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Upward Bound
A wondrous, deeply affecting portrait of the interlocking lives at an adult day care center in Southern California, depicting an often overlooked community with extraordinary wit and grace—by a major new literary voice hailed as a “groundbreaking debut novelist” (Publishers Weekly)
"An unparalleled achievement, and a treasure. " —Rivka Galchen
"Woody Brown accomplishes the seemingly impossible."—Mona Simpson
Upward Bound is not a place anyone dreams of spending their days. The dreary adult daycare center for Los Angeles's disabled community is, for many of its clients and staff, a place of last resort. This includes Carlos, a young aide who lost his mother as a boy and now works there alongside his beloved sister Mariana; Jorge, the gentle nonspeaking giant whom Carlos seeks to befriend (and prevent from escaping); Tom, a beautiful young man with cerebral palsy, who pines for Ann, the summer lifeguard at the center's pool who feels out of her depth; then there's Dave, Upward Bound’s director who came to L.A. to pursue an acting career but now channels his passion into staging an overly ambitious holiday show starring the center's irrepressible clients. Framing these intertwined narratives—and connecting them in surprising, shattering ways—is the riveting and sometimes ironic testimony of Walter, a recent community college graduate who, after a family tragedy, must return to the company of his disabled peers.
In Upward Bound, Woody Brown has created an indelible, authentic, and profoundly moving group portrait of autism and other disabilities, all illuminated by his empathy, sly sense of humor, and enormous gifts as a novelist. With remarkable sophistication, insight, and creativity, Brown depicts a community too-often invisible in literature and society. Filled with characters you won't soon forget, Upward Bound will inspire and touch you, teaching you as much about yourself as the tender, miraculous world behind the center's doors.
"An unparalleled achievement, and a treasure. " —Rivka Galchen
"Woody Brown accomplishes the seemingly impossible."—Mona Simpson
Upward Bound is not a place anyone dreams of spending their days. The dreary adult daycare center for Los Angeles's disabled community is, for many of its clients and staff, a place of last resort. This includes Carlos, a young aide who lost his mother as a boy and now works there alongside his beloved sister Mariana; Jorge, the gentle nonspeaking giant whom Carlos seeks to befriend (and prevent from escaping); Tom, a beautiful young man with cerebral palsy, who pines for Ann, the summer lifeguard at the center's pool who feels out of her depth; then there's Dave, Upward Bound’s director who came to L.A. to pursue an acting career but now channels his passion into staging an overly ambitious holiday show starring the center's irrepressible clients. Framing these intertwined narratives—and connecting them in surprising, shattering ways—is the riveting and sometimes ironic testimony of Walter, a recent community college graduate who, after a family tragedy, must return to the company of his disabled peers.
In Upward Bound, Woody Brown has created an indelible, authentic, and profoundly moving group portrait of autism and other disabilities, all illuminated by his empathy, sly sense of humor, and enormous gifts as a novelist. With remarkable sophistication, insight, and creativity, Brown depicts a community too-often invisible in literature and society. Filled with characters you won't soon forget, Upward Bound will inspire and touch you, teaching you as much about yourself as the tender, miraculous world behind the center's doors.
208 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication March 31, 2026
25 people are currently reading
14565 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 204 reviews
March 14, 2026
Woody Brown takes his readers to a place unfamiliar to the majority of us - into the thoughts and feelings of a non speaking autistic person and others with disabilities . This is a work of fiction, but so very realistic as I learned that Brown is non speaking and autistic and if you read anything about him, it’s hard to separate him from Walter who takes us on this journey. Both had strong and persistent mothers who bucked the system to make sure their sons received an education in keeping with their abilities that would have been ignored . In addition to taking us on this journey of understanding and empathy, Brown does another thing that I have been drawn to in other novels. He brings together a diverse group of people and personalities, each with their unique story, with an emphasis on the connections people make with each other.
It isn’t only the autistic and disabled “clients “ at the Upward Bound adult day care who touch the reader’s heart, but also some of the care givers who really do care and can see in them what others don’t. It’s enlightening, touching, impactful and so inspiring. An extraordinary novel that made me cry, laugh, more empathetic . A novel that will change you.
“I wanted to show readers what it’s like to be constantly underestimated and misunderstood, what it feels like to not be seen because of disability and how it feels when people refuse to look at us.” Woody Brown (People Magazine August 21, 2025) . Brown has done that and so much more.
I received a copy of this from Hogarth through NetGalley.
It isn’t only the autistic and disabled “clients “ at the Upward Bound adult day care who touch the reader’s heart, but also some of the care givers who really do care and can see in them what others don’t. It’s enlightening, touching, impactful and so inspiring. An extraordinary novel that made me cry, laugh, more empathetic . A novel that will change you.
“I wanted to show readers what it’s like to be constantly underestimated and misunderstood, what it feels like to not be seen because of disability and how it feels when people refuse to look at us.” Woody Brown (People Magazine August 21, 2025) . Brown has done that and so much more.
I received a copy of this from Hogarth through NetGalley.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4+
Upward Bound is an adult day care facility in Southern California providing care for adults with autism and other disabilities.
The characters in this story are the clients, their families and the workers at the facility.
It is a vivid and realistic portrait of what neurodivergent/disabled daily life is like.
It is an emotional and often humorous read.
