her town.

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Six of Crows is one of my favourite books, and the fantasy novel showcases characters with ADHD and dyslexia, which readers can relate to as the characters attempt an almost-impossible heist.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan

The Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, written by Rick Riordan, is a Greek mythological fantasy series, but the protagonist of Percy is a young, neurodivergent character, who Riordan hopes can help his son, and others, find the positivity in their neurodiversity.

Tilly in Technicolour by Mazey Eddings

Mazey Edding's Young Adult debut, Tilly in Technicolour, follows the story of a recent high school graduate with ADHD and her co-intern with autism as they work together and discover each other's perspectives of the world.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time tells the story of Christopher, a teenager with Asperger's Syndrome, as he tries to find the truth about a murder, which turns his world on its head.

Adult Book Recommendations

The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang

Helen Hoang's The Kiss Quotient is an adult romance novel that showcases relationships and the world of dating and intimacy through the neurodivergent lens of the autistic protagonist, Stella.

Act Your Age, Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert

Talia Hibbert explores neurodivergent characters in the book Act Your Age, Eve Brown, with a mix of humour and romance to portray autism in an inspiring manner.

Red, White and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston - ADHD

Red, White and Royal Blue doesn't explicitly state that any of the characters are neurodivergent, but Alex, one of the protagonists, is believed to have ADHD, influenced by McQuiston's personal experience.

The Cassandra Complex by Holly Smale

The Cassandra Complex (Cassandra in Reverse in the US) explores the story of protagonist, Cassandra, an autistic woman, who discovers she can time-travel in a neurotypical world.

There are, of course, lots more books out there for you to read that have neurodivergent characters. These are just a few for both adults and children.

I hope that if you want to read more widely and read books with diversity and inclusivity, you give these a go.

Happy Neurodiversity Celebration Week!

Until next time...