Making It Up

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YA

For world autism awareness/acceptance day, read autistic writers!

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If you want to learn about autism, the best way is to read the people who are autistic. Not people imagining what it’s like and writing about it. So for world autism awareness/acceptance day, a list of autistic authors/artists/writers/bloggers. This will obviously not be comprehensive, please feel free to add your own favourites in the comments.

(Note, amazon links are affiliate links.)

Since I wrote this post, I’ve started building an affiliate list on bookshop, of books that have been published more recently, you can find that here

proof copy of the state of grace by rachael lucas next to a cup of coffee I read and reviewed Rachael Lucas’ The State of Grace last year and loved it. I highly recommend it for getting an insight into life as an autistic teenage girl. Buy at amazon.

M is for autism (review) and the sequel, M in the middle were written by a group of girls at Limpsfield Grange School, assisted by their teacher. More good titles for the teenage insight. Amazon here and here.

Corinne Duyvis, On the Edge of Gone is fantastic YA SF with a thoroughly believable autistic character in a very tough situation. Again reviewed last year, and available at amazon here.

Last fiction book I’ve read is Colin Fischer by Ashley Miller and Zack Stentz. I didn’t like this one so much, which is probably why I’ve failed to review it so far, I found it a bit too stereotyped/ cliched in its portrayal of the main character Colin. But it’s the only fiction book by an autistic author I’ve come across so far featuring a male lead, so needs including I think. Amazon.

You can find reviews of other books with autistic characters on Disability in Kid Lit, a site well worth bookmarking.

Titles I haven’t read but would like to: Jen Wilde, Queens of Geek. (Amazon.) I’m very much excited by the idea of Stim:an autism anthology edited by Lizzie Huxley-Jones, currently crowd funding on Unbound Also hoping that I’ll get some new suggestions from this!

On memoirs, I’m waiting on Katherine May’s The Electricity of Every Living Thing, which is out in a couple of weeks time. It sounds fascinating, and right up my coastal path 😉 Check it out on Amazon. Also Laura James’ Odd Girl Out is now available in paperback (I *will* review this soon!). Amazon, and there’s Fingers in the Sparkle Jar from Chris Packham (another one awaiting review). Amazon.

I’ve also read and reviewed a number of other memoir books, some of which include helpful tips – here are links to my reviews (which have their own Amazon links within). Nerdy Shy and Socially Inappropriateby Cynthia Kim, Pretending to be Normal by Liane Holliday Willey and A Pony in the Bedroom by Susan Dunne. A slightly different focus in From here to Maternity: Pregnancy and Motherhood on the Autistic Spectrum is very helpful on how to manage your encounters with medical personnel through pregnancy.

Yet to be reviewed The Reason I jump by Naoki Higashida (99p on kindle today) and the sequel, Fall down 7 times, get up 8. (Amazon)

On slightly more academic rather than personal texts, there are some excellent titles available from Sarah Hendrickx (link to Amazon author page who is also an excellent trainer and speaker. Another well respected author is Dr Luke Beardon (slightly embarrassed to admit I haven’t read any of his yet, must rectify) with a good range of titles. Author page

If autistic artists or bloggers are more your thing, I recommend checking out Sonia Boue and Jon Adams (soundcube) via twitter in the first instance. For gems like this.

Twitter is a great place to find autistic writers and bloggers. We tend to use #ActuallyAutistic when we’re sharing our own work (please don’t use that to talk about people who are autistic though. It’s for self identification) so that’s a good place to start looking. There’s also a massive list of autistic bloggers here, I’ve no idea how current it is though.

I’ve no doubt left out lots of useful links and titles, and for that I apologise (I didn’t realise when I started how long compiling a list like this would take!). Please do feel free to suggest extra resources/ titles in the comments – if you’re a first time commenter your comment will be moderated, but I’ll keep checking so that I can release them into the wild 🙂

Otherworld by Jason Segel and Kirsten Miller

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Otherworld – the game is compulsively playable. The book is compulsively readable. Utterly immersive, with a story that rocks along despite its main character striving to be unlikeable. He’s not fond of himself, and doesn’t see why anyone else would feel otherwise.

