This month’s challenge is a book about a neurodivergent character. This includes but is not limited to people with Autism, ADHD, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Dyslexia, Schizophrenia, DID, Tourette Syndrome, DCD or learning disabilities. In putting together this list, we noticed that Canadian children’s literature needs more books about neurodivergent characters by neurodivergent authors.
That being said, we have a lovely selection of books rooted in personal experiences. We have two American authors for our picture book and middle grade selections: Too Much! An Overwhelming Day is inspired by the author’s own sensory processing disorder and Paige Not Found is an adventure story starring an autistic girl. For young adult, we have Something More by Canadian Palestinian Jackie Khalilieh about a teen girl navigating her autism diagnosis and starting high school.
List curated by Emmy Nordstrom Higdon
1) Something More by Jackie Khalilieh (Young Adult)
A contemporary teen romance novel, now available in paperback, featuring a Palestinian-Canadian girl trying to hide her autism diagnosis while navigating her first year of high school, for fans of Jenny Han and Samira Ahmed.
Fifteen-year-old Jessie, a quirky loner obsessed with the nineties, is diagnosed as autistic just weeks before starting high school. Determined to make a fresh start and keep her diagnosis a secret, Jessie creates a list of goals that range from acquiring two distinct eyebrows to getting a magical first kiss and landing a spot in the school play. Within the halls of Holy Trinity High, she finds a world where things are no longer black and white and quickly learns that living in color is much more fun. But Jessie gets more than she bargained for when two very different boys steal her heart, forcing her to go off-script.
2) Paige Not Found by Jen Wilde (Middle Grade)
In an effort to better understand and communicate with their autistic daughter, Paige’s parents had a chip implanted in her brain that keeps track of her location and brain activity. It can even boost the chemicals that affect her mood. When Paige finds out by accident, she isn?t sure who she can trust. Can she even trust her own mind anymore?
Now the company that created her chip is days away from merging with the most popular social network in the world. And they are known for selling people’s private information to the highest bidder.
Paige knows there is only one thing she can do. Armed with the names and addresses of the other kids involved in the study, she must track them down and tell them the truth, so they can put a stop to the merger and get the chips removed for good.
3) Too Much! An Overwhelming Day by Jolene Gutiérrez and illustrated by Angel Chang (Picture Book)
A reassuring rhyming picture book about sensory overload and what you can do when everything is too much
When feelings go on overload,
I pause and breathe
and all is . . . slowed.
Sometimes everything is too much! Too loud, too bright, and all too overwhelming. Writing from her own experience with sensory processing disorder, award-winning teacher-librarian Jolene Gutiérrez’s compassionate picture book explores the struggles of a sensorily sensitive child and how they settle themselves. Joined by Angel Chang’s beautiful color illustrations, young readers will learn that it’s OK if some days are too much.
An extensive author’s note to caregivers and educators explores sensory systems, sensory processing issues, and specific information about how to support kids with overstimulated nervous systems as they learn to soothe themselves.
Ardo Omer