17. A book with a neurodiverse character

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

Neurodiversity is a concept where neurological differences are to be recognized and respected as any other human variation, and this week, we are celebrating these variations in our characters. Although there is some discussion on what constitutes neurodiversity, some generally accepted neurodevelopmental conditions are dyspraxia, dyslexia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), dyscalculia, autistic spectrum, and Tourette syndrome, as well as mental health conditions such as bipolarity, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, antisocial personality disorder, and obsessive–compulsive disorder.

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Suggestions:
#OwnVoices Disability and Neurodiversity in Fiction
50 Books about Neurodiversity (Mostly NF)
Neurodiversity and Mental Health for Teens
YA Books with Neurodiversity
100 Books about Mental Illness
24 Books that are Straightforward About Mental Illness
YA Books about Mental Illness
GR Shelves: Books Tagged Nuerodiversity
Listopia: Autism in Fiction
Listopia: Best Fiction with Characters Having Autism or Asperger's Syndrome

ATY Group Listopia

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Optional Questions
1. What are you reading for this category?
2. How did the main character fit under neurodiversity?
3. Did you find this point of view different from what you normally read?

[Serendipity]

I don’t have much currently on my TBR. Or at least I didn’t when this prompt got voted in. If I didn’t find anything that appeals more I’ll probably read this final book in the Rosie trilogy.

[Dana]

I'm going to read The Autistic Brain: Thinking Across the Spectrum, by Temple Grandin, who is a family friend and amazing professor on the spectrum.

[Angie]

I'm planning to do On the Edge of Gone. It's an apocalyptic story featuring an autistic character.

[[deleted user]]

Books that I've already read, that come to mind for this prompt is Susan Ee's Penryn & the End of Days trilogy (protagonist's mother has several things going on, including schizophrenia) Really great books if you like post-apocalypse fantasy with a kick butt heroine :)

I'm stumped for what to read for this promp, I'd like to stay away from realistic fiction if possible, any suggestions for something in the fantasy/thriller/horror/mystery genres?

[Pam]

ZeeJane wrote: "Books that I've already read, that come to mind for this prompt is Susan Ee's Penryn & the End of Days trilogy (protagonist's mother has several things going on, including schizophrenia) [bookcove..."

ZeeJane- How about a Stephen King novel - Carrie or Misery??

I really enjoyed Challenger Deep and highly recommend it. It's more realistic fiction but has another element to it, which if I say more than that would ruin the story.

[[deleted user]]

Pam wrote: "ZeeJane wrote: "Books that I've already read, that come to mind for this prompt is Susan Ee's Penryn & the End of Days trilogy (protagonist's mother has several things going on, including schizophr..."

Oh, Carrie is on my TBR list but I don't know anything about the story, if you think it will fit with the prompt I'll put this on my challenge list :) Thanks!

[Pam]

ZeeJane wrote: "Pam wrote: "ZeeJane wrote: "Oh, Carrie is on my TBR list but I don't know anything about the story, if you think it will fit with the prompt I'll put this on my challenge list ..."

I haven't read the book but I've seen the movie. It depends how you define neurodiverse but I think it works. I think you could argue that her "abilities" make her different neurologically!

[SadieReadsAgain]

On my physical/Kindle shelves I have the following options:

Autism in Heels: The Untold Story of a Female Life on the Spectrum
Convenience Store Woman
The Silver Linings Playbook
Still Alice
The Yellow Wallpaper
Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald

[Traci]

Angie wrote: "I'm planning to do On the Edge of Gone. It's an apocalyptic story featuring an autistic character."

That's what I'm reading too!

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

Pam, Challenger Deep was my first thought for this prompt as well! If you're looking for something that isn't quite realistic fiction, this could work, even though it's based on a true story.

[Kathy]

Sarah wrote: "On my physical/Kindle shelves I have the following options:

Autism in Heels: The Untold Story of a Female Life on the Spectrum
Convenience Store Woman
The Sil..."</i>

I really liked [book:Convenience Store Woman. Plus it's short!

[Pam]

If I go with a novel, I'm considering Too Bright to Hear Too Loud to See (character with bipolar disorder) or a mid-grade book Al Capone Throws Me a Curve (#4 in the series), which has a character with autism.

[CrystalIsReading on StoryGraph]

The main character in Whiteout apparently has a sensory processing disorder, so I'll probably read it for this prompt, although it's also first in a series and a book with a major theme of survival. (It's set in Antarctica.)
I'd also recommend: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, The Kiss Quotient, The Bride Test, Love in the Stacks, and The Theory of Attraction. All but the first one are super steamy romances, so reader beware. It was great to see neurodiversity represented in romance, though.

