Set to release on March 19th, with the aim of becoming the go-to resource for all the advice any budding autist needs to flourish, The Spectrum Girl’s Survival Guide, by Siena Castellon, was an ambitious task upon announcement but, upon release, readers will find an all-encompassing autism manual, which easily surpasses survival, and all but ensures excellence.
This is what I quickly realized after getting my hands on an advanced copy of the book earlier in the month and it’s why, today, I wanted to look at this autism index and explain all the info you might miss out on, if you’re only thinking of putting the title into the depths of your wish list (instead of putting it into you hands right now).
The Spectrum Girl’s Survival Guide Review:
The immediate question most people will ask when they are recommended a book like The Spectrum Girl’s Survival Guide is ‘What’s in it for me?’/’What do I stand to gain by reading it?’. However, when I shared high praise about The Spectrum Girl’s Survival Guide in recent weeks I noticed I had quite the opposite reaction with people questioning ‘Why I’m reading it?’/’What do I gain from it?’
To me the answer was obvious, I had lots to gain from a book that celebrates neurodiversity, shares invaluable experiences and offers insight on the spectrum that I may never feel myself. Yet, even with these three responses on the tip of my tongue, I have hesitated to reply as The Spectrum Girl’s Survival Guide isn’t just a book for me, or for autistic girls, it’s a book for everyone.
This is evident throughout the book’s 16 chapters (which read more like 3 part acts); where Castellon winds up with a discussion of what life can be like if you practice the teachings of its pages and then swiftly follows with a one-two punch of lessons on understanding and embracing autism.
These lessons never feel lectured, however, as Castellon weaves a great helping of insights and experience throughout the pages of The Spectrum Girl’s Surivival Guide meaning that, whether you are talking about something as personal as style or something as academic as co-occurring conditions, you never feel at a loss, as concepts are articulatly explained with tons of touching anecdotes to boot.
Simpliciy doesn’t mean The Spectrum Girl’s Survival Guide is shallow though, as within the multitude of concepts even I found things I was oblivious to and, no, these weren’t just the female-dominated areas (like first periods and first crushes, but things like picking the right pair of light sensitivity glasses for those with sensory processing disorders).
It’s at these points when I first started to realise the power this book holds for those outside the spectrum, in particular carers, teachers and parents and it seems especially valuable for any dads out there who could do with a hand in learning, well, everything!
Of course, as you might expect, The Spectrum Girl’s Survival Girl is a still a book very much aimed at a female reader but, even then you might be surprised how broad an audience this caters to with chapters for tomboys, preteens and anyone of any gender identity – including transgirls. It’s a balancing act which, in a lesser book, could have turned messy, but Castellon’s writing always keeps things on track and, no matter the subject, it’s always comforting in its approach – like a cheerleading friend who just wants you to succeed.
With that said, those who know of Siena Castellon’s background as an anti-bullying rep will be aware that her journey has not been the easiest. So, for that reason, it was always expected that the book wasn’t going to shy away from exploring the harder parts of being autistic in a neurotypical world.
This is something which becomes particularly clear as the book enters its latter half, where many of the previous comic strip panels which bring a light-hearted tone to chapters become momentarily absent (as they are replaced with tip boxes on how to overcome topics such as bullying within the education system). Nethertheless, while it may seem quite wrong to say out loud, it’s during these much darker chapters that The Spectrum Girl’s Survival Guide is at it’s best and most informative.
The Spectrum Girl’s Survival Guide doesn’t just finish there as, in a final chapter that pulls the read full circle, Castellon closes out the book with a discussion on how, despite all the negatives that have been commented on prior, autism and neurodiversity are indeed something which we should be proud of and, furthermore, we should celebrate.
Castellon achieves this underdog speech by reflecting on some of the most remarkable members in our community (with a shared favourite of mine and Castellon’s featuring quite prominently) before a rousing call to arms explains how readers now have the tools to become advocates for the bright neurodiverse future that Castellon knows we are on the cusp of (partly because she is one of the people who got us this far already).
So if you want learn how to be part of that change, you want to find the strength you didn’t know you had or you are outside of the spectrum and looking to support our community in its actions, then The Spectrum Girl’s Survival Guide is not just a book for you because, as I will say for the last time, it is a book for everyone!
[The Spectrum’s Girl’s Survival Guide releases on March 19th and can be found by clicking here]
Carry on the Conversation
Will you be picking up a copy of The Spectrum Girl’s Survivial Guide? Let me know in the comments below. And, if you would like to hear about more phenominal autism books with female readers in mind, then check out this list of 3 Phenomenal Autism Books for Autistic Girls and Women.
As always, I can also be found on Twitter @AutismRevised and via my email: AutisticandUnapologetic@gmail.com.
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Thank you for reading and I will see you next week for more thoughts from across the spectrum.