Quite an achievement for this author as
Woody Brown, is a non verbal autistic man who is the first non speaking graduate of UCLA.
I will be eagerly awaiting his next novel which will be called Alfie.
Thank you to Random House/Hogarth for the gifted ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Upward Bound is an adult day care facility in Southern California providing care for adults with autism and other disabilities.
The characters in this story are the clients, their families and the workers at the facility.
It is a vivid and realistic portrait of what neurodivergent/disabled daily life is like.
It is an emotional and often humorous read.
Quite an achievement for this author as
Woody Brown, is a non verbal autistic man who is the first non speaking graduate of UCLA.
I will be eagerly awaiting his next novel which will be called Alfie.
Thank you to Random House/Hogarth for the gifted ARC in exchange for an honest review!
March 8, 2026
Stories like Upward Bound are near and dear to my heart. My oldest son is on the autism spectrum and even though he is higher functioning, the struggles he has faced and the obstacles he's had to overcome are no less devastating. My son also attends a center for teens with disabilities a couple of hours a week (yes the name of our center is equally as silly as Upward Bound). So after reading the synopsis of Upward Bound, my heart smiled to finally see some more disability rep in literature!
Upward Bound is a magnetic, searing, heartfelt, and remarkable novel. Upward Bound takes readers inside the lives of those who are constantly misconstrued, misrepresented, minimized, and unseen while inviting readers to check our assumptions and attitudes towards the disabled. At times I found myself laughing and others tearing up. Woody Brown’s writing is beautiful and the story is unforgettable.
After finishing the book, I learned that not only is this Woody Brown’s debut novel but also that the author was the first nonspeaking person in history to graduate from UCLA. I absolutely cannot wait to read whatever this brilliant author writes next and I highly recommend it to all!
I listened to the audiobook version of Upward Bound and it is read by a full cast including, T.R. Knight, Pete Holmes, Midori Francis, Carlos Miranda, Brandon Flynn, Nikki M. James, Alex Edelman, and Daphne Rubin Vega.
Upward Bound by Woody Brown will be available on March 31. Many thanks to Penguin Random House Audio for the gifted audiobook!
Upward Bound is a magnetic, searing, heartfelt, and remarkable novel. Upward Bound takes readers inside the lives of those who are constantly misconstrued, misrepresented, minimized, and unseen while inviting readers to check our assumptions and attitudes towards the disabled. At times I found myself laughing and others tearing up. Woody Brown’s writing is beautiful and the story is unforgettable.
After finishing the book, I learned that not only is this Woody Brown’s debut novel but also that the author was the first nonspeaking person in history to graduate from UCLA. I absolutely cannot wait to read whatever this brilliant author writes next and I highly recommend it to all!
I listened to the audiobook version of Upward Bound and it is read by a full cast including, T.R. Knight, Pete Holmes, Midori Francis, Carlos Miranda, Brandon Flynn, Nikki M. James, Alex Edelman, and Daphne Rubin Vega.
Upward Bound by Woody Brown will be available on March 31. Many thanks to Penguin Random House Audio for the gifted audiobook!
March 31, 2026
"Jorge and I are both inmates at an insane asylum that passes itself off as a day program for autistic adults."
This is the story of Walter- recently graduated college student -who is now returning to the Upward Bound daycare centre for disabled persons following a family bereavement.
This is a compendium of interwoven stories exploring life at the centre through the eyes of attendees and staff- stories of love and friendship; challenges and barriers; misunderstandings and aspirations. From non-speaking Jorge to cerebral-palsy Tom with film star looks and to Dave the manager and Mariana and Carlos- siblings working at Upward Bound.
Woody Brown has created a book of beauty and wisdom enabling us the readers to enter a world that is unknown to most of us. This is a book that will deeply move many and positively challenge us to reflect upon and change perceptions.
Hooked from the start to the finish ; this is going to be a book that I'll recommend through 2026.
A triumph !
Thank you to Jonathan Cape and NetGalley for the advance copy.
This is the story of Walter- recently graduated college student -who is now returning to the Upward Bound daycare centre for disabled persons following a family bereavement.
This is a compendium of interwoven stories exploring life at the centre through the eyes of attendees and staff- stories of love and friendship; challenges and barriers; misunderstandings and aspirations. From non-speaking Jorge to cerebral-palsy Tom with film star looks and to Dave the manager and Mariana and Carlos- siblings working at Upward Bound.
Woody Brown has created a book of beauty and wisdom enabling us the readers to enter a world that is unknown to most of us. This is a book that will deeply move many and positively challenge us to reflect upon and change perceptions.
Hooked from the start to the finish ; this is going to be a book that I'll recommend through 2026.
A triumph !
Thank you to Jonathan Cape and NetGalley for the advance copy.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Upward Bound tells us the story of the users of an adult day care centre. The story is narrated by several of the "inmates" none of whom seem to be particularly well served by the ministrations of Dave, who is in charge and merely wants them to be well behaved and to look good for donors. Thankfully, some of the assistants have different ideas and make their own fun for the clients who, otherwise, would be desperately bored.
I liked the different voices of the centre's clients. Each one added a different perspective along with the views of some of the staff.
The story itself is particularly moving and by the end I was invested in what happened to every one of them.
