(1) 1-3 Henry series. Illustrated by Mika Song. In his second early-chapter-book outing (Henry, like Always, rev. 3/23), Henry -- a sensitive child who presents as being on the autism spectrum -- is ambivalent about a field trip to the natural history museum. "Henry was excited. Everyone in Classroom Ten would ride the bus to the museum. Henry was also worried. Everyone in Classroom Ten would ride the bus to the museum." Despite his concerns, Henry is looking forward to the dinosaur exhibit. When Samuel's dad (a field trip helper) asks Henry's group of three what they'd like to see, "'Dinosaurs!' said Henry. But he forgot to say it out loud." Each of his attempts to make his voice heard is inadvertently thwarted, and Henry patiently accompanies his group to the rock, bug, and mummy displays. Song's loosely rendered, limited-palette watercolor and ink illustrations telegraph emotion and deepen meaning for newly independent readers. When Henry eventually shouts "DINOSAURS!" the accompanying illustration makes clear his frustration, along with his classmates' bemused reactions. They finally find the dinosaur room (after getting a bit lost), and Henry's absolute joy is palpable. Bailey's relatable characters, familiar scenarios, and gentle humor make this a remarkably satisfying read...whether you embrace the new or not.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2024

(2) YA Seventeen-year-old Ariel Burns is struggling with constant, anxious "what-if" thoughts and dark, violent "crocodile in my mind" fantasies that have escalated to an obsessive degree. She resorts to extreme, repetitive actions such as walking in circles sixty-four times to keep those awful thoughts at bay. With her beloved older sister away at college, her parents emotionally distant, and her best friend gone for the summer, Ariel is having difficulty separating fantasy from reality and worries that she is a danger to others. The support of new friends and texts from her sister help her to begin to confront those concerns. Cole explores the parallel stories of Ariel's inner and outer realities through compelling free verse and illuminating juxtaposition of inner monologue and external events. Questions of gender identity are interwoven as Ariel wonders what it means to be a "girl" when you're 5'11" and wear a size twelve shoe. "I am too many things, all of them / too. / Too big / Too quiet / Too broad / Too off." This powerful novel in verse provides an intimate look at the patterns of obsessive-compulsive disorder and offers an opportunity to explore the ways our inner voices affect our behavior and self-concept. Mental health resources are appended.

Reviewer: | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2024

(2) 4-6 Twelve-year-old Alice enjoys helping her father prepare bodies for viewings at the Tranquility Funeral Home, and she intends to take over the business when she's grown, even if the kids at school call her "Alice in Zombieland." Alice makes a new friend, Violet, whose allergy to sunlight prompts the kids to call her "Violet the Vampire"; when Violet's uncle George dies of the same allergy, Alice's ability to read "resonances" from the belongings of the dead tells her that George's death wasn't an accident. Alice begins to investigate, and her polite but dogged sleuthing begins to uncover answers. Does the death have to do with the older teens partying under the dock where George died -- among them Cal, whose willingness to stand up for Alice and Violet against the bullies makes him a kind of ally? Alice's neuroatypical presentation (her blunted affect, sensitivity to overstimulation, and precise thought processes will find a sympathetic audience from readers on the autism spectrum) at one point causes a rift in her nascent friendship with Violet, leading to a reassessment and reconciliation that will ring true with many readers. The characters and community of Damocles Cove are brightly painted in this solid middle-grade mystery with lightly handled supernatural aspects, a potential headliner to a welcome new series.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2024

(2) YA Alienated from his alternate Victorian London's society by behaviors and sensitivities common to people with autism, Silas is nonetheless valued for his eyes. Their violet color allows the possessor to reach through the Veil and converse with the dead--but only if you're male; violet-eyed females are valued only as breeding stock, and Silas was assigned female at birth. Self-taught in surgical techniques, Silas morbidly dreams of using his knowledge to excise his own womb, but when an attempt to gain the independence to live as his true self goes wrong, he's sent to Braxton's Finishing School and Sanitorium. It's a place where "girls like you" are cured of "the Veil sickness"--and true peril awaits. Can Silas discover why the students are disappearing? The protagonist's travails are coming from so many different directions that readers' sympathies are fully engaged. Secondary characters are rounded as well, creating intriguing dynamics. A well-sustained body horror suffuses the book with tension, and (as an opening note warns) the "transphobia, ableism, graphic violence, sexual assault, discussions of forced pregnancy and miscarriage, mentions of suicidal ideation, and extensive medical gore" can be a lot to take. But readers who are up for it will follow Silas's exploits in horrified fascination and (potentially) delightfully sick dread. A closing note places this fantasy's use of medical experimentation in real historical context.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2023

