Category: Autism

Peta Lyre’s Rating Normal

By Anna Whateley

At sixteen, neurodivergent Peta Lyre is the success story of social training. That is, until she finds herself on a school ski trip – and falling in love with the new girl. Peta will need to decide which rules to keep, and which rules to break…

‘I’m Peta Lyre,’ I mumble. Look people in the eye if you can, at least when you greet them. I try, but it’s hard when she is smiling so big, and leaning in.

Peta Lyre is far from typical. The world she lives in isn’t designed for the way her mind works, but when she follows her therapist’s rules for ‘normal’ behaviour, she can almost fit in without attracting attention.

When a new girl, Sam, starts at school, Peta’s carefully structured routines start to crack. But on the school ski trip, with romance blooming and a newfound confidence, she starts to wonder if maybe she can have a normal life after all.

When things fall apart, Peta must decide whether all the old rules still matter. Does she want a life less ordinary, or should she keep her rating normal?

Representation: MC is in an f/f relationship.

Ownvoices: for neurodivergent representation.

Kindred : 12 Queer #LoveOzYA Stories

By Michael Earp

Publisher’s description:

What does it mean to be queer? What does it mean to be human? In this powerful #OwnVoices collection, twelve of Australia’s finest queer writers explore the stories of family, friends, lovers and strangers – the connections that form us.

Compelling queer short fiction by bestsellers, award winners and newcomers to the #LoveOzYA community including Jax Jacki Brown, Claire G Coleman, Michael Earp, Alison Evans, Erin Gough, Benjamin Law, Omar Sakr, Christos Tsiolkas, Ellen van Neerven, Marlee Jane Ward, Jen Wilde and Nevo Zisin.

Representation: queer authors; stories include gay, lesbian, bisexual, and nonbinary representation.

Harmonious Hearts 2018 – Stories from the Young Author Challenge

By Anne Regan

This anthology showcases up-and-coming writers of LGBTQ+ fiction aged 14 to 21. Selected from dozens of entrants, these young people are the winners of the Harmony Ink Young Author Challenge, and they represent the entire spectrum as well as a variety of fictional genres.

The Gilded Wolves (The Gilded Wolves #1)

By Roshani Chokshi

It’s 1889. The city is on the cusp of industry and power, and the Exposition Universelle has breathed new life into the streets and dredged up ancient secrets. Here, no one keeps tabs on dark truths better than treasure-hunter and wealthy hotelier Séverin Montagnet-Alarie. When the elite, ever-powerful Order of Babel coerces him to help them on a mission, Séverin is offered a treasure that he never imagined: his true inheritance.

To hunt down the ancient artifact the Order seeks, Séverin calls upon a band of unlikely experts: An engineer with a debt to pay. A historian banished from his home. A dancer with a sinister past. And a brother in arms if not blood.

Together, they will join Séverin as he explores the dark, glittering heart of Paris. What they find might change the course of history–but only if they can stay alive. 

Representation: bi or pansexual, biracial (Filipino and Spanish), Jewish, Black, and Indian characters.

Ownvoices: biracial (Filipino and Indian) representation.

The Silvered Serpents (The Gilded Wolves #2)

By Roshani Chokshi

Séverin and his team members might have successfully thwarted the Fallen House, but victory came at a terrible cost — one that still haunts all of them. Desperate to make amends, Séverin pursues a dangerous lead to find a long lost artifact rumored to grant its possessor the power of God.

Their hunt lures them far from Paris, and into the icy heart of Russia where crystalline ice animals stalk forgotten mansions, broken goddesses carry deadly secrets, and a string of unsolved murders makes the crew question whether an ancient myth is a myth after all.

As hidden secrets come to the light and the ghosts of the past catch up to them, the crew will discover new dimensions of themselves. But what they find out may lead them down paths they never imagined.

Representation: bi or pansexual, biracial (Filipino and Spanish), Jewish, Black, and Indian characters.

Ownvoices: biracial (Filipino and Indian) representation.

Even If We Break

By Marieke Nijkamp

Psychological thriller about a group of friends tied together by a murder mystery role-playing game, and the deadly weekend that tears them apart.

Publisher’s description:

For five friends, this was supposed to be one last getaway before going their separate ways―a chance to say goodbye to each other, and to the game they’ve been playing for the past three years. But they’re all dealing with their own demons, and they’re all hiding secrets.

Finn doesn’t trust anyone since he was attacked a few months ago. Popular girl Liva saw it happen and did nothing to stop it. Maddy was in an accident that destroyed her sports career. Carter is drowning under the weight of his family’s expectations. Ever wants to keep the game going for as long as they can, at all costs.

When the lines between game and reality start to blend with deadly consequences, it’s a race against time before it’s game over―forever.

Psychological thriller about a group of friends tied together by a murder mystery role-playing game, and the deadly weekend that tears them apart.

Representation: trans MC; nonbinary MC; autistic MC.

Ownvoices: for nonbinary and disability representation.

Courting Light

By A. Zukowski

Our days were numbered but precious.