If this is Woody Brown's debut then I look forward to the rest of his writing career. But then I don't suppose you leave UCLA with top writing honours and not be expected to produce some wonderful fiction.
Highly recommended.
Thankyou to Netgalley and Random House for the digital review copy.
I liked the different voices of the centre's clients. Each one added a different perspective along with the views of some of the staff.
The story itself is particularly moving and by the end I was invested in what happened to every one of them.
If this is Woody Brown's debut then I look forward to the rest of his writing career. But then I don't suppose you leave UCLA with top writing honours and not be expected to produce some wonderful fiction.
Highly recommended.
Thankyou to Netgalley and Random House for the digital review copy.
December 15, 2025
Wow what a nice surprise to find this debut novel by this autistic non-verbal writer Woody Brown. Thanks to #netgalley and #penguinrandomhouse for the advance copy. Upward Bound is a day care center for autistic adults - some non verbal - in Southern California. It is a series of connected short stories - each story focused on one character - from staff to clients to the Target checkout girl - where the clients are taken every Friday at 11:15 for a real world outing. My partner has worked as a home help aide to this population - so i was familiar the terrain. Yet this book s special in taking a world virtually hidden from the day to day world and delving into great deal. There is a Rashomon quality to the narrative - as we often see the same events from totally different perspectives. The client who tried to communicate by blinking his eyes once for Yes and two for No. And then from the perspective of his caregiver who never realized his trying to communicate - but found him hauntingly handsome regardless. There is a final denouement I will not reveal (and honestly slightly melodramatic but also sad) from the perspective of the characters who are experiencing the event - and from the perspective of a looker on and another client. Beautifully written and unlike any other book I’ve read - i predict this will be seen as a classic. The real theme is communication - understanding and being understood. Obviously the author put a lot of his own experiences in the writing and a lot of heart. Heartbreaking in fact. I learned and felt a lot - and admired the writing. I already wonder where this writer will go from here.
December 4, 2025
Upon finishing this remarkably moving, eloquent novel (really connected short stories), I found I had to learn more about Woody Brown, its author. There was so much relativity in the stories that what I assumed turned out to be true -- that Mr. Brown was writing from his experience. And his heart. The first nonverbal graduate of UCLA, his writer's thesis was an earlier version of Upward Bound in that it consisted of vignettes told from various points of view of clients, workers and even outsiders associated with an adult daycare facility. Brown went on to get an MFA in creative writing from Columbia University. So glad to hear he's already working on a second novel because he's definitely a writer to watch.
January 20, 2026
YALL I am truly crying in da club. I’m experiencing so many purely raw and unfiltered emotions at this time and I needed a bit to process this.
Many years ago I worked as an administrative intern at an Adult Daycare center and I was not working with those clients personally, I still saw the wonderful ways in which respite care helps provide support and community for such an underrepresented group.
I am greatly in awe of this book, its author (the wonderful Woody Brown, and all that he’s accomplished thus far. I’m predicting a few shortlist wins and likely even a celebrity book club pick out of this one!
I am so thankful to Hogarth Books, NetGalley, and Woody Brown for advanced digital access before this gem hits shelves on March 31, 2026.
Upward Bound tells the tale an adult daycare center by the same name where a series of clients, staff, and bystanders convene. Some verbal, most not, provide readers with an insider view into their thoughts and feels attending/working for this program.
Brown, so dutifully, captured my heart, conveying inner thoughts and emotions of each pivotal character and the roles they play in each other’s lives. And additionally shedding light on a community who’re often left behind and not taken seriously, due to government funding cuts and a lack of human empathy.
I am still tearing up, just thinking of this book. Such a job well done.
Many years ago I worked as an administrative intern at an Adult Daycare center and I was not working with those clients personally, I still saw the wonderful ways in which respite care helps provide support and community for such an underrepresented group.
I am greatly in awe of this book, its author (the wonderful Woody Brown, and all that he’s accomplished thus far. I’m predicting a few shortlist wins and likely even a celebrity book club pick out of this one!
I am so thankful to Hogarth Books, NetGalley, and Woody Brown for advanced digital access before this gem hits shelves on March 31, 2026.
Upward Bound tells the tale an adult daycare center by the same name where a series of clients, staff, and bystanders convene. Some verbal, most not, provide readers with an insider view into their thoughts and feels attending/working for this program.
Brown, so dutifully, captured my heart, conveying inner thoughts and emotions of each pivotal character and the roles they play in each other’s lives. And additionally shedding light on a community who’re often left behind and not taken seriously, due to government funding cuts and a lack of human empathy.
I am still tearing up, just thinking of this book. Such a job well done.
October 21, 2025
wow. what a beautiful and deeply compassionate book
March 30, 2026
*Thanks to PRH Audio for my ALC and Hogarth Books for my e-ARC; all opinions are my own.*
This short but extremely powerful novel in stories is set at Upward Bound - sort of an adult daycare for young adults with severe autism, cerebral palsy, Downs Syndrome, etc. Each story is told from the perspective of a different person who either works or attends there, including characters who cannot speak but yet this book lets us hear their rich inner lives.
I was just blown away by this book - it’s around 200 pages and under 5 hours but the emotional impact it had on me was profound. Even in just short stories, I felt like each character was brought to life in such an incredible way. I literally couldn’t stop crying when I finished the book.
