Upward Bound

by Woody Brown

A wondrous, deeply affecting portrait of the interlocking lives at an adult day care center in Southern California, depicting an often overlooked community with extraordinary wit and grace—by a major new literary voice hailed as a “groundbreaking debut novelist” (Publishers Weekly)

"An unparalleled achievement, and a treasure. " —Rivka Galchen
"Woody Brown accomplishes the seemingly impossible."—Mona Simpson

Upward Bound is not a place anyone dreams of spending their days. The dreary adult daycare center for Los Angeles's disabled community is, for many of its clients and staff, a place of last resort. This includes Carlos, a young aide who lost his mother as a boy and now works there alongside his beloved sister Mariana; Jorge, the gentle nonspeaking giant whom Carlos seeks to befriend (and prevent from escaping); Tom, a beautiful young man with cerebral palsy, who pines for Ann, the summer lifeguard at the center's pool who feels out of her depth; then there's Dave, Upward Bound’s director who came to L.A. to pursue an acting career but now channels his passion into staging an overly ambitious holiday show starring the center's irrepressible clients. Framing these intertwined narratives—and connecting them in surprising, shattering ways—is the riveting and sometimes ironic testimony of Walter, a recent community college graduate who, after a family tragedy, must return to the company of his disabled peers.

In Upward Bound, Woody Brown has created an indelible, authentic, and profoundly moving group portrait of autism and other disabilities, all illuminated by his empathy, sly sense of humor, and enormous gifts as a novelist. With remarkable sophistication, insight, and creativity, Brown depicts a community too-often invisible in literature and society. Filled with characters you won't soon forget, Upward Bound will inspire and touch you, teaching you as much about yourself as the tender, miraculous world behind the center's doors.

Genres: Fiction, Disability, Literary Fiction, Contemporary

208 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication March 31, 2026

Reviews

[Brooklyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow what a nice surprise to find this debut novel by this autistic non-verbal writer Woody Brown. Thanks to #netgalley and #penguinrandomhouse for the advance copy. Upward Bound is a day care center for autistic adults - some non verbal - in Southern California. It is a series of connected short stories - each story focused on one character - from staff to clients to the Target checkout girl - where the clients are taken every Friday at 11:15 for a real world outing. My partner has worked as a home help aide to this population - so i was familiar the terrain. Yet this book s special in taking a world virtually hidden from the day to day world and delving into great deal. There is a Rashomon quality to the narrative - as we often see the same events from totally different perspectives. The client who tried to communicate by blinking his eyes once for Yes and two for No. And then from the perspective of his caregiver who never realized his trying to communicate - but found him hauntingly handsome regardless. There is a final denouement I will not reveal (and honestly slightly melodramatic but also sad) from the perspective of the characters who are experiencing the event - and from the perspective of a looker on and another client. Beautifully written and unlike any other book I’ve read - i predict this will be seen as a classic. The real theme is communication - understanding and being understood. Obviously the author put a lot of his own experiences in the writing and a lot of heart. Heartbreaking in fact. I learned and felt a lot - and admired the writing. I already wonder where this writer will go from here.

[Stephen the Bookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Jorge and I are both inmates at an insane asylum that passes itself off as a day program for autistic adults."

This is the story of Walter- recently graduated college student -who is now returning to the Upward Bound daycare centre for disabled persons following a family bereavement.

This is a compendium of interwoven stories exploring life at the centre through the eyes of attendees and staff- stories of love and friendship; challenges and barriers; misunderstandings and aspirations. From non-speaking Jorge to cerebral-palsy Tom with film star looks and to Dave the manager and Mariana and Carlos- siblings working at Upward Bound.

Woody Brown has created a book of beauty and wisdom enabling us the readers to enter a world that is unknown to most of us. This is a book that will deeply move many and positively challenge us to reflect upon and change perceptions.

Hooked from the start to the finish ; this is going to be a book that I'll recommend through 2026.
A triumph !
Thank you to Jonathan Cape and NetGalley for the advance copy.

[Kasa Cotugno · Rating 5 out of 5]

Upon finishing this remarkably moving, eloquent novel (really connected short stories), I found I had to learn more about Woody Brown, its author. There was so much relativity in the stories that what I assumed turned out to be true -- that Mr. Brown was writing from his experience. And his heart. The first nonverbal graduate of UCLA, his writer's thesis was an earlier version of Upward Bound in that it consisted of vignettes told from various points of view of clients, workers and even outsiders associated with an adult daycare facility. Brown went on to get an MFA in creative writing from Columbia University. So glad to hear he's already working on a second novel because he's definitely a writer to watch.