Courting Light is the story of Josie, an eighteen-year-old about to leave home to start university in London. She volunteers at a summer camp for disabled children. When Josie is paired with the autistic teenager Lucian, she faces intense experiences that are truly eye-opening. To her surprise, Lucian is not the only one who captures her attention. Over the weeks, Josie develops powerful desires evoked by the camp’s enigmatic young leader with a shaved head and tattoo on her skull.

Part of Seasons of Love Anthology.

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Representation:
Gender:
Cis girls: Josie (narrator), Sam
Cis boys: Lucian, Tim

Sexuality:
Gay: Tim
Lesbian: Josie, Sam

Romantic Orientation:
Not mentioned in the book.

Race/Ethnicity:
White: Lucian, Tim
Multiracial: Josie, Sam

Disability:
 Lucian (ASD)

Location: North of England/Derbyshire, Manchester

Ownvoices: Author is a bi cis woman

 

Shut Your Face, Anthony Pace!

By Claire Davis

First love – coming of age – family – acceptance

When Charlie was eight years old, his mum bought him a microscope for his birthday. Since then, he’s known how he wants to spend his life. There have been trials, and challenges, but now – finally – the day is here for him to start college with his lifelong friend Anthony Pace.

Anthony is a red-haired force of nature. He writes poetry about their enemies and eagerly participates in all Charlie’s science experiments without understanding a word. Every morning, he waits at the end of their street so they can get the bus together.

But things are changing.

Families are important, and complex. Charlie’s mum hasn’t been well, and his relationship with Anthony begins to shine like a different star in the sky.

Can everything come together in this explosion of physics and chemicals that Charlie calls life? Will Anthony Pace ever share his poems with the world, and can the Chihuahua, Princess Arabella, ever learn to stop licking?

Genre: YA/NA contemporary, romance

Representation:
Gender:
Cis boys: Charlie, Anthony

Sexuality:
Gay: Charlie, Anthony

Romantic Orientation:
Homoromantic: Charlie, Anthony

Race/Ethnicity:
White: Charlie, Anthony

Disability: Charlie – autism spectrum

Location: England

Additional Notes: * Charlie’s mum is developing dementia
* includes moderately explicit scenes of intimacy between consenting young adult males.

Ownvoices: Al Stewart is gay

Ending: Happy

Magical Princess Harriet: Chessed: World of Compassion

By Leiah Moser

Publisher’s Description:

Middle school can be tough, especially when you can’t figure out whether you’re supposed to be a boy or a girl. Homework and gym class are hard enough to deal with, but what exactly do you do when a pushy angel shows up insisting you’re a magical princess and that it’s your job to defend your school from the forces of darkness? For Harris Baumgartner, only one thing is certain — life is about to get a lot more complicated!

Genre: Fantasy

Representation:
Gender:
Cis girls: Frances
Cis boys: Aiden
Trans girls: Harriet

Sexuality:
None specified

Romantic Orientation:
None specified

Race/Ethnicity:
White: Harriet, Frances, and Aiden

Religion:
Christianity: Aiden
Judaism: Harriet and Frances

The fantasy elements of the book are based in Jewish lore.

Disability: Frances is on the autism spectrum.

Additional Notes: While the characters are in middle school, this book is targeted towards young adults.

Ownvoices: Magical Princess Harriet is #ownvoices for transgender, autism spectrum, and Judaism.

Wonderful (French)

By Carmine Sanden

Carmine is but an ordinary teenager. He doesn’t have any powers, isn’t the heir to a magical kingdom, and isn’t usually paid attention to. He’s not even at ease in his own body, and his family is far from ideal.  And yet he is going to live a great adventure.

When Carmine is unwillingly taken along into shenanigans that have been going on for a millennia, when real life and dreams mix up and when his favorite character comes to life, he will need to face frightening dangers and journey through many fantasy worlds in the depths of his imagination. To free themselves from the hold of the cruel and dangerous Jabberwocky, Carmine and Starlight Blade will fight a battle that will change their lives, and maybe meet their end…unless Kanzer, a strange persona stuck between worlds, is able to help them.

Will they save Wonderland from destruction?

Genre: Fantasy, Contemporary

Representation:
Gender:
Trans boys: Carmine
Genderqueer/Non-binary: Starlight Blade
Cis boys: Kanzer

Sexual Orientation:
Pansexual: Carmine, Starlight Blade
Asexual: Kanzer

Romantic Orientation:
Panromantic: Carmine, Starlight Blade

Race/Ethnicity:
Not explicitly addressed

Location: Europe (France), Fantasy World based on a Western country

Disability:
Carmine has depression and PTSD. He’s likely autistic (though this isn’t addressed). Starlight Blade has PTSD.

Trigger Warnings:
Transphobia: Carmine’s familial environment doesn’t recognize his gender identity. Jabberwocky misgenders him on purpose, several times throughout.  Abuse: Emotional and physical. Violence: Swordfights, abuse beatings, blood. Some exaggerated violence.

Other notes:  This book is only available in French.

Ownvoices: Transgender representation, mental illness.