And something that makes this book even more impactful - the author is a non-speaking autistic man. What a special own voices novel indeed. I have to give this book 5 stars but I can’t imagine ever forgetting the way it moved me.
It may sound funny to recommend this one as an audiobook given that some of the characters cannot speak, yet the audio just makes you feel that you are hearing their true inner voices. It’s a wonderful full cast book voiced mostly by actors - TR Knight, Pete Holmes, Midori Francis, Carlos Miranda, Brandon Flynn, Nikki M. James, Alex Edelman, and Daphne Rubin-Vega. Also love that at the end they announce who read which character; I wish more audiobooks would do that.
This short but extremely powerful novel in stories is set at Upward Bound - sort of an adult daycare for young adults with severe autism, cerebral palsy, Downs Syndrome, etc. Each story is told from the perspective of a different person who either works or attends there, including characters who cannot speak but yet this book lets us hear their rich inner lives.
I was just blown away by this book - it’s around 200 pages and under 5 hours but the emotional impact it had on me was profound. Even in just short stories, I felt like each character was brought to life in such an incredible way. I literally couldn’t stop crying when I finished the book.
And something that makes this book even more impactful - the author is a non-speaking autistic man. What a special own voices novel indeed. I have to give this book 5 stars but I can’t imagine ever forgetting the way it moved me.
It may sound funny to recommend this one as an audiobook given that some of the characters cannot speak, yet the audio just makes you feel that you are hearing their true inner voices. It’s a wonderful full cast book voiced mostly by actors - TR Knight, Pete Holmes, Midori Francis, Carlos Miranda, Brandon Flynn, Nikki M. James, Alex Edelman, and Daphne Rubin-Vega. Also love that at the end they announce who read which character; I wish more audiobooks would do that.
November 28, 2025
Insightful set of interconnecting stories/vignettes set in a Los Angeles adult daycare centre.
The story starts in the first person with Walter, a nonspeaking autistic college graduate, who is forced by family circumstances to return to the daycare. It builds out from there, using different perspectives to describe the experience of being in a daycare: service users, staff members, and the local community they're part of. I really enjoyed reading this short novel, and the only thing that really threw me was the non-linearity of it ... a couple of timehops confused me briefly. However, all in all it's a book I'd definitely recommend, coming from a point of view rarely represented in fiction.
A quick reassurance too that this is neither superficial nor "misery lit" -- the author has a highly readable writing style that you will hopefully connect with as easily as I did.
This review is based upon a complimentary advance reading copy provided by the publisher.
The story starts in the first person with Walter, a nonspeaking autistic college graduate, who is forced by family circumstances to return to the daycare. It builds out from there, using different perspectives to describe the experience of being in a daycare: service users, staff members, and the local community they're part of. I really enjoyed reading this short novel, and the only thing that really threw me was the non-linearity of it ... a couple of timehops confused me briefly. However, all in all it's a book I'd definitely recommend, coming from a point of view rarely represented in fiction.
A quick reassurance too that this is neither superficial nor "misery lit" -- the author has a highly readable writing style that you will hopefully connect with as easily as I did.
This review is based upon a complimentary advance reading copy provided by the publisher.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Upward Bound is told from the viewpoint of a number of characters. Each chapter is as engaging as the next. This book is original and has a bit of everything from humour to sadness, but most of all it is inspiring and challenges the reader to rethink preconceived ideas around neurodivergence and disability.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 16, 2026
I could not put this down!! It’s so special to read a book from perspectives I’ve never read before. A collection of vignettes about clients, staff, and wider community members associated with a daycare centre for disabled adults. The character of Walter had the clearest, funniest, most compelling voice and I suspect Walter is a version of the author (who is also nonspeaking). I laughed, I cried, I learned.
September 18, 2025
Thanks to Netgalley and Hogarth for the ebook. This wonderful first novel is written by a man with autism and the book starts with Walter, a community college grad who wants to write as we see his mind dulling life during the day at a facility that serves the disabled community. As interesting as Walter is, the author expands the book to follow into the minds of other patients and also the various staff members as they swim, take a bus to the mall where they never buy anything and even put on a holiday pageant. An unforgettable glimpse into a world that so many turn their gaze away from.
March 19, 2026
Thank you so much to PRH for the DRC. I’ll never be over this book. A stellar debut. I cried. It made me miss my brother so much—he was (WAS, fuck) like Tom, nonverbal spastic quad cerebral palsy, but he had so much to say and I miss him every day. This book made me feel close to him. And SO grateful for my amazing advocate parents and his wonderful 1:1 aide of the past decade. We knew he was in there and we didn’t want him to be unstimulated and bored at an adult daycare. (Not knocking those places, they’re not all the same!)
Each chapter is a POV from an individual at Upward Bound, or a caregiver. Carlos’ POV made my heart sing. There are good people out there. And [redacted] made me cry so hard. This book is going to stay in my heart forever. I need to own a physical copy immediately. Thank you Woody Brown for this phenomenal book. (Also my dad’s name is Woody, so this felt like a little sign from my brother, a little hello 💜🫡💔)
✨ A line from Walter’s chapter in the beginning really hit me: “still, his death was so shocking that my mom and I were completely paralyzed for a couple of months. My little family had been a three-legged stool. Missing a leg meant that we tottered and fell.”
