A great collection of short comics made by autistic folks about their experiences with autism. Despite recent shifts, it can still be hard to find literature that centers autistic voices, and this collection goes beyond that minimum to discuss how autism intersects with race, gender, sexuality, and class. It’s a good mix of personal anecdotes and broader discussions of issues facing the autistic community, including medical bias, access to care and resources, and marginalizing language. But this isn’t just a book about those difficulties! It is also filled with autistic joy, love, hope, and pleasure.

"Sensory: Life on the Spectrum" was a very informative and cathartic read for me. I was just diagnosed with autism this year at the ripe 'ol age of 31. It has been a struggle of trying to detangle all the aspects of my life that I've heavily masked or just did not have words to convey. It felt really great to connect with others through their stories and experiences. It was also really nice to get information on some resources for autism. I am very thankful for books like this one and hope to come across more like it in the future.

As a late diagnosed autistic adult... this book is everything I've been looking for. I would highly recommend this to any autistic individual or allistic looking to learn.

I can't wait to purchase a physical copy to keep on my coffee table.

Thank you so much to Andrews McMeel Publishing and Netgalley for this!

I have ADHD and self diagnosed autism and while im "high functioning" (yes I hate to use that word but hey...) I definitely struggle with a lot of the topics in this graphic novel. I especially liked the comic "Of fairy lights and change", because the concept of time is something I have been struggling with more or less my whole life, and it felt nice to read someone elses thoughts on the matter, and alswo the infantilisation of autistic women because whoa, as soon as someone learns about my autism I immediately go from a normal 3o-something woman to a little baby barely able to speak, apparaently...

I really can't somment much on the artwork since its an anthology of multiple artists, some I liked, some I didnt, and sometimes i struggled to read the captions because of the fonts.

This book covers everything, from masking and stimming, getting diagnosed, burnout and the challenges we face. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who is on the spectrum, know someone who is, and especially to those with little to no experience with autism, because there is SO MUCH disinformation out there about autism and being on the spectrum. We are not all the same.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportuity to read this arc!

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher’s for this absolutely astonishing graphic novel. This honestly put into perspective so many things just in one book. All of the art was beautiful and this was definitely a 5 star read. Not only did I throughly enjoy it, it provided me with a great learning experience!
5 stars

It's always so beneficial to hear from Own Voices. I'm so glad that anthologies like this exist for younger folks today who may be starting their own journey with an ASD diagnosis. I enjoyed the variety of artwork. There was a good balance between light-hearted and more serious issues. It's also great that there was a focus on bringing attention to marginalized individuals with ASD.

Such a unique collection from autistic contributors. I have an autistic child and always appreciate hearing from autistic adults about their experiences. My son is also nonspeaking so being able to hear from others about how autism affects their daily life is very helpful and informative. I do think autism varies so much among individuals and that was definitely evident in these comics.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC.

*Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review*

Out: October 18

I have a few people in my life who are on the Autism Spectrum and this comic book collection really helped shine a light on what they experience and how they feel on a daily basis. I definitely recommend this for anyone who wants more info on the topic. It's a collection of many different artists and their experiences in graphic form.

I have a daughter on the spectrum, and she likes to draw and to sing, I guess we all have our talents, this comic book has the works of several authors, that or are autistic themselves or are telling their views of people they know what are in the spectrum, and that is a valid view.

I like that the artwork of each story is different, and that almost for itself tells a different tale. I highly recommend this comic book for everyone really, you don’t have to have someone with autism to like this book nor you need to be on the spectrum to like it, and even to explain some situations to children is an a great asset.

Thank you NetGalley for the free ARC and this is my honest opinion.

This is very interesting and insightful insight into autism and understanding it. I like the fact that it told us about having a diagnosis of autism and what happens pre diagnosis. I like the methods of each of the different strategies that are put in place and the help when you're feeling overstimulated or stimming. The styles vary, and the subjects vary, but they all deal with life's struggles of being different, feeling "abnormal," suffering because one does not "belong," and so on. These stories speak to me deeply, and I hope they speak to other readers as well, allowing more people to understand autism and, perhaps, to feel that we aren't all that different after all.

The size of rite typical day-to-day life of an individual who has autism.