(1) 1-3 Illustrated by Mika Song. Henry, a boy on the autism spectrum (first introduced in the 2019 picture book A Friend for Henry, rev. 5/19), likes everything about school. Life in Classroom Ten is entirely predictable. Mrs. Tanaka posts the schedule for the week, and Henry can count on ­having Music on Wednesdays, Free Choice every Thursday, and Share Time on Fridays. So when Mrs. Tanaka announces that the class will hold a special parade on the upcoming Friday in place of Share Time, Henry responds with dismay. All week, Henry objects, but to no avail. On the big day, Henry hands his teacher his Quiet Card and enters the classroom closet to regroup. There, he encounters classmate Samuel, who is unhappy about the parade for a different reason. Henry finds a solution to Samuel's discomfort, a way to keep Friday as a time to share, and a comfortable place for himself in the parade. The ending of this short chapter book, heavily illustrated and with a format and content to appeal to new readers, is as satisfying as Bailey's understanding prose and Song's gentle, friendly illustrations. Henry is an extremely sympathetic hero--relatable and authentic. His open face expresses anxiety, calm, distress, or delight with just small changes to his eyebrows or mouth. Readers will recognize Henry as a child who succeeds in adjusting to what is, for him, an enormous challenge.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2023

(3) YA Sixteen-year-old Clara has attempted to train as a witch but is unable to control her magic. She is given a choice: have her magic bound, so she can access a fraction of her power with painful consequences for every spell or lose magic entirely. She chooses binding, but then her touch causes toxic flowers to grow from her father’s chest and poison his blood--a curse that only Clara can heal with a complex blessing requiring perfect magical control. She seeks help from her estranged childhood friend Xavier, who agrees to train her--if Clara will give her magic to him once the blessing is completed. The bargain seems an easy choice, until Clara begins to understand her magic and learns more of Xavier’s motives, which involve counteracting an illegal and dangerous potion originally intended to treat melancholy. Bakewell’s standalone YA debut delivers cottagecore aesthetics in a fantasy world where magic and mental health are intertwined. As Clara embraces her magic, its voice which always told her the “worst parts” of herself and “brought [her] low” becomes easier to bear and to control. Completing the blessing is only the beginning of Clara’s journey as she also helps Xavier bear the weight of past choices--and secrets--while exploring how to work within the rigid confines of the council to offer people a potion not to erase melancholy and “change who they are, but something that will give them the power to be themselves again.” Clara and Xavier are cued as white in this inclusive world where LGBTQ+ identities (including bisexual Clara) are embraced and celebrated with transgender and nonbinary secondary characters who are accomplished and conscientious magicians.

Reviewer:

(2) 4-6 Eleven-year-old Alex is in grade six and lives on the Gold Coast of Australia. He is autistic and feels he needs a strategy for making friends: be good enough at his favorite computer game, OrbsWorld; run faster and contribute to the track relays coming up; or win a trophy at the upcoming PAWS dog show. Foster's effective first-person narrative gives readers insight into how the protagonist's mind works, allowing them to observe the world the way he does (e.g., his difficulty with noise and crowds and with reading people's facial expressions). The tension of the story rides on the dog show, not only how Alex's dog, Kevin, will do, but also how Alex will cope with the crowds and excitement. By the novel's end, he realizes that not only has he learned how to be a friend, but he's also had a friend all along. It is a testament to Foster's craft in character development that readers will care so much about the earnest, good-hearted Alex and that the final, tear-jerking scene is such a surprise.

Reviewer: Dean Schneider | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2023

(2) YA It's the beginning of Whit's senior year, and after a summer spent in doctors' offices instead of at the pool with her friends or video-chatting with her now-long-distance boyfriend, she is ready to get back on track. Her plan is simple: lead the school Fall Fest committee to autumn-themed excellence, get closer to her younger sister, help Abuela at the tailoring shop, and manage her polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) so she can enjoy fall to the fullest. Nothing, of course, goes according to plan: Whit and her boyfriend break up. PCOS causes exhaustion, weight gain, and newly sprouting facial hair. In her concerns about her sister being mistreated for being autistic, Whit must face the fact that she was engaging in slightly ableist behavior herself. And Whit is partnered to plan Fall Fest events with Zay, her frustratingly attractive ex from middle school. Maldonado's writing warmly captures the charms and challenges of high school life for a Latina in a fat body, believably rendering the struggles and idiosyncrasies of teenagerhood. The heart-fluttering romance that ensues with the thoughtful Zay makes for a cozy autumnal read, but the depictions of friendship, family, and navigation of a chronic illness make this a solid choice for all seasons.