This is how I feel about the death of my brother. He was the sun around which we all revolved, he was our middle stool leg (if I’m keeping that analogy) and with him gone, my family has no support in the middle of our stool.
✨ Tom, the movie star:
“The same cerebral palsy that makes his muscles and joints stiff as concrete also freezes his face and mouth. He can't speak a word and can't express emotions. He has them, god knows he has them, but he holds even the most benign feelings inside like a well-guarded secret…People don't realize that he can hear and understand everything said around him, so he has heard a lot of negative comments about how people like him are treated out there. He can't fight back. He literally can't stand up for himself. He can't speak to any abuse. He can only hope that no one takes advantage of his vulnerability in order to work off their own pain.”
✨ Ann the lifeguard:
“One day I had been goofing around with Andy, joking about being a rare native of L.A., and I broke into a verse of "California Girls." Tom was nearby and he nearly spasmed out of his wheelchair. I asked him if he liked the Beach Boys, and he made his go-to guttural noise that I had come to recognize as "Yes."” SPASMING OUT OF THE CHAIR. Just like Dalton. God I miss him so much.
✨Carlos the camraderie counselor:
“You could reasonably argue that the entire vista currently facing him qualified as a catastrophe of inhuman proportions. Twenty-eight disabled adults whose lives were being spent in shabby boredom represented to Carlos the wastage of twenty-eight glorious galaxies. He imagined his people as swirling masses of light and potential. Their existence dwelled in an off-world space, which is why people on Earth disregard them.”
Fuck that’s BEAUTIFUL. I love that.
Each chapter is a POV from an individual at Upward Bound, or a caregiver. Carlos’ POV made my heart sing. There are good people out there. And [redacted] made me cry so hard. This book is going to stay in my heart forever. I need to own a physical copy immediately. Thank you Woody Brown for this phenomenal book. (Also my dad’s name is Woody, so this felt like a little sign from my brother, a little hello 💜🫡💔)
✨ A line from Walter’s chapter in the beginning really hit me: “still, his death was so shocking that my mom and I were completely paralyzed for a couple of months. My little family had been a three-legged stool. Missing a leg meant that we tottered and fell.”
This is how I feel about the death of my brother. He was the sun around which we all revolved, he was our middle stool leg (if I’m keeping that analogy) and with him gone, my family has no support in the middle of our stool.
✨ Tom, the movie star:
“The same cerebral palsy that makes his muscles and joints stiff as concrete also freezes his face and mouth. He can't speak a word and can't express emotions. He has them, god knows he has them, but he holds even the most benign feelings inside like a well-guarded secret…People don't realize that he can hear and understand everything said around him, so he has heard a lot of negative comments about how people like him are treated out there. He can't fight back. He literally can't stand up for himself. He can't speak to any abuse. He can only hope that no one takes advantage of his vulnerability in order to work off their own pain.”
✨ Ann the lifeguard:
“One day I had been goofing around with Andy, joking about being a rare native of L.A., and I broke into a verse of "California Girls." Tom was nearby and he nearly spasmed out of his wheelchair. I asked him if he liked the Beach Boys, and he made his go-to guttural noise that I had come to recognize as "Yes."” SPASMING OUT OF THE CHAIR. Just like Dalton. God I miss him so much.
✨Carlos the camraderie counselor:
“You could reasonably argue that the entire vista currently facing him qualified as a catastrophe of inhuman proportions. Twenty-eight disabled adults whose lives were being spent in shabby boredom represented to Carlos the wastage of twenty-eight glorious galaxies. He imagined his people as swirling masses of light and potential. Their existence dwelled in an off-world space, which is why people on Earth disregard them.”
Fuck that’s BEAUTIFUL. I love that.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Before I launch into my review, I would like to say a huge thank you to Woody Brown, Random House UK, and Netgalley for the Advanced Digital Reader Copy of this title. For anyone curious about this title, here is my personal review of the book to help you make up decide whether to delve in. All opinions offered are my own.
I won’t beat around the bush as I deliver what I know will be an unpopular opinion. I did not really enjoy this book. Whilst there was a lot of emotion in the book, I didn’t find the novel funny, or uplifting. To me, it was rather static until a climatical incident towards the end that moved me for a brief moment before I returned to the general mood I felt throughout the bulk of my reading.
I wasn’t blown away by the premise. Sure, it was different, unlike anything else I have ever come across, particularly in terms of subject matter, however, I was more captivated by the accomplishments of the writer to transcend his disabilities and achieve his degree and his publication. However, the multiple viewpoints wasn’t wow. We’ve seen this before, so it did not feel incredibly special, although I appreciated that every chapter was dedicated to an ‘inmate,’ staff member, or aspiring staff member. I also appreciated how each chapter was a story within a story, some seeming like a standalone incident and others a different perspective of a given scenario. That said, I felt the pace was slow and the book took me far longer to read than it should have done.
It is obvious that the book draws a lot from Woody’s own experience. I was indifferent to this until I read the mini interview with him at the end that asked about his inspiration. The aims Brown had and how he executed them rose the book up in my estimation, but again, I am more taken by the author than the book itself. And I know this is an absolute shame because every last narrator is distinct from the others.