Give it a try, but make sure you’ve plenty of time. Once you stop, you won’t want to start.

Otherworld by Jason Segel and Kirsten Miller - affiliate link to Amazon

Buy at Amazon

Are you ready to play?

There are no screens. There are no controls.

You don’t just see and hear it—you taste, smell, and touch it too.

In this new reality there are no rules to follow, no laws to break.

You can indulge your every desire.

Why would you ever want to leave?

Step into Otherworld.

Leave your body behind.

VISITOTHERWORLD.COM – WHERE THE NEXT PHASE OF REALITY BEGINS 31.10.17

Having read books about gaming before, I was a little blase when I approached Otherworld, expecting more of the same. However, there’s a reason these are bestselling authors – they are very very good at what they do. Otherworld is beautifully constructed, and there’s far more to this book than a story about a gaming system. Layers upon layers of complexity pile up here, with acute insight into human nature, technology and where we could easily be headed if we don’t keep a close eye on ourselves.

On one level this is a fantastic technological adventure with a strong and varied cast (not all teenagers!) and interesting premise. On another there are conspiracy theories galore, just who is behind the experimental developments to the Otherworld system? What is the real purpose of it all? But the conspiracy never overpowers the personal interest or action, and that’s how I like it.

Will appeal to readers of YA SFF, gaming fans and those into their technology I suspect. Well worth a look, and currently a reasonable price on Kindle. My biggest problem is that I’ve got to wait a year for the sequel!

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M is for autism by The Students Of Limpsfield Grange School and Vicky Martin

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Buy M is for Autism at Amazon.

Buy M is for Autism at JKP books.

Buy M is for autism at Hive

M. That’s what I’d like you to call me please. I’ll tell you why later.

Welcome to M’s world. It’s tipsy-turvy, sweet and sour, and the beast of anxiety lurks outside classrooms ready to pounce. M just wants to be like other teenagers her age who always know what to say and what to do. So why does it feel like she lives on a different plane of existence to everyone else?

Written by the students of Limpsfield Grange, a school for girls with Autism Spectrum Disorder with communication and interaction difficulties, M is for Autism draws on real life experiences to create a heartfelt and humorous novel that captures the highs and lows of being different in a world of normal.

A collaborative novel by The Students Of Limpsfield Grange School and their drama and creative writing teacher, Vicky Martin, M is for autism is like no book I’ve ever read before. Autistic girls and women rarely feature in fiction, and I cannot think of any portrayal of the condition I’ve ever read that rang so true for me.

M is anxious. Or more accurately, and she does like to be accurate, chased and tormented by anxiety. She explores the sensation and experience thoroughly as she tries to work out what is wrong with her (nothing, says her counsellor, nothing wrong, different) and what she could do to be normal, to fit in. Isn’t that what every girl wants?

It’s not actually what I wanted, but just like non autistic people, all autistic people are different. The fight for understanding, self control, and diagnosis is all described here, clearly and succinctly. I particularly love how her obsession is woven into her daily life and her life is built matter of factly around her obsession, because that is how it is.  The effect of her autism on M’s family and potential friends is covered (not all families break up, but some most certainly do) and the relationship between M and her mum, told from both viewpoints, is in some ways one of the most difficult parts to read. The contact between M and her counsellor, Fiona, (I love the visual aspects of this part of the book) serves to explain to M and to us much of what can be confusing around autism, and as well as strengthening the narrative, it adds to the informative aspects of the story.

This is a very short book. I wanted much much more. I want to know all of M’s story and more about her family, particularly her father. But the plus side of it being so short is that I will be very happy to recommend this to anyone and everyone who would like a glimpse into the world of a female autistic teenager. (It should be required reading for all teachers for a start. )

It’s not just boys. And we don’t grow out of it. We may mask it better, squash down the anxiety and tics and obsessions but they are probably still there for all of is to some degree. (I’m chewing the inside of my lip as I write this on my phone in the garden, power is off in the house just now. Can’t make a coffee. Twitch. ) But that doesn’t make us wrong. Or lesser. Or broken. I like the undercurrent of positivity in this story, and that too rings true for me. What girls like M  (and the women like me they grow up to be) need is understanding.

