The Fire, the Water, and Maudie McGinn by Sally J. Pla

The Fire, the Water, and Maudie McGinn by Sally J. Pla It's a good book to add to any school library. It's not often you come across a character that is a girl in the autistic spectrum.

How to Find What You're Not Looking For by Veera Hiranandani

How to Find What You're Not Looking For by Veera Hiranandani Set in the 60's the Beatles are the popular band for young teens and laws against mixed marriages. A Jewish older sister falls in love with a young man from India. They elope and both sets of parents are not happy about it. The younger sister misses her sister very much. School is also challenging for her, writing and shaping letters is really difficult for her. A good read.

Listen: How Evelyn Glennie, a Deaf Girl, Changed Percussion by Shannon Stocker , Devon Holzwarth (illustrator)

Listen: How Evelyn Glennie, a Deaf Girl, Changed Percussion by Shannon Stocker, Devon Holzwarth(illustrator) A good book to have in any school library. True story of how a young girl over came obstacles and did not take no to become a prominent percusionist.

The Bridge Home by Padma Venkatraman

 This story is heart touching and bitter sweet.  Fine for any high school.  Will need a hanky on this one.  But it ends with hope.

Silent Days, Silent Dreams by Allen Say

Another beautiful book by Allen Say.  Add this on to your collection.  True story of a troubled artist, a boy who was  mute, deaf and autistic in the late 1800 early 1900s.  How do you communicate to a young boy like this?  Or do you?  Left alone, created his own friends by drawing characters and animals.  It's a good read.

The Space We're In by Kathya Balen

A beautiful story about a family narrated by ten year old Frank.  How the family, parents and friends respond to Max.  His meltdowns, how he learns and communicates.  And then a loss happens.  Grief and depression hit the family.  It's a good read and the audio book also very good. 

Hello Goodbye Dog by Gianferrari and Barton

Who doesn't love  a good dog story.  With more service dogs out there in the world, this is a good book to introduce to young children. Plus the dog goes to the library!  Enjoy.

The Silence Between Us by Alison Gervais

I find this a very realistic story.  Alison Gervais created an authentic story.  It's a good one to add to the library for students to understand those with hearing loss and how it can be different to function in world.  It's an honest story.  I'm very glad she wrote this story.  She nailed it.  Add this one to your library.

Madeline Finn and the Library Dog by Lisa Papp

Madeline has trouble reading and she may have dyslexia.  The reading dog program at the public library is a program that helps her keep trying and improves.  A must for any school library.  Enjoy.

Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling

Oh my, this is such a great story.  Very inspirational of this fictional story.  Add this one to your middle school library.  It's a great read.  I had already read the second one.  Add that one too to your library.  Enjoy.  Also, audio book very good too.

The Love Letters of Abelard & Lily by Laura Creedle

The two have lots of text conversations which are quite advance for regular teens.  They are great conversations but they sound more adult rather then teens.  Both Lilly and Abelard have outbursts that relate to the way their brains work.  It's a good read and fine for high school libraries.  

The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle by Leslie Connor

If you have to buy one book for your elementary or middle school library.  This is the book.  If you read this book, have a hanky ready.  It is excellent. 

Summerlost by Ally Condie

It's a good read and fine for elementary and middle school libraries.  With children grieving loss of family members, this would be a good book.

Inkling by Kenneth Oppel

A family who's mother becomes very ill and dies, a young sister with special needs and a father who isn't holding together and the son who is very young and is trying to hold everyone together needs something special.  Inkling.  And there is a young girl who is trying to discover the secret of Inkling.  And lots of problems.  It's a great read.  Perfect for any young people's libraries.

A Boy Called Bat by Elana K. Arnold

I would say that Bat is in the Autism Spectrum.  It's not stated but he reminds me of many students that I have worked with.  It's a sweet book and fine for any young library.  It is book 1 and was published in 2017  I would say it is for grades: 3-6  It's a great addition to any young people's library.  Enjoy.

Not So Different by Shane Burcaw

I liked this book.  It's a picture book of Shane and his situation.  It's a book that is honest and positive and explains his life.  I would like to add this to my high school library.  Granted it is geared to younger students but I think it is important to add to high school students as well.

Fish In A Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt

I liked this book.  There are a few characters in this book with special issues that enrich the story.  Ally is a girl, who misses her father, a soldier deployed.  Her mother, works at an ice cream shop and her older brother, works at fixing things in a different shop.  Ally learns to like who she is and make friends.  She ends  up with a special teacher who makes all the difference in everyone's world.  Enjoy.