The book is a slow burn, where not a great deal really happens. It’s suited to a reader that wants to immerse themselves in someone else’s life, the type of life that isn’t imbued with romantic notions, fantasy, or even constant drama. People with disabilities might appreciate seeing characters that endure their struggles, mirrors to themselves. Able-bodied readers may gather an understanding of how the other half live, and how they feel. Overall, I think the book is for a novel niche audience. I would welcome more books on the subject matter, but I need a bit more pizzazz in the plot, or a bigger, longer climax to hold my attention. This book just seems extremely slow until it wasn’t, but it was a ‘blink and you’ll miss it’ moment before returning to a very sedate stroll to the end. It’s going to take some more empathetic readers than I to fully appreciate this book.
I won’t beat around the bush as I deliver what I know will be an unpopular opinion. I did not really enjoy this book. Whilst there was a lot of emotion in the book, I didn’t find the novel funny, or uplifting. To me, it was rather static until a climatical incident towards the end that moved me for a brief moment before I returned to the general mood I felt throughout the bulk of my reading.
I wasn’t blown away by the premise. Sure, it was different, unlike anything else I have ever come across, particularly in terms of subject matter, however, I was more captivated by the accomplishments of the writer to transcend his disabilities and achieve his degree and his publication. However, the multiple viewpoints wasn’t wow. We’ve seen this before, so it did not feel incredibly special, although I appreciated that every chapter was dedicated to an ‘inmate,’ staff member, or aspiring staff member. I also appreciated how each chapter was a story within a story, some seeming like a standalone incident and others a different perspective of a given scenario. That said, I felt the pace was slow and the book took me far longer to read than it should have done.
It is obvious that the book draws a lot from Woody’s own experience. I was indifferent to this until I read the mini interview with him at the end that asked about his inspiration. The aims Brown had and how he executed them rose the book up in my estimation, but again, I am more taken by the author than the book itself. And I know this is an absolute shame because every last narrator is distinct from the others.
The book is a slow burn, where not a great deal really happens. It’s suited to a reader that wants to immerse themselves in someone else’s life, the type of life that isn’t imbued with romantic notions, fantasy, or even constant drama. People with disabilities might appreciate seeing characters that endure their struggles, mirrors to themselves. Able-bodied readers may gather an understanding of how the other half live, and how they feel. Overall, I think the book is for a novel niche audience. I would welcome more books on the subject matter, but I need a bit more pizzazz in the plot, or a bigger, longer climax to hold my attention. This book just seems extremely slow until it wasn’t, but it was a ‘blink and you’ll miss it’ moment before returning to a very sedate stroll to the end. It’s going to take some more empathetic readers than I to fully appreciate this book.
March 17, 2026
How amazing to read a book full of new-to-me perspectives written my an author uniquely positioned to show this world to his readers. Woody Brown is a phenomenal author and if you can read this book without being emotionally moved and left wondering how many other uniquely talented brains are trapped by not being able to express what’s inside, I don’t know what’s wrong with you. I hope this book changes the way people think about the folks around us who have severe autism or other disabilities that render them mute; I think there’s this broad assumption that if someone can’t speak or communicate in some sort of conventional way they must also be intellectually disabled. Perhaps they just haven’t found a way to have their voice heard yet? Woody Brown is a trailblazer and I hope that not only does he have a long career as a successful author ahead of him (I read that he already has a deal for a second book, hooray!) but that he helps lift others in similar situations up with him, causing all of us to give their creative works a second look. Even if I didn’t know how hard he had to work to write this book, I would think it was phenomenal, and knowing the process he went through to write it, I think it’s just absolutely extraordinary. Can’t wait to read more from this emerging author and I will be telling everyone I know to read this book.
Thank you to the publish and netgalley for the honor of receiving an ARC to review. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to the publish and netgalley for the honor of receiving an ARC to review. All opinions are my own.
September 6, 2025
empathymaxxing
September 13, 2025
Funny and heartfelt. This should be mandatory reading for neurotypical people!
January 22, 2026
"The story of my people isn't being told, or it's being told wrong. No neurotypical person can tell this story. No lovely actress, no smart but normal writer can tell you what this is like. My scar is a hieroglyph telling me to tell the story myself. My scar is in three dimensions."
Wow. I feel completely blown away by this debut novel - which comes from Woody Brown, a non-verbal autistic author and graduate from UCLA. 'Upward Bound' tells a story of life at a daycare facility for disabled young adults in California, told from a variety of different character perspectives at the facility. What makes this story so unique is that it puts us into the minds of non-verbal disabled people, and it opened my eyes (and heart) in a way that felt so powerful. And it's also masterfully written - I could not put it down. Usually i dislike stories that shift POV's, but with this story it felt critical to do so, and each of the POV's in the book had a unique character voice and personality that was captured so beautifully - I loved 'movie star' Tom and the Summer temp Ann's POV's the most. In the end, as the different perspectives all came together, culminating in a heartbreaking and shocking ending, I was left to marvel at the depth of feeling I had for these characters and how real they felt. On a personal note, it also captured a nostalgic feeling for me - I used to work in a residential school for children just like some of these characters, and it took me right back to that time, making me wonder about their inner worlds and how they're doing now.
