Today, guest-blogger,
Caitlin Lore, shares important thoughts and insight about neurodiversity in middle grade literature. Buckle up! You're in for a treat.
Let's define neurodiversity first:
Let's define neurodiversity first:
Across
the Spectrum: The Importance of Neurodiversity Representation in Middle Grade
Lit
By
Caitlin Lore
When
novels are full of the same type of character—a heterosexual, white, neurotypical
tween—or in other words a character who represents the “unmarked state,” readers,
especially the child reader, may feel alone or invisible. Yet, when readers are
represented in the pages by way of ethnicity, culture, religion, sexuality, and/or
disability, they are seen and heard, and these readers realize they are not
alone in the world. Diversity, particularly neurodiversity in middle grade
literature, invites readers into a character’s life for the time being,
offering a chance for neurodiverse readers to find themselves in the story
while also teaching neurotypical readers the importance of perspective taking.
As
the publishing industry continues to shift from the old-school canon of almost
exclusively showing WASP characteristics as the heroes to now including POC heroes
and heroines and also publishing books representing OWN voices authors and
characters, more young readers are able to see themselves within the pages. But
there is still a gap in diversity in children’s literature when it comes to disability
representation. Many studies on diversity in publishing focus on race and
ethnicity, specifically the annual Statistics on Multicultural Children’s Books
done by the CCDC . This is extremely important work and hopefully will pave the
way for the publishing industry to create more books with representation for
those with disabilities, including neurodiverse characters. Representation
matters, and according to a September 2019 article released by Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, people with disabilities represent 26% of Americans.
Neurodiversity
is important in middle grade literature because this is the time when children
experience a wide range of growth, including how the world tends to view and
treat others. Though we are becoming a more inclusive society, unfortunately we
are still one that often places a stigma on differences and disabilities. For
instance, in Ibi Zoboi’s My Life as an
Ice Cream Sandwich, the main character Ebony-Grace appears to fall on the
autism spectrum. Though it is not explicitly stated, readers with awareness of neurodiversity
will notice that Ebony-Grace sees life differently than the kids around her.
She often retreats into her imagination location where she is “Space Cadet
E-Grace Starfleet” and the people in her
life are characters, too. Though this is Ebony-Grace’s perspective on the
world, those around her do not see it that way. In fact, her friend Bianca continually
asks her, “Why are you so weird?” which reinforces a stigma that Ebony-Grace’s
difference is just that: different.
Later,
Ebony-Grace struggles to find words to express what she’s feeling about this. Her
Father approaches her about being disrespectful, and she says, “I’m just trying
to be…regular and normal”. This is a moment of vulnerability and revelation in
Ebony-Grace’s character. She is confident in who she is, but she also
recognizes how the world sees her. Shannon Maughan’s article in Publisher’s
Weekly, “Navigating Middle Grade Books” states that Rebeka Simonson, an
editor at Atheneum Books, “[believes] middle
grade fiction deals with the things kids are going through at those ages… a
growing awareness of the wide world outside of oneself and the injustices it
often contains.” Scenes in My Life as an
Ice Cream Sandwich reveal important moments of injustice both in the novel
and in society: how the world responds to kids who are different. Yet the fact
that Ebony-Grace is the main character of this novel presents an opportunity
for neurodiverse readers to connect and grow with her as she confronts the
stigma of her difference. It also presents an opportunity for neurotypical kids
to develop empathy.
Diversity
representation with characters like Ebony-Grace in middle grade literature is extremely
important. In Haley Moss article entitled, Diverse Autistic Authors Are Changing
Neurodiveristy Representation in Books, she states that, “No autistic young
reader should feel alone or that they don’t identify with how neurotypicals
view them; they deserve access to stories of acceptance and empowerment.”
While
neurodiversity in middle grade literature gives those identifying with brain
differences a place to find connection, representation is also important for
neurotypical readers. As mentioned earlier, growing empathy is imperative. Middle
grade literature that features neurodiversity gives all readers the chance to
explore the mental and emotional state of another human being, which ultimately
can be a gateway to teaching empathy. Another novel that does this well is counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan.
From the very beginning, the protagonist, Willow Chance states that she is, “…different.
As in strange.” The character goes on to explain, “But I know it and that takes
the edge off. At least for me.” The only
overt indications of Willow’s neurodiversity are when she informs readers she
was labeled as “highly gifted” after being evaluated at school. However, Willow
is also told that she lives too much inside her head. She has an obsession of
counting by 7s, which she says she “uses as an escape technique.” She is also particularly
drawn to skin disorders and plants both of which border on the obsessive side.
Today, Willow might be
diagnosed as falling on the autism spectrum, and while that is never revealed
to readers, it is still clear that Willow would identify as neurodiverse.
The
majority of counting by 7s is told from Willow’s perspective, which allows
readers a deep look at life through the eyes of a neurodiverse character. Both neurodiverse
and neurotypical readers have the opportunity to connect with Willow. However,
though empathy is innate, it is not automatic. Neurotypical readers must engage
in perspective taking when reading, connecting with Willow’s emotions, learning
what it is like to be called weird, and feeling what it’s like to not be
accepted by the herd. By engaging in perspective-taking, neurotypical readers
are thrust into Willow’s thoughts, feelings, and moments. Readers experience
the turmoil and ridicule alongside her which in turn garners empathetic feelings
and a deeper desire to understand her world. Karol Silverstein wrote the article
“How Stories About Disability Help Create Empathy” for the We Need Diverse Books
blog, and she says neurodiverse representation matters because it bridges “the
gap between discomfort and familiarity, between fear of the unknown and true
empathy.” Diversity in middle grade literature often goes beyond mere
understanding—diversity is about true representation and inclusion. When a
neurotypical reader takes the perspective of a neurodiverse character, there is
a coming together of worlds and a shift from the unknown to understanding.
Reading list:
If you enjoyed counting by 7's and My
Life as an Ice Cream Sandwich, here are eight more middle grade reads
with neurodiverse characters that Caitlin highly recommends!
1.
Not if I Can Help it by Carolyn Mackler, featuring 5th grader Willa who is
learning to manage her Sensory Processing Disorder among other
big life changes.
2.
Planet Earth is Blue by Nicole Panteleakos, featuring 12 year-old,
space-loving Nova who is autistic and mostly non-verbal, learning to express
herself.
3.
The Someday Birds by Sally J. Pla, featuring 12 year-old Charlie who falls on the
autism spectrum, and loves birds, chicken nuggets, & is just trying to make
sense of the world.
4.
Each Tiny Spark by Pablo Cartaya, featuring Emilia Torres who has a hard
time focusing because of her ADHD, and wishes she could reconnect with her dad.
5.
Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt, featuring Ally who's never had
trouble hiding her dyslexia until she meets her new teacher, Mr. Daniels.
6.
The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl by Stacy McAnulty, featuring Lucy Callahan who has
genius-level math skills after being struck by lightning but still struggles
with middle school.
7.
Focused by Alyson Gerber, featuring 7th grader Clea who is always
distracted and when she starts having problems at school, finds out it's
because she has ADHD.
8.
A Mango-Shaped Space by Wendy Mass, featuring Mia Winchell who has synesthesia
and wants to keep it a secret.
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Thank you, Caitlin!
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