April is Autism Acceptance Month. You may remember my blog post from last year. (If not, that’s a good place to start with general autism reads). This year I want to focus on #OwnVoices, a hashtag created by autistic author Corinne Duyvis in 2015. #OwnVoices is defined by Duyvis as a tool to recommend “kidlit about diverse characters written by authors from that same diverse group.” (Original tweet)

I have seen the topic becoming more well known, and expanding to more than just Children’s literature (and even beyond just literature). Representation matters. #OwnVoices is not at all saying people shouldn’t write characters from groups they don’t belong to, but rather emphasizes the importance of seeing oneself accurately represented in media and having the jurisdiction to represent your cultural identity against stereotypes. Duyvis’ own book, On The Edge of Gone, is a fantastic example of autistic people writing autistic characters (and, in my opinion, a captivating read).

Below are some more suggestions for autistic #OwnVoices books to dive into:

Underdogs

Underdogs

by Chris Bonnello

Young Adult Fiction e-audiobook

Cover image for Invisible differences : a story of Aspergers, adulting, and living a life in full color

Invisible Differences

by Julie Dachez

Young Adult Graphic Novel

Cover image for The boy who steals houses

The Boy Who Steals Houses

by C. G. Drews

Young Adult Fiction Book

A Girl Like Her

A Girl Like Her

by Talia Hibbert

Adult Fiction eBook

Title details for The Outside by Ada Hoffmann - Wait list

The Outside

by Ada Hoffmann

Adult Science Fiction eBook

Title details for Stim by Lizzie Huxley-Jones - Wait list

Stim: an Autistic Anthology

edited by Lizzie Huxley-Jones

Adult Fiction eBook

Cover image for Get a grip, Vivy Cohen

Get a Grip, Vivy Cohen

by Sarah Kapit

Juvenile Fiction Book

Cover image for The someday birds

The Someday Birds

by Sally J. Pla

Juvenile Fiction Book

Cover image for Even if we break

Even If We Break

by Marieke Nijkamp

Young Adult Fiction Book

An Unkindness of Ghosts

An Unkindness of Ghosts

by Rivers Solomon

Adult Science Fiction eBook

Title details for Queens of Geek by Jen Wilde - Wait list

Queens of Geek

by Jen Wilde

Young Adult Fiction eBook