Some books take patience before they really get going, whilst some reserve their best bits for last. For this reason, people will often say that you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover and many will also add that you shouldn’t judge a book by its first, second or third chapter either. However, isn’t it great when you can?
This is the experience I had when I settled in to read over my backlog of autism books this month and, subsequently, I found that many of the titles I had waiting for me, spared no time hooking me in. As such, today I wanted to share my thoughts and feelings on three of these exciting new autism reads so that, if like me, you want something to sink your teeth into (without a tedious introduction), you’ll know where to go.
[Affliate links to the books can be found by clicking either the titles, images or bold red links at the end of each review.]
A Room Called Earth
Probably the most well known of all the autism books I am currently reading, A Room Called Earth is something special. The novel is told by a young autistic woman as she gets ready for and attends a party. However, the narrative itself is built around the reflections and observations the narrator has, while life goes on around her.
Spoken aloud, that admittedly might sound far from the most bombastic narrative you’ve ever heard and, yet, I can’t get over how engrossed I am with this story.
In just a few chapters, author Madeline Ryan (who is autistic herself) has painted a vivid vision of what it’s like to be a young female in Melbourne and, while that can at times come across as isolating and disheartening, there’s something incredibly inspirational in the book’s cynical take which keeps me captivated page after page.
To that extent, A Room Called Earth reads like the most articulate and insightful meltdown an autist has ever had; as though the author herself has unleashed a tyraid on every topic she has grown tired off. Under different circumstances this could seem scattered and exhausting but, instead, it becomes an almost infectious passion as you feel the tension of, well, everything and get riled up reading about the many topics presented, including:
- Society’s view of beauty
- Family & Friendships
- Sexuality
- White privilege
- Female identity
- Australia’s treatment of indigenous people
- Self-worth
- Self-understanding
- Self-appreciation
- Cats
At this point, part of me really wants to relate A Room Called Earth with certain other female-led properties with dry humour (you know the ones). Yet, if I’m going to compare the book to anything, it’s how aptly it catches the current trials of modern living.
This is a book for those of us who have ever felt outside of the norm and for those who worry that these same viewpoints will always make them an outsider. It’s charming, it’s cutting and it’s unquestionably a must-read.
[A Room Called Earth can be purchased here.]
Spectrum Women: Autism and Parenting
Last year’s Spectrum Women: Walking to the Beat of Autism was a personal favourite of mine. Featuring the combined voices of many women from in and around the community, the landmark publication was stuffed full of so much insight, advice and expertise that it single-handedly made me realise that I need to create more articles centred around neurodivergent non-fiction.
Because of this, you can bet that I was excited when I saw that it’s sequel Spectrum Women: Autism and Parenting was set for release this year and, so far, it has absolutely lived up to its predecessor.
Nevertheless, Spectrum Women: Autism and Parenting shouldn’t just be seen as a sequel, as it’s contents differ from the previous edition (of what I now hope we can call a series). For example, unlike the last book which featured a multitude of authors on a multitude of topics, this time around we hear from three distinct voices on a more refined set of subjects, all centred around the authors’ experiences of being either:
- An autistic parent
- The parent of an autistic child
- An autistic parent with an autistic child
This more tailored approach instantly makes another interesting and thought-poking guide from the Spectrum Women team – something I can say for a fact, as I don’t fit into any of the above-mentioned categories and I still couldn’t stop reading.
Of course, with any book like this, it is rarely just a read-once-and-you’re-done as the book contains some incredible information, both first-hand and referenced, which I am likely to draw upon again in the future.
For this reason, Spectrum Women: Autism and Parenting is not only a book I’m looking forward to finishing but also am excited to re-read and uncover new nuggets of knowledge with every revisit.
[Spectrum Women: Autism and Parenting can be purchased here.]
MOOJAG and the AUTICODE SECRET
Moojag and The Auticode Secret is what Alice in Wonderland might have looked like if Lewis Carroll did some soul-searching and knew about autism in 1865. The story of three neurodivergent kids who must save their upcycled future society, from an underground sugar-hooked kingdom, may at first seem mad as a March hare. However, on closer inspection, that’s exactly what it is and I love it for that very reason.
With a distinct feel of excitement from the get-go, opening Moojag and The Auticode Secret quickly took me back to the days of switching on Nickelodeon and starting to watch David Bowie’s Labyrinth halfway through, not quite sure what’s going on but fascinated and amazed to find out.
The book is just SO alive and, with every new paragraph, I’m filled with wonder by it’s wacky and utter unique descriptions. A great example of this comes early on, when the kids are searching for clues to riddles at a fair and the attendees are described as wearing outfits like bubble wrap jackets, bags with seatbelts for straps and emergency service uniforms, found from before the seas rose and ushered in a new era.
On that note, while I also love that the book is very much Hansel-And-Gretel-esque, with its Grimm-like narrative, I adore that underneath the adventure and positive neurodiverse representation, there are very pressing messages about climate change and what we are doing to our bodies by binging on the artificial.
These messages never feel pushy though, instead, it walks that thin line which many great children’s books do, where there is just as much for adults to appreciate as kiddiewinks will enjoy. For this reason, I would be just as excited to read Moojag and The Auticode Secret on my commute to work, as I imagine a young child would be to have it read to them at night (although maybe not too late at night as the candy-rock robots are actually pretty dang creepy).
Furthermore, Moojag and The Auticode Secret really is the gift that keeps on giving, as it was recently announced that the audio version of this fantastic fable will feature a full neurodivergent voice cast. Because of this, I might have to hit pause at my current position in the book and let my excitement and anticipation build, as I wait to finish it in the most autism celebrating format there is.
[Moojag and The Auticode Secret can be preordered from Waterstones in the UK (here) or, for those of you on the other side of the pond, from Amazon (here)]
Carry on the Conversation:
What are you currently reading? Let me know in the comments below. And, if you would like to hear about more current autism books, then check out my article: The Best Autism Books to Look Forward to in 2020 (most of which have now released).
As always, I can also be found on Twitter @AutismRevised, on Instagram @autisticandunapologetic and via 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.