Reviewer: | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2024

(2) 4-6 In the aftermath of her estranged grandfather's death, Rayma is bequeathed a mysterious book and the cryptic message "Beware the Sirens." She subsequently discovers she has the ability to see through Glamours ("a magical shield...that supernatural beings use to disguise themselves") and detect the occult inhabitants of Edinburgh, Scotland. Rayma finds it hard to get along in her special school (she has dyspraxia, a neurodevelopmental condition that affects gross and fine motor skills), and her emotionally absent parents don't help her adjust to her learning differences. The mission her grandfather left her, to document the Hidden Folk and unite them in one community, gives her a sense of purpose. The Sirens, however--no longer bound to the water but able to use their powers of manipulation to cause division and strife in society--are making the world colder and meaner, and Rayma is the only one who can stop them. A decidedly unaffable protagonist, Rayma is nonetheless sympathetic, determined to value herself despite the pressures her academic challenges have placed on her prickly personality. Her insistence on focusing on her strengths in a world that only sees her deficits is admirable. With a plot that emphasizes family reunification, and unexplored avenues including a mysterious Stranger who guides Rayma, McNicoll leaves herself plenty of room for possible sequels to this passionate, solidly constructed middle-grade fantasy.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2023

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Gabriel Alborozo. Riley likes to tear up old newspapers, line stuffies up by size, and draw colorful swirls. But when Bossy Older Cousin Emma and her sister, Violet, come to visit, Bossy Emma says Riley's games are boring and insists on noisy play and having tea parties. Alborozo's mixed-media illustrations are all rounded corners, soft lines, and gentle pastel hues, giving the book a peaceful feeling appropriate to its quiet protagonist, a contrast to the cousins' more raucous forms of play. When Bossy Emma and Riley glare at each other, though, it's clear there's a difference between being mild and being a pushover. Riley wants Bossy Emma to understand that she isn't the only one who knows how to play, so Riley enlists the assistance of Charlie, a gray pooch with floppy ears and a waggy tail. When the kids' game of fetch turns into Charlie's game of keep-away, the children chase him "until we all fall down laughing." The language here is straightforward and instructive, and an appended author's note reveals Miller-Lachmann wrote this based on her experiences. ("It was only in adulthood that I found out I was autistic.") Negotiating relationships with children who play differently is a universal experience, though, and this will strike a chord with many readers.

Reviewer: Adrienne L. Pettinelli | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2023

(2) YA Sixteen-year-old Ariana, self-diagnosed as selectively mute and autistic, is thrilled when popular Luis turns his attention toward her. But when he sexually assaults her and then brags about it to his friends ("It's not like she can say no"), Ariana is plagued with shame and self-doubt: "How can I blame him when I couldn't even bring myself to tell him to stop?" Enter the Luis Ortega Survival Club (TLOSC), a group of Luis's former friends and ex-flames, some of whom he also assaulted. They welcome Ariana with talk of revenge; soon genuine friendships bloom, and eventually something more between Ariana and bi member Shawni. Ari wants to expose Luis's crimes but doesn't know if she will ever be ready to make her rape public. Reyes (The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School) empathetically explores issues of consent and rape culture through a neurodiverse lens in this story of self-empowerment. Many readers will see themselves reflected in TLOSC's diverse membership and appreciate Ari's gradual understanding and ownership of her sexuality as she grows closer to Shawni and comes to realize that what happened with Luis was not her fault.