Books like these are so important for building empathy and compassion, reminding us that no matter the barriers, we're all just human at the end of the day. Woody Brown has a bright writing career ahead of him, and I look forward to reading whatever he writes next. I'll be thinking about this unique story for a long while. Highly recommended.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher, Random House UK for the digital ARC. 'Upward Bound' is published in the UK 2 April 2026.
Wow. I feel completely blown away by this debut novel - which comes from Woody Brown, a non-verbal autistic author and graduate from UCLA. 'Upward Bound' tells a story of life at a daycare facility for disabled young adults in California, told from a variety of different character perspectives at the facility. What makes this story so unique is that it puts us into the minds of non-verbal disabled people, and it opened my eyes (and heart) in a way that felt so powerful. And it's also masterfully written - I could not put it down. Usually i dislike stories that shift POV's, but with this story it felt critical to do so, and each of the POV's in the book had a unique character voice and personality that was captured so beautifully - I loved 'movie star' Tom and the Summer temp Ann's POV's the most. In the end, as the different perspectives all came together, culminating in a heartbreaking and shocking ending, I was left to marvel at the depth of feeling I had for these characters and how real they felt. On a personal note, it also captured a nostalgic feeling for me - I used to work in a residential school for children just like some of these characters, and it took me right back to that time, making me wonder about their inner worlds and how they're doing now.
Books like these are so important for building empathy and compassion, reminding us that no matter the barriers, we're all just human at the end of the day. Woody Brown has a bright writing career ahead of him, and I look forward to reading whatever he writes next. I'll be thinking about this unique story for a long while. Highly recommended.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher, Random House UK for the digital ARC. 'Upward Bound' is published in the UK 2 April 2026.
November 25, 2025
What a touching, eye-opening book. The author, Woody Brown, was the first nonspeaking autistic graduate of UCLA. The novel, a series of interconnected vignettes, offers the reader a glimpse into the lives of neurodivergent people along with the neurotypical people who interact with them - even a clerk at Target who observes their group on outings to the store. Brown gets into the minds of the different characters and helps the reader try to understand what it’s like to be in their heads and to live their lives. He has accomplished something remarkable in his writing.
Thank you to Random House/Hogarth and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Random House/Hogarth and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 29, 2025
This was a beautifully hopeful, at times funny, and others heart wrenching, book. Brown gives voice to the voiceless in this, from Walter’s inquisitive commentary to Tom and his daydreams. And Carlos, loveable and doomed Carlos. I loved every single second of this, it is a must read for anyone and everyone. This book highlights the importance of listening to every, really listening, and understanding. Every character and POV was created and written with such care and detail, that I really came to believe they were real people. Felt like a hug in book form, a real treasure to read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for kindly providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. #UpwardBound #NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for kindly providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. #UpwardBound #NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is a book that I'm going to be recommending to everyone that I know. Upward Bound is written in a perspective that I feel like anyone who reads it will come away better for it. Woody Brown has written such a lovely debut novel and I will be keeping an eye out for what he releases in the future. Brown, who is a non verbal autistic, really brings a voice to the voiceless. I just can't say enough good things about it. He brings the perspectives of the clients and the caregivers out in such an honest raw way. Don't skip on this one. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy. I will be thinking about this book for a long time.
November 19, 2025
What a debut for Woody Brown - the first nonspeaking autistic graduate of UCLA!
I really enjoyed reading this novel. It's funny, frustrating, and melancholic all at the same time. I also liked how it was split into smaller viewpoints from different characters to see how they all intertwine with each other. I believe this should be required reading for everyone and I'm looking forward to more books in the future from Brown.
Thank you Random House UK, Vintage and NetGalley for the chance to read this fantastic book.
I really enjoyed reading this novel. It's funny, frustrating, and melancholic all at the same time. I also liked how it was split into smaller viewpoints from different characters to see how they all intertwine with each other. I believe this should be required reading for everyone and I'm looking forward to more books in the future from Brown.
Thank you Random House UK, Vintage and NetGalley for the chance to read this fantastic book.
February 28, 2026
Read this book
Amazing
Amazing
November 15, 2025
Upward Bound gives readers rare, eye-opening access to the candid inner thoughts of people with disabilities (including those who cannot speak), and answers questions people may shy away from asking. This speech-language pathologist devoured it in one evening.
Thanks to NetGalley and Hogarth for the ARC!
Thanks to NetGalley and Hogarth for the ARC!
January 6, 2026
This should be required reading for everyone. I laughed, I cried, I reflected on my own ignorance that someone who’s severely disabled may be having a full and nuanced inner monologue as they go about their life. I hope this book wins awards because it deserves to shine.
December 2, 2025
A debut???
An autistic daycare center…from POVs of a guy with CP, the manager of the daycare, a seasonal employee, an admin and her brother who is a caretaker, and other autistic folks that attend.
While the story is non-linear, the chapters clearly differentiate the different POVs. The first couple breaks I needed to figure it out but then came to anticipate it.
My heart aches for Walter. I want to be his friend. And Jorge. And Carlos? Ugh.
This one will stick with you.
Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
An autistic daycare center…from POVs of a guy with CP, the manager of the daycare, a seasonal employee, an admin and her brother who is a caretaker, and other autistic folks that attend.
While the story is non-linear, the chapters clearly differentiate the different POVs. The first couple breaks I needed to figure it out but then came to anticipate it.
