Looking for some summer reading? These books all feature autistic characters, compelling stories, and beautiful writing. Perfect beach reads!
- Christopher Boone from The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon – Christopher is an autistic teenage boy who investigates the death of a neighbor’s dog, using his exceptional mathematical and logical skills.
- Don Tillman from The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion – Don is a genetics professor who exhibits traits of autism. He embarks on a project to find a suitable wife using a scientific approach, leading to humorous and heartwarming situations.
- Billy from The Speed of Dark by Elizabeth Moon – Set in the near future, Billy is an autistic man who faces a moral dilemma when he is offered a treatment that might “cure” his autism.
- Haddon ‘Joe’ Taylor from House Rules by Jodi Picoult – Joe is an autistic teenager who becomes a prime suspect in a murder investigation due to his behaviors and interests.
- David from Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend by Matthew Dicks – Although not explicitly labeled as autistic, David displays characteristics that suggest he may be autistic, such as difficulty understanding social cues and rigid adherence to routines.
- Rose Howard from Rain Reign by Ann M. Martin – Rose is a young autistic girl who finds comfort and structure in rules and routines, particularly related to homonyms and her beloved dog.
- August from The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Stephanie Butland – August is a young autistic boy who uses his love for classic literature and the universe to navigate a confusing world that often overwhelms him.
- Benjamin from Marcelo in the Real World by Francisco X. Stork – Benjamin is Marcelo’s younger autistic brother who is nonverbal and has significant developmental challenges.
- Jasper from House of Windows by Alexia Casale – Jasper is a high functioning autistic boy who struggles with social interactions and finds solace in his art and routines.
- Rosemary from How to Talk to a Widower by Jonathan Tropper – Rosemary is the sister of the main character, who is portrayed as having autistic traits such as difficulty with social cues and a unique way of viewing the world.
- Ellis from Spinning Heart by Sally Gardner – Ellis is an autistic boy who finds comfort and understanding through his unique perception of the world and his drawings.
- Caitlin from Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine – Caitlin is an 11-year-old autistic girl who is struggling to cope with the death of her brother and the complexities of emotions.
- Joshua from House Rules by Jodi Picoult – Joshua is another autistic character from the novel, displaying significant challenges in communication and social interactions.
- Alfonso from The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros – Alfonso is a character in this collection of vignettes who is nonverbal and may be autistic, though it is not explicitly stated.
These characters offer a range of portrayals and experiences related to autism, each contributing to the representation and understanding of neurodiversity in literature.