[Cori Samuel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Insightful set of interconnecting stories/vignettes set in a Los Angeles adult daycare centre.

The story starts in the first person with Walter, a nonspeaking autistic college graduate, who is forced by family circumstances to return to the daycare. It builds out from there, using different perspectives to describe the experience of being in a daycare: service users, staff members, and the local community they're part of. I really enjoyed reading this short novel, and the only thing that really threw me was the non-linearity of it ... a couple of timehops confused me briefly. However, all in all it's a book I'd definitely recommend, coming from a point of view rarely represented in fiction.

A quick reassurance too that this is neither superficial nor "misery lit" -- the author has a highly readable writing style that you will hopefully connect with as easily as I did.


This review is based upon a complimentary advance reading copy provided by the publisher.

[Sam Hughes · Rating 5 out of 5]

YALL I am truly crying in da club. I’m experiencing so many purely raw and unfiltered emotions at this time and I needed a bit to process this.

Many years ago I worked as an administrative intern at an Adult Daycare center and I was not working with those clients personally, I still saw the wonderful ways in which respite care helps provide support and community for such an underrepresented group.

I am greatly in awe of this book, its author (the wonderful Woody Brown, and all that he’s accomplished thus far. I’m predicting a few shortlist wins and likely even a celebrity book club pick out of this one!

I am so thankful to Hogarth Books, NetGalley, and Woody Brown for advanced digital access before this gem hits shelves on March 31, 2026.

Upward Bound tells the tale an adult daycare center by the same name where a series of clients, staff, and bystanders convene. Some verbal, most not, provide readers with an insider view into their thoughts and feels attending/working for this program.

Brown, so dutifully, captured my heart, conveying inner thoughts and emotions of each pivotal character and the roles they play in each other’s lives. And additionally shedding light on a community who’re often left behind and not taken seriously, due to government funding cuts and a lack of human empathy.

I am still tearing up, just thinking of this book. Such a job well done.

[amelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

wow. what a beautiful and deeply compassionate book

[Selma Stearns · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not put this down!! It’s so special to read a book from perspectives I’ve never read before. A collection of vignettes about clients, staff, and wider community members associated with a daycare centre for disabled adults. The character of Walter had the clearest, funniest, most compelling voice and I suspect Walter is a version of the author (who is also nonspeaking). I laughed, I cried, I learned.

[James B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and Hogarth for the ebook. This wonderful first novel is written by a man with autism and the book starts with Walter, a community college grad who wants to write as we see his mind dulling life during the day at a facility that serves the disabled community. As interesting as Walter is, the author expands the book to follow into the minds of other patients and also the various staff members as they swim, take a bus to the mall where they never buy anything and even put on a holiday pageant. An unforgettable glimpse into a world that so many turn their gaze away from.

[Maddie Marriott · Rating 5 out of 5]

empathymaxxing

[Lizzie B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny and heartfelt. This should be mandatory reading for neurotypical people!

[Ginny · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The story of my people isn't being told, or it's being told wrong. No neurotypical person can tell this story. No lovely actress, no smart but normal writer can tell you what this is like. My scar is a hieroglyph telling me to tell the story myself. My scar is in three dimensions."

Wow. I feel completely blown away by this debut novel - which comes from Woody Brown, a non-verbal autistic author and graduate from UCLA. 'Upward Bound' tells a story of life at a daycare facility for disabled young adults in California, told from a variety of different character perspectives at the facility. What makes this story so unique is that it puts us into the minds of non-verbal disabled people, and it opened my eyes (and heart) in a way that felt so powerful. And it's also masterfully written - I could not put it down. Usually i dislike stories that shift POV's, but with this story it felt critical to do so, and each of the POV's in the book had a unique character voice and personality that was captured so beautifully - I loved 'movie star' Tom and the Summer temp Ann's POV's the most. In the end, as the different perspectives all came together, culminating in a heartbreaking and shocking ending, I was left to marvel at the depth of feeling I had for these characters and how real they felt. On a personal note, it also captured a nostalgic feeling for me