My heart aches for Walter. I want to be his friend. And Jorge. And Carlos? Ugh.
This one will stick with you.
Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I was very pleased to receive a free advance review copy of Upward Bound by Woody Brown, and this is my honest review. This book really stayed with me. I found it completely compelling and ended up reading it in two sittings.
The story centres on Walter, a recent college graduate whose father has just died. His mother is struggling, and with very few options, enrols her non-verbal autistic son in Upward Bound, an adult day care facility for people with autism and other disabilities. Walter communicates at home with his mother through a word board and typing, but this doesn't happen at the facility. From there, Brown gives us a close, often uncomfortable look at life inside that world for Walter and the other clients, while also allowing space for some moments of real kindness and compassion.
The book is written mainly from Walter’s perspective, but Brown also shifts into the voices of others at Upward Bound, including Director Dave, carer Carlos, fellow “inmate” Jorge, and others. These different perspectives add so much depth and nuance, and I’m really glad the author chose to structure the book this way. It made the place, and the people in it, feel fully realised rather than observed from a distance.
I found this book both enlightening and very emotional at times. It’s often heartbreaking, and it quietly but firmly challenges stereotypes around disability, adult day care, and non-verbal autism.
Knowing that Woody Brown himself is a non-verbal autistic man adds another layer to this book. It feels important, necessary, and deeply human. This is not a light read, but it is a meaningful one, and I’ll definitely be telling my bookish friends about this novel. I look forward to reading more from this author.
The story centres on Walter, a recent college graduate whose father has just died. His mother is struggling, and with very few options, enrols her non-verbal autistic son in Upward Bound, an adult day care facility for people with autism and other disabilities. Walter communicates at home with his mother through a word board and typing, but this doesn't happen at the facility. From there, Brown gives us a close, often uncomfortable look at life inside that world for Walter and the other clients, while also allowing space for some moments of real kindness and compassion.
The book is written mainly from Walter’s perspective, but Brown also shifts into the voices of others at Upward Bound, including Director Dave, carer Carlos, fellow “inmate” Jorge, and others. These different perspectives add so much depth and nuance, and I’m really glad the author chose to structure the book this way. It made the place, and the people in it, feel fully realised rather than observed from a distance.
I found this book both enlightening and very emotional at times. It’s often heartbreaking, and it quietly but firmly challenges stereotypes around disability, adult day care, and non-verbal autism.
Knowing that Woody Brown himself is a non-verbal autistic man adds another layer to this book. It feels important, necessary, and deeply human. This is not a light read, but it is a meaningful one, and I’ll definitely be telling my bookish friends about this novel. I look forward to reading more from this author.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to the publisher, Hogarth, an imprint of Random House, a division of Penguin Random House LLC,
and the author, Woody Brown, for the privilege to read this advanced copy through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
I'm very selective and stingy on giving a book five stars. It has to be a book that will "stay" with me, that is, I'll remember it in the future. This book definitely qualifies. I found it very enlightening and informative on life in a facility for adults with special needs, including its limitations. Upward Bound is the facility that accommodates autistic adults. The relationships between clients and staff as well as between each other are well developed in the book. The reader gets to know each character. What they're thinking and feeling especially for nonspeaking clients. It dives into their past and their challenges experienced in the home, at school and in public. What life is like for an autistic person. I learned alot about what life is like for an autistic person: "Many autistic students do not at first glance appear to be capable of sophisticated thoughts."
Each chapter is written from a character's perspective. I especially loved Ann, the lifeguard. The love, fun, and enthusiasm she showed the people in her care was contagious and touched me! One client with the cerebral palsy was intelligent but nonverbal. So many aspects about this book is thought provoking and heart touching. I absolutely loved how well written this book is and how insightful it is to inspire readers to be understanding with disabled people. The story weaves through a plot that just won't let go. Ann, the lifeguard, said it best, "They, the disabled, were not the other. I was the other, and they had let me in." Amen!
I couldn't put the book down. I highly recommend this book. To anyone! You can't help but be glad you have read it.
and the author, Woody Brown, for the privilege to read this advanced copy through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
I'm very selective and stingy on giving a book five stars. It has to be a book that will "stay" with me, that is, I'll remember it in the future. This book definitely qualifies. I found it very enlightening and informative on life in a facility for adults with special needs, including its limitations. Upward Bound is the facility that accommodates autistic adults. The relationships between clients and staff as well as between each other are well developed in the book. The reader gets to know each character. What they're thinking and feeling especially for nonspeaking clients. It dives into their past and their challenges experienced in the home, at school and in public. What life is like for an autistic person. I learned alot about what life is like for an autistic person: "Many autistic students do not at first glance appear to be capable of sophisticated thoughts."
Each chapter is written from a character's perspective. I especially loved Ann, the lifeguard. The love, fun, and enthusiasm she showed the people in her care was contagious and touched me! One client with the cerebral palsy was intelligent but nonverbal. So many aspects about this book is thought provoking and heart touching. I absolutely loved how well written this book is and how insightful it is to inspire readers to be understanding with disabled people. The story weaves through a plot that just won't let go. Ann, the lifeguard, said it best, "They, the disabled, were not the other. I was the other, and they had let me in." Amen!
I couldn't put the book down. I highly recommend this book. To anyone! You can't help but be glad you have read it.
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