By Edith Tierney ’24
Staff Writer
April is Autism Acceptance Month, making it a great time to highlight autistic authors and their stories. These three recently-published books by autistic authors — ranging from adult romance to a space opera — are a good place to start.
“Seven Devils” duology by Laura Lam and Elizabeth May
Laura Lam and Elizabeth May co-authored this feminist space opera duology. The first book, “Seven Devils,” was first published in the summer 2021, with the sequel “Seven Mercies” coming out on Jan. 25, 2022. The duology follows a diverse cast, including an autistic character, Ariadne, a child genius and the team’s engineer whose story has ties to May’s own journey with autism.
In an article published by the North Wales Chronicle, May said, “There’s so much misinformation about autism … the best place to go to [for more information about autism] is the autistic community. We’re out here living our lives.” As a science fiction writer, she uses literature to raise awareness about different identities.
In the first book, the characters — among them the heir to the galaxy’s ruthless empire, a mechanic and several fugitives — find each other and realize that they have the collective knowledge and power to bring down an oppressive empire. The second book follows the group as they attempt the near-impossible task of burning it all down to save millions of lives.
“The Kiss Quotient” series by Helen Hoang
According to her website, Helen Hoang was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder in 2016. Her own experience with neurodivergence inspired her to write this contemporary romance series. The most recent book in “The Kiss Quotient” series, “The Heart Principle,” was published on Aug. 31, 2021 by Penguin Random House.
The series, which currently also includes “The Kiss Quotient” and “The Bride Test,” has received positive attention from many book critics and authors. The titular first book, “The Kiss Quotient,” follows Stella, who, according to the author’s website, “has Asperger’s and French kissing reminds her of a shark getting its teeth cleaned by pilot fish.” Stella hires Michael, an escort she hopes will teach her how to date. According to Penguin Random House, New York Times bestselling author Roxane Gay called the novel “original and sexy and sensitive.”
In book two, “The Bride Test,” the narrative follows an autistic man named Khai. When his mother decides to play matchmaker, he is introduced to Esme, a girl living in the slums of Ho Chi Minh City who is intrigued by the prospect of meeting a potential husband in America. Taylor Jenkins Reid, author of “Daisy Jones and the Six,” called the book “smart, honest and achingly romantic,” according to Penguin Random House.
The most recent book in the series, “The Heart Principle,” centers themes of burnout and mental health challenges. It focuses on a recently viral violinist, Anna, and the journey that follows when her longtime boyfriend says he wants an open relationship. An NPR review noted, “if ‘The Kiss Quotient’ teaches intimacy and ‘The Bride Test’ nurtures it, then ‘The Heart Principle’ pushes its characters not to be ashamed by it.”
“How to be Human: An Autistic Man’s Guide to Life” by Jory Fleming with Lyric Winik
Unlike the other books on the list, this last entry is nonfiction. It is Jory Fleming’s autobiography, which he co-wrote with Lyric Winik, who New York Times reporter Marian Burros called “the go-to scribe for political memoirs.” According to his website, Fleming recently completed a Master of Philosophy in environmental change and management at Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar.
“How to be Human: An Autistic Man’s Guide to Life,” was published by Simon & Schuster on April 20, 2021. The book follows Fleming through his experiences with autism as a child and into his time at Oxford. It also discusses ideas about what disability is and how people are valued in society. Additionally, the autobiography shows Fleming’s connection to his faith and his views on various aspects of society and identity.
This list offers a starting point for engaging with neurodiverse writers, but if you are looking for more, there are many content creators on social media working to promote autistic authors and stories, such as Literary Lily and Annalisa Ely on YouTube. For now, here are some honorable mentions:
“The Brown Sisters” is a series by Talia Hibbert, a Black autistic author who writes romance novels with ever-present elements of diversity and representation.
“Sincerely, Your Autistic Child: What People on the Autism Spectrum Wish Their Parents Knew about Growing Up, Acceptance, and Identity” is a book of essays directed toward parents about the experience of having autism, especially for “girls and nonbinary people,” according to the book’s Goodreads page. The book was edited by Sharon daVanport, Morénike Giwa Onaiwu and Emily Paige Ballou.