Nerdy, shy and socially unacceptable
Nerdy, shy and socially unacceptable
Pretending to be normal
Pretending to be normal
From here to maternity by Lana Grant
From here to maternity

Disclosure I was supplied with a copy of this book by the publishers JKP Books via Netgalley. Amazon and publisher links are affiliate links.

One by Sarah Crossan

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I read One in one sitting I think. It’s that kind of book. It wraps around you and carries you along, though it’s not a fast paced adventure, far from it. Unless growing up is an adventure, which I guess it kind of is.

Sarah Crossan’s writing has a poetic quality, lyrical and lovely. The other book I’ve read recently that it reminded me of was Red Leaves Falling, and there are similarities to the plot in some ways. Life changing illness features in One, but isn’t the focus. Instead it’s about friendship, connections, new experiences. It’s uplifting and emotional, sad and fitting all at once.

The blurb:

Grace and Tippi are twins – conjoined twins.

And their lives are about to change.

No longer able to afford homeschooling, they must venture into the world – a world of stares, sneers and cruelty. Will they find more than that at school? Can they find real friends? And what about love?

But what neither Grace or Tippi realises is that a heart-wrenching decision lies ahead. A decision that could tear them apart. One that will change their lives even more than they ever imagined.

From Carnegie Medal shortlisted author Sarah Crossan, this moving and beautifully crafted novel about identity, sisterhood and love ultimately asks one question: what does it mean to want and have a soulmate

I’m always a bit nervous when books mention homeschooling, but this is sensitively covered. In fact I complimented Sarah on it when I met her at the YALC fringe event 😉 It’s not the important factor though money does drive the story forward. This is much more about characters than plot, and the characters are well worth focussing on.

Basically, I loved this book. I love the people, the writing, and even though I may have cried, I’ve now got two more Sarah Crossan titles on my TBR pile.  

<a href=”http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1408863111/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=1408863111&linkCode=as2&tag=makingitup-21″>One</a><img src=”http://ir-uk.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=makingitup-21&l=as2&o=2&a=1408863111″ width=”1″ height=”1″ border=”0″ alt=”” style=”border:none !important; margin:0px !important;” /> is out on the 27th August, and is available for preorder from a variety of retailers, as well as via my handy Amazon affiliate link.

The Improbable Theory of Ana and Zak

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Perfect for fans of Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist and The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight, The Improbable Theory of Ana and Zak is Stonewall Award-winning author Brian Katcher’s hilarious he said/she said romance about two teens discovering themselves on an out-of-this-world accidental first date at a sci-fi convention.

When Ana Watson’s brother ditches a high school trip to run wild at Washingcon, type-A Ana knows that she must find him or risk her last shot at freedom from her extra-controlling parents.

In her desperation, she’s forced to enlist the last person she’d ever want to spend time with—slacker Zak Duquette—to help find her brother before morning comes.

But over the course of the night, while being chased by hordes of costumed Vikings and zombies, Ana and Zak begin to open up to each other. Soon, what starts as the most insane nerdfighter manhunt transforms into so much more. . . .

I started this in a tent at Kentwell on our last morning there, having had it sat throughout the week untouched. There isn’t actually a lot of spare time around the whole wrangling children, reenacting and walking to and fro that goes on there.

Shame really, as it’s exactly the kind of light entertainment I could have done with if I hadn’t been kind of exhausted throughout. It’s not challenging at all, and nothing terribly unexpected, but for those days that you just need something fluffy, pretty much perfect.

The romance is lighter than expected, it’s more about coming of age distilled into one evening. Think John Hughes movie without the depth and you’re in the right zone. There is a little romance, as well as a lot of silliness and a fair number of in jokes, so if you’re not up to date with your Trek v Wars, some of this may go over your head.

Do I recommend it? If you’re looking for good YA romance, I’d go for a Jen E Smith first of all to be honest, but if you like a bit of SF con with your romance, this will be perfect. I’ve handed it off to the teen, I’ll let you know what she thinks if she gets round to reading it.