This is a book about autism for people with autism and people without. Each comic details different experiences— from being diagnosed at a later age to the burnouts from masking for lon periods of time. The many distinct art styles of the many artists that worked on this book are unique and beautiful in their own right. Not every comic is a positive experience being described. Some describe the sinking or suffocating feelings people with autism have because others either do not understand or simply ridicule them. There are many powerful messages that take up only a page with little to no dialogue. There are also many helpful tips provided for those with autism to take into account. As someone who isn’t professionally diagnosed, this book has given me insight that I did not have before and helped me understand better what I am going through. This book is something every single person should read, whether on the spectrum or not. It will give the reader a better understanding of people with autism from actual people with autism. With the lack of autism awareness and representation in media today, this anthology of comics is a breath of fresh air.

This is an anthology of comics contributed by artists who are on the autistic spectrum. The styles vary, the subject of each story may be different, but they deal with struggles in life for being different, feeling “abnormal,” a sense of suffering because one does not “belong,” and so on. These stories resonate deeply with me, and hopefully can resonate with other readers as well, allowing more people to understand autism, and perhaps even to feel that we are all not really that different, after all.

Full review will be posted soonish and I'll add links to blog as well.

I would like to thank the publisher and netgalley for providing me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book for so many reasons. I want to start by saying that I myself am not professionally diagnosed with autism. That being said I really enjoyed being educated on ASD and a lot of the aspects and issues people with asd face on a daily basis. I liked hearing for so many different perspectives. I think the artwork added a lot of visual help with understanding it as well. It was fun to see all of the different writing and art styles used throughout this book by all of the creators! Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read and educate myself a bit on the topic. :)

This is an anthology of comics written and drawn by actually autistic people. As late diagnosed autistic person it means so much to me, to be able to feel represented in a book and hearing people talk about experiences I've had for my entire life was something I didn't know I needed. What's more is that the artists in this anthology are diverse, there are women of color, trans people, queer people and they all get to tell their experiences.

This book is needed in spaces for kids as well as adults so that we know we're not alone in this world.

I don't know that I've read a book quite like this before, but I'm so glad I have now. At once a compilation, a resource for tips and tricks, and an informative glimpse at autism and autistic experiences, Ollerton's graphic novel is one to look out for. Each installment is unique both in message and in design, and as stated in the introduction, having these voices be for and by autistic people is wonderful.

The title I needed. I finished this book in tears because it just hits home.
They are so much stories, I appreciated how inclusive and diverse they were, how colourful and colourless they were.

It’s so important for a lot of people and to me, it needs to be in every library, schools… everywhere. Not everything is simple but I wish diagnosis (for those who which to have it) could be less a journey and more a right.

« SOMETIMES, I STILL HAVE MOMENTS WHERE I RESENT THE TIME I LOST NOT UNDERSTANDING MYSELF.I SHOULDN’T HAVE TO STRUGGLE THE WAY I DID. WHY DIDNIT ANY ONE SEE IT?
WHY DIDN’T I SEE IT? 'WHY DIDT HAVE TO SLIP THROUGH THE CRACKS.? »

I don’t know how to express how impactful these stories were to me! I will sure get myself a physical copy of it when it’ll come out and gift it to some people.
As this book adress the issue with resources: some are really outdates and it’s sometimes hard to find relatable stories. This collaboration is just perfect for it. It’s a part of the spectrum in itself and I’m sure it’ll help people.
Just: thank you.

I found this collection of comics to be very insightful and informative. I have never been diagnosed with autism, but I do identify with a lot of the traits of autism. I think this will be a great book for our library. So many of the books on the topic of autism lean clinical, or are geared towards helping parents understand their autistic child. This is different and necessary. Not just as autistic folks speaking to their autistic peers, but also for allistics to understand the needs of the neurodivergent.
I received a digital copy of this book to review. I do think this book is probably best consumed in physical format.

While I appreciate the Own Voices aspect of this anthology, and despite the author's note at the beginning about how the entries were originally posts for April’s Autism Awareness Month, its disjointedness in art style makes for an unpleasant reading experience. I DNF’d at 32% I think this is a good example of. Not just anyone should be able to publish; this highlights the importance of editors.

Loved it! This was such a neat way to view so many different experiences and coping skills when it comes to being on the spectrum. The art was so freaking cool from person to person and as an anthology/collection I haven't found one in the graphic novel space that felt so accessible and cohesive while also prompting me to need to finish. I'd love to see more like this.