[Steve]

I saw Census suggested somewhere (I'm blanking now on where) and I think that's what I may read.

[Joy]

1. What are you reading for this category? The Electricity of Every Living Thing
2. How did the main character fit under neurodiversity? She has Asperger's Syndrome
3. Did you find this point of view different from what you normally read? In all honesty, the biggest difference I found was due to the fact that it's autobiographical. I rarely read non-fiction, so it was a nice change.

[Kara]

Would The Bell Jar work for this one? I don't know much about it - but it is on the Goodreads "Books that exceed your expectation" list that I'm trying to work through.

If not, I'll choose The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.

[Sophie]

I recently finished Challenger Deep and absolutely loved it, highly recommend it!

[ladymurmur]

I've been meaning to read The Speed of Dark for ages. This might be the time!

[Wendy]

Kara wrote: "Would The Bell Jar work for this one? I don't know much about it - but it is on the Goodreads "Books that exceed your expectation" list that I'm trying to work through.

If not, I'l..."

I'm not sure if it counts--the author did have reoccurring bouts of depression but I don't know if she was formally diagnosed. It's probably up to you. However, Sylvia Plath is also on the Abe list of 100 essential female writers, and Bell Jar is #20 on the "books listed in the Gilmore Girls" list--so there are options!

[Jackie, Solstitial Mod]

Kara wrote: "Would The Bell Jar work for this one? I don't know much about it - but it is on the Goodreads "Books that exceed your expectation" list that I'm trying to work through.

If not, I'l..."

I'm pretty sure the character in the Bell Jar gets psychiatric treatment, including electroshock therapy. So I would count it. In fact I might go with that one.

[Jenna ✨DNF Queen✨Here, Sometimes...]

Jackie wrote: "Kara wrote: "Would The Bell Jar work for this one? I don't know much about it - but it is on the Goodreads "Books that exceed your expectation" list that I'm trying to work through...."

I might do The Bell Jar too as it's also on my Rory Gilmore challenge list... but it's early yet :)

[Zoe]

Does anyone have any suggestions that aren't from the northern hemisphere?
Really trying to diversify my reading!

[Cheri]

Lab Girl was so good that I read it twice within a year! The main character (who is the author, as this is a memoir) is bipolar.

[Cheri]

Zoe wrote: "Does anyone have any suggestions that aren't from the northern hemisphere?
Really trying to diversify my reading!"

Zoe, you might try The Rosie Project. It is set in Australia and the author is originally from New Zealand. It's fun and heartwarming and I really enjoyed it.

[Sherri]

I just finished Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata,Ginny Tapley Takemori (Translator) which I will use for this prompt.

[Dea]

The protagonist of Turtles All the Way Down has serious anxiety issues and compulsive behavior. She is high school junior who says she has "always" been like that.

Her developing a workable life and managing the dangerous aspects is a major theme. Seems like it would fit here.

[Jen K]

I plan to read 600 Hours of Edward which a friend highly recommended.

[Bunny]

Well, I tried "The Kiss Quotient" and thought it was awful and gave up. So, now I'm also going to try "600 Hours of Edward"

[Maple]

1. What are you reading for this category?
Fledgling

2. How did the main character fit under neurodiversity?
The book centers around "Renee", a young girl who wakes up in the middle of the woods with amnesia. She has no idea who she is, how she got there, where she came from, or where she was going.

3. Did you find this point of view different from what you normally read?
Yes and no. I read a wide range of books so it's hard to say.

[Cheri]

1. What are you reading for this category?
The Reason I Jump: The Inner Voice of a Thirteen-Year-Old Boy with Autism

2. How did the main character fit under neurodiversity?
He was severely autistic.

3. Did you find this point of view different from what you normally read?
Very much so! The world feels quite different to autistic people.

[Pamela, Arciform Mod]

1. What are you reading for this category? The Bride Test
2. How did the main character fit under neurodiversity? He was autistic (although he found love and suddenly, the autism seemed forgotten)
3. Did you find this point of view different from what you normally read? Everyone sees the world differently, this is just a different way.

[Claire]

I read The Girl He Used to Know, in which one of the main characters has high-functioning autism. I saw it recommended on one of the other threads on here!

[Aimee]

Kathy wrote: "Sarah wrote: "On my physical/Kindle shelves I have the following options:

Autism in Heels: The Untold Story of a Female Life on the Spectrum
Convenience Store Woman..."

I've just read Convenience Store Woman for the 'connected to the 2020 Olympics prompt' (it's set in Tokyo) and I thought it was brilliant. I came here to recommend it for this prompt too: the MC struggles to fit into 'normal' society and has traits I would definitely describe as neurodiverse, although no specific diagnosis is mentioned.

[Jana]

I read The Silent Patient. The "patient" was a woman who was hospitalized for mental illness after killing her husband. I won't say more, because it was a very good book.

[Kim]

I read When We Were Vikings by Andrew David MacDonald for this one. The main character has Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. This was the first time I had read anything about Fetal Alcohol Spectrum and had to read up on it a little to know what to expect.

[Sarah]

For this topic I'm going to read The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon.
I've been wanting to read this book for a few years and now seems like the right time.

[Andrea]

For this prompt, I read Funny, You Don't Look Autistic: A Comedian's Guide to Life on the Spectrum by Michael McCreary. It is very enlightening and entertaining as the author describes his own personal experiences and provides additional supportive resources.

[Shelley]

I read The Astonishing Color of After. While there's certainly a realistic mysticism to it, the whole thing boils down to the main character coming to terms with her mom's mental illness and past familial troubles. It's a nice but sad story.

[Milena]

My library is doing a Big Library Read of Funny, You Don't Look Autistic: A Comedian's Guide to Life on the Spectrum. I borrowed it, and will try it for this prompt.

[Traci]

I ended up selecting Lab Girl by Hope Jahren

I read the book because it was on my TBR list and it met a STEM requirement for another challenge. I came to realize when reading the book that she has ADD and anxiety issues. She describes several of the incidents in her memoir. It is not the main focus of the book but it is relevant to her story


https://titlesurfingwithtraci.blogspo...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Marissa]

Does anyone think that Where the Forest Meets the Stars meets this criteria??

[Laurel]

1. What are you reading for this category?
Robert Lowell, Setting the River on Fire: A Study of Genius, Mania, and Character by Kay Redfield Jamison
2. How did the main character fit under neurodiversity?
Robert Lowell had bipolar disorder as does the author of this biography, Kay Redfield Jamison (see her memoir An Unquiet Mind: A Memoir of Moods and Madness
3. Did you find this point of view different from what you normally read?
It was a different point of view from my usual reads.

[Anastasia]

The Outside is an amazing book. It is an own voices book written by a Canadian Author who has Asperger's about a scientist who is autistic.

It checks off some other boxes for this years list as the main character is lesbian and there is a gender fluid character as well.

For those who like speculative science fiction it is a really good read.

[Pam]

1. What are you reading for this category?
Funny, You Don't Look Autistic: A Comedian's Guide to Life on the Spectrum by Michael McCreary. This book is the Big Library Read from March 23-April 13.

2. How did the main character fit under neurodiversity?
Autism (high functioning)

3. Did you find this point of view different from what you normally read?
Yes, the POV is different but not unfamiliar to me

[Kathy]

1. What are you reading for this category?
Lab Girl - Hope Jahren

2. How did the main character fit under neurodiversity?
This is a memoir and the author has bi-polar illness.

3. Did you find this point of view different from what you normally read?
Yes. She's a "Science person" and I'm not. But I loved the book because of her writing and all the personal life stories.

[Donna]

1. What are you reading for this category? Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus It sounded interesting, and it was on my To Be Read List.

2. How did the main character fit under neurodiversity? Hmm...The main character did not fit. She was born with no arms. Her best friend had Tourette Syndrome, and she and he attended a Tourette support group.

3. Did you find this point of view different from what you normally read? Not really. Universally the desire to fit in is a constant, and these characters only wanted to fit in.

[Heather]

1)Look Me in the Eye by John Elder Robinson
2)The author is on the autism spectrum
3)I guess for the most part, though lately I've been more interested in reading books with autistic characters(if told with an actual understanding of autism), being ND myself, and both my boyfriend and daughter are autistic.

[Emily]

I chose to read this one:

17. A Book with a Neurodiverse Character: The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang

It was alright for a rom-com but these just aren't my type of books. There is some really vivid sex scenes for those of you that enjoy those type of books ;)

[Marie]

I read The Mirror World of Melody Black by Gavin Extence.

The main character is type two bipolar (not a spoiler, she was diagnosed years before this story starts).

I've never read anything that deals with this before, as well as being a really good book it was interesting and helpful to find out how someone experiences this. It's based, in part, on the author's own experiences so I'm guessing it's quite accurate.