Middle School

Berkeley Unified School Libraries, in partnership with the Special Education Department and Mental Health Services, proudly recognizes Neurodiversity Celebration Week (the 3rd week in March). The term neurodiversity is often used to describe alternative thinking and learning styles such as Autism, ADHD and Dyslexia; neurodiversity also describes the varied ways that people think, move, process information and communicate. Everyone’s brain is unique and should be celebrated; there is no one "right" way of thinking, learning, and behaving.


These reading lists, organized by grade level, represent recently published books that celebrate the strengths and talents of our neurodivergent community.

Buzzingby Samuel Sattin
Published: 2023
Format: Graphic Novel
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Representation:  OCD
Can You See Me?by Libby Scott & Rebecca Westcott
Published: 2021
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Representation: Autism
Audiobook available
Daisy Woodworm Changes the Worldby Melissa Hart
Published: 2022
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Representation: Down Syndrome
A Different Kind of Normal: My Real-Life COMPLETELY True Story About Being Uniqueby Abigail Balfe
Published: 2022
Format: Illustrated Nonfiction
Genre: Nonfiction - Autobiography
Representation: Autism
Each Tiny Sparkby Pablo Cartaya
Published: 2019
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Representation: ADHD
Ellen Outside the Linesby A.J. Sass
Published: 2021
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Representation: Autism
Fifty-Four Things Wrong with Gwendolyn Rogersby Caela Carter
Published: 2021
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Representation: ADHD
Audiobook available

Figure It Out, Henri Weldonby Tanita S. Davis
Published: 2023
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Representation: Dyscalculia
Audiobook available

Five Things About Ava Andrewsby Margaret Dilloway
Published: 2020
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Representation: Anxiety
Audiobook available
Frankie's Worldby Aofie Dooley
Published: 2022
Format: Graphic Novel
Genre: Fiction
Representation: Autism
Get a Grip, Vivy Cohenby Sarah Kapit
Published: 2020
Genre: Fiction - Sports
Representation: Autism


Honestly Elliottby Gillian McDunn
Published: 2022
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Representation: ADHD
Audiobook available
The Infiniteby Patience Agbabi
Published: 2020
Genre: Science Fiction
Representation: Autism
Like a Charmby Elle McNicoll
Published: 2022
Genre: Fantasy
Representation: Dyspraxia
Moonwalkingby Zetta Elliott & Lyn Miller-Lachmann
Published: 2022
Format: Novel in Verse
Genre: Historical Fiction
Representation: Autism
Audiobook available
Not if I Can Help Itby Carolyn Mackler
Published: 2019
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Representation: Sensory Differences
The Ojja-Wojja: A Horror-Mystery or Whateverby Magdalene Visaggio
Published: 2023
Format: Graphic Novel
Genre: Horror
Representation: Autism
A Perfect Mistakeby Melanie Conklin
Published: 2023
Genre: Mystery
Representation: ADHD
Audiobook available
Stepping Stonesby Lucy Knisely
Published: 2020
Format: Graphic Novel
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Representation: Dyscalculia

Tornado Brainby Cat Patrick
Published: 2020
Genre: Realistic Fiction / Mystery
Representation: Autism & ADHD
Tune It Outby Jamie Sumner
Published: 2021
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Representation: Sensory Differences
Up For Airby Laurie Morrison
Published 2019
Genre: Sports Fiction
Representation: Learning Differences
Welcome Back, Maple Mehta-Cohenby Kate McGovern
Published: 2021
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Representation: Dyslexia
Wonderfully Wired Brains: An Introduction to the World of Neurodiversityby Louise Gooding
Published: 2023
Genre: Nonfiction
Format: Illustrated Nonfiction
Representation: Multiple neurodiversities

How do I read these books?

Many of these books are available through Berkeley school libraries as a physical and/or ebook. For more information about any of these books, or to check one of them out, ask your school librarian.

For more information and instructions on accessing ebooks and audiobooks, visit our Digital Books page.

At a time when so many small businesses are struggling to keep their doors open, we also encourage folks to support our local bookstores: 

Ashay by the Bay, Bandung Books, Eastwind Books, Marcus Books, Moe’s Books, Mr. Mopps, Books Inc., Pegasus Books and Mrs. Dalloways.