Reviewer: Jennifer Hubert Swan | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2023

(2) YA Eighteen-year-old Alberto lives with his sister, Lupe, and her baby, Chato, in Brooklyn. While studying for his high-school equivalency, he's working painting houses for Lupe's sketchy boyfriend and expressing himself creatively at the neighborhood ceramics studio. On a job, he meets Grace, whose parents are going through a messy divorce. The two quickly bond and form a friendship, maybe more; but Alberto is troubled by a voice in his head (which he calls "Captain America") that espouses violence. Then a wealthy woman is murdered while Alberto is painting her apartment, and he becomes the only suspect. Grace harbors him, believes in him, and wants to clear his name--but he's not so sure he's innocent. Stork's (Illegal, rev. 7/20) latest propulsive psychological thriller again features a multidimensional cast of primary and secondary characters facing heightened situations (suspension of disbelief recommended). Issues of socioeconomic inequities, immigration, domestic violence, addiction, and antisemitism are well-threaded throughout the narrative; but most memorable and indelible is Alberto's struggle with mental illness: his efforts to stand up to Captain America, his uncertainty, and, by the end, comfort in being "not alone." A closing note describes Stork's own experiences with auditory hallucinations, and Mental Health and Crisis Resources are appended.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2023

(2) 4-6 When Bones Malone and his family move to the town of Langille, the transition is anything but smooth. He's the new kid on the baseball team with a strong arm but no control. He's one of the only Black kids in town, and he knows that his race affects how others treat him. Bones's teammate Kyle Specks (who is white) has lived in Langille his entire life, but he still feels like an outcast. Kyle always says the wrong thing and can't figure out social situations. The two outsiders join forces when they notice Langille's adults acting weirdly and suspect their strange behavior has something to do with the new tech company in town. Together, Bones and Kyle must stop the shady corporation before their own worst nightmares come true. Blending mystery, horror, and science ­fiction to explore concepts of fear, belonging, and forgiveness, this is highly accomplished middle-grade speculative fiction, perfect for readers who enjoy darker, layered books such as Ness's A Monster Calls (rev. 9/11).

Reviewer: S. R. Toliver | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2022

(2) 4-6 Mia, the twelve-year-old protagonist of this accessible graphic novel, keeps to herself in school and is bullied over her autism. But she shines as Elle-Q, an alter ego known only to her friend Charlie, with whom she makes music videos that have gained an online following. Laura, who's among the class bullies at first, is a huge Elle-Q fan, and a friendship gradually develops between her and Mia over what's ostensibly just a shared fandom. (Though the girls take some time to figure this out, they both have secret online identities.) Pressure from Charlie to make the act more public than Mia feels ready for complicates matters and adds to her sense of being overwhelmed. Mia's increasing eagerness to be--and to advocate for--herself is encouraging, as is the casual diversity among the other characters (light-skinned Mia's classmates have a variety of skin tones; Charlie is dark-skinned and nonbinary). Varied page layouts in the digital illustrations hold interest, with panel boundaries especially breaking at moments of strong emotion--and when Mia feels free as Elle-Q.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2022

(2) YA Seventeen-year-old Lark is sure that once they hit fifty thousand Twitter followers, an agent will pick up their novel, and they'll finally be able to prove they're "worthy of being loved." Lark--who lives in West Philly and is Black, nonbinary, polyamorous, and neurodivergent--takes summer writing classes with other Black, queer teens, including their ex-best friend Kasim. Lark and Kasim butt heads because Lark believes in unconditional love and forgiveness, while revolutionary Kasim would rather "burn down" everything wrong with society. But when Kasim accidentally posts about his own unrequited love from Lark's Twitter account, the thread goes viral, and Lark takes credit. As Lark lies for internet fame, they can't help but wonder: who is Kasim really in love with? And does Lark even love themself? The Twitter posts re-created throughout are sometimes hilarious, sometimes unsettlingly real, exploring internet callout culture and what it truly takes to grow from one's mistakes. The novel can be didactic at times, but the characters and their relationships are complex, engaging, and delightfully flawed. References to the COVID-19 pandemic are seamlessly interwoven into everyday life; frank discussions of topics like autism and ADHD in the Black community, and how to navigate polyamorous relationships, feel fresh and necessary in the YA sphere. A brief writing guide for aspiring teen authors is appended.

Reviewer: Bodie Shanis | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2022

(2) 4-6 When eleven-year-old Frenchie Livernois, who is nonvocal and neuroatypical, goes missing in the Maine woods, Aurora Petrequin blames herself. Frenchie has been her best (and only) friend since third grade; now in sixth grade, Aurora (who has sensory and behavioral differences herself--"All my ideas were the loud kind. Hard to keep inside") still takes seriously her self-appointed responsibility to look out for him. In this nuanced novel, Connor gives readers an authentic friendship between two neurodivergent kids, each of whom has a deep appreciation of the natural world. Through Aurora, we see Frenchie's humanity; in turn, Aurora's patience, perceptiveness, and empathy shine--traits that few of her peers bother to notice. While the bulk of the narrative centers on the painstaking and nerve-wracking search for Frenchie, Connor weaves experiences from the friends' recent past into the present drama, adding complexity to the story and characters. Aurora's assured first-person voice is funny, heartwarming, and keenly observant ("My hair is doing that thing where it flattens onto my face. Clinging. Like scared hair"). Intermittent chapters are narrated in the third person from the perspective of a few key characters, which heightens the tension and moves the finely crafted plot forward to a well-earned happy resolution.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2022

(1) YA Through alternating first-person accounts, and with varied poetic styles, Elliott (A Place Inside of Me, rev. 11/20) and Miller-Lachmann (Rogue, rev. 9/13) present a thoughtfully structured and sensitively rendered verse novel set in early-1980s Brooklyn featuring two memorable protagonists. Seventh grader Pierre "Pie" Velez is an Afro-Latino with a brilliant mind and an artistic talent, both of which shine in the art room and in his graffiti tags (his narration ranges from concrete poetry to tricubes). Most of Pie's time is devoted to taking care of his younger sister and their mother, who experiences "nervous attacks." New classmate Joseph John "JJ" Pankowski (who narrates in more straightforward free verse) and his family have arrived in Brooklyn under the cover of night, after his father is blacklisted for union activity. Having been labeled with multiple learning disabilities, JJ is surprised to find himself in honors class at his new public school, until he realizes how disproportionately white students like him are chosen as honor students. Pie and JJ make a halting attempt at friendship, and Pie's explanations of lessons help JJ follow along in school. Outside racial tensions soon overshadow the relationship, and Pie and JJ are left to wonder whether it can survive. Both authors are adept at evocatively re-creating the setting, with references ranging from Ronald Reagan's anti-union stance to Jean-Michel Basquiat, Michael Jackson, and the Clash. Authors' notes give background on various aspects of the novel, including autism as a likely diagnosis for JJ, using today's terms.

Reviewer: Eboni Njoku | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2022

(2) 4-6 In this middle-grade sci-fi tale set in the near future, twelve-year-old Cora meets Adrien (and his wealthy family) at a grown-up party. Both children are neuro-diverse: Adrien has ADHD, Cora is autistic, and they bond over a shared love of adventure and the feeling that neurodiverse people shouldn't have to change what makes them unique to be accepted. Adrien's father runs Pomegranate, a company that creates holograms to give its customers a chance to hobnob with celebrities and revisit loved ones--a concept that appeals to Cora, who would love to be able to interact with her recently deceased mother. But after a devastating accident, Cora discovers that Pomegranate has flattened Adrien's neurodiverse traits to make him seem more neurotypical. Horrified by the "digital eugenics," she makes it her mission to expose the corporation's deception and cruelty, while coming to terms with her own perceptions of death and grief. Adrien and Cora are smart and funny characters who make relatable the work of navigating life in an often-unsympathetic world. McNicoll's suspenseful story has a lot to say about what makes a person worthy of respect.

Reviewer: Sarah Berman | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2022

(2) 4-6 The incoming eighth-grade Spanish students from Ellen Katz's Georgia prep school take a summer field trip to Barcelona. Ellen, who is autistic, is sometimes overwhelmed by the surprises the trip presents, starting with an unexpected team scavenger hunt. Several parts of the experience lead Ellen to realize that identity isn't always clear-cut, from her father's choice to eat non-kosher food while he's chaperoning to a teammate's use of they/them pronouns. Ellen is a satisfyingly well-rounded character with complex relationships who makes mistakes and learns from them. She figures things out about herself, including trying out an adjustment to her--or maybe sometimes their--own pronouns. The presence of multiple queer characters allows for a variety of feelings toward what to share and how big a deal being queer is or isn't. The amazing-to-imagine (if unlikely for most readers) school trip provides an appealing backdrop, but it is the story's interpersonal aspects that are especially welcome.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2022

(3) YA The Disability Visibility Project, founded by Wong in 2014 as an oral history project, grew into an online community and later an anthology of thirty-seven personal narratives; this is the abridged young-readers' volume. The selections are well organized into four topical sections ("Being," "Becoming," "Doing," "Connecting"); when appropriate, a content note warns of potentially distressing subject matter within a story. Wong emphasizes in her introduction--as do many of the contributors--that the book is not meant for instruction or inspiration. Rather, the seventeen essays provide powerful and empathetic windows into living with (or, often, learning to live with and coming to terms with) a broad range of disabilities.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen