I've already compiled lists of autism books for adults and parents and autism picture books for kids, but I have yet to compile a list of books about autism that are specifically geared towards autistic teens and tweens. Until now, of course.
We're currently in the tween/teen stage ourselves so I've been on the hunt for autism books that I feel good about sharing with my own autistic son.
Even if we've been having lots of open conversations about autism and neurodiversity in our house for years, it's still nice to have books written by actually autistic authors available for him to reference as well.
The result is this list of non-fiction autism books for autistic teens and tweens. (Psst...If you're looking for autism fiction books or novels, then click here to see that list instead.)
This book list was updated on September 25, 2024 to include new book suggestions and reviews. I constantly share and review books in my Instagram stories so be sure to follow along there for even more book suggestions.
Autism Books for Autistic Teens & Tweens
Below, you will find non-fiction books, anthologies, and memoirs that are geared towards autistic teenagers and tweens. Some focus on describing what it means to be autistic, while others focus on specific topics such as puberty and periods, trying new sports or activities, bullying and relationships, and so much more.
Please note that I have personally read and reviewed all of the following books unless otherwise stated. The list will also be updated as I find new titles to share.
1. Being Autistic by Niamh Garvey
This book is excellent. It's well written, has great illustrations, and is super informative and engaging. It's a fantastic book for autistic kids and teens who want to learn more about what it means to be autistic and covers a wide variety of topics. I seriously can't recommend this book enough!
2. A Different Kind of Normal by Abigail Balfe
Here's an amazing book for autistic tweens and teens. Seriously, this book is such an incredibly authentic, colorful, and inviting book. Sure, it wandered off quite often, but I think that is what made it so authentic (that and it's a memoir). But the book as a whole is wonderful. It's especially perfect for those who prefer lots of color and enjoy illustrations over huge blocks of text.
3. The Awesome Autistic Go-To Guide by Yenn Purkis & Tanya Masterman
A short book at only 100ish pages, this book is incredibly powerful. It is written by autistics and helps autistic tweens and teens better understand what autism is, identify their strengths, help them understand their stims, identify their own sensory triggers, name their favorite calm down strategies, and more. It has lots of sections for teens to fill in, making it a bit like a workbook or journal. Overall, the book is excellent and a must-read for all autistic teens and tweens.
4. The Awesome Autistic Guide to Being Proud by Yenn Purkis & Tanya Masterman
The focus for this book is autistic identity and finding your own community. I really loved this book and it's probably one of my favorites in the whole Awesome Autistic Guides series. Especially since it even mentions hyperlexia. Similar to the other books in this series, it's nice and short, under 100 pages in length.
5. Autism, Bullying and Me By Emily Lovegrove
This helpful little book is just over 100 pages and is written by an autistic adult. It explains bullying in such an easy to understand way and is geared towards autistic tweens and teens (although it could be helpful for some adults or younger kids as well). Of course the book also offers lots of great practical tips and strategies for dealing with bullying. The writing style is so positive, friendly, and easy to read. It explains concepts so well without the jargon.
6. Sensory: Life on the Spectrum by Bex Ollerton
For those who get overwhelmed by a lot of text and/or prefer comics or graphic novels, then this anthology might be a perfect fit. It's a wonderful anthology of comics and is so beautiful and colorful inside. It also covers a wide variety of topics such as masking, burnout, and autistic joy. I would recommend this for teens and young adults in particular.
7. The Awesome Autistic Guide to Feelings & Emotions by Yenn Purkis & Tanya Masterman
For this Awesome Autistic Guide, the focus is obviously feelings and emotions. It does a great job describing feelings, discussing how to find your comfort zone, talking about anxiety and sensory scares, and so much more. For such a short book (again, under 100 pages), it sure covers a lot. It's well-written and informative.
8. The Awesome Autistic Guide to Other Humans by Yenn Purkis & Tanya Masterman
This book talks about various aspects of friendships and family relationships, including topics like toxic friendships, what makes a good friend, managing conflicts with friends, and sibling relationships. It's short (under 100 pages) and well-written, using clear, concise language.
9. The Autistic Guide to Adventure by Allie Mason
Here's a short and quick read geared towards autistic teens and tweens who might want to try a new sport or activity. It covers a wide range of activities from cycling and LARPing to geocaching and sailing.
I particularly loved the format of the book as it breaks down each activity into digestible chunks, covering background information, reasons to try the activity, possible sensory considerations, gear that might be required (complete with visuals), and tips for how to get started.
I also loved that it included lots of interviews with autistic role models throughout.
10. The Awesome Autistic Guide for Trans Teens by Yenn Purkis & Sam Rose
While I haven't read this particular book (it's not relevant for us), I am so glad that it exists for those who need it. Since I'm a huge fan of the other Awesome Autistic Guides, I can safely bet that this book will be extremely helpful for autistic trans teens to read as a way explore their intersectional identity.
11. The Spectrum Girl's Survival Guide by Siena Castellon
I'll be upfront and tell you that I haven't personally read this book as I don't have an autistic daughter (i.e., it's not relevant for my situation), but it is written by an autistic teenager and has really great reviews. This book covers a wide range of topics from sensory overload, puberty and personal hygiene, dating, gender identity, school, bullying, and social media. It also uses cartoon illustrations and comics throughout to support the text.
12. The Autism-Friendly Guide to Periods by Robyn Steward
Okay, obviously this book isn't about autism itself, but it's a topic that is highly relevant to autistic teenage girls. Again, I haven't read this book because of the same reasons as above. But again, the reviews for it are fantastic. I often see this book recommended in autistic led Facebook groups too. Plus, it's written by an autistic author.
From what I've seen of the interior, it looks really colorful and well thought out. It even has a section dedicated to photos and step-by-step guides that would be immensely helpful for so many girls, autistic or not. I also like that it discusses other period supplies such as menstrual cups and period underwear, showing options beyond pads and tampons, which I think is fantastic.
13. The Autism Handbook for Kids! by Andi Putt
This ebook is a great resource for introducing autism and neurodiversity to kids and teens. It covers a lot of important topics, ranging from ableism and sensory processing to masking and stimming. There are also lots of illustrations and comic strips included throughout. It's a fantastic resource!
By the way, you can use coupon code ANDNEXTCOMESL to save 10% on this handbook.
Looking for More Autism Books for Teens?
I wanted the focus of this list to be on books that help autistic teens better understand their autistic identity. That's why I've only included non-fiction titles on the above list of autism books for autistic teens and tweens.
However, if you are looking for some recommendations for chapter books and novels that feature autistic or neurodivergent characters, then you might be interested in this autism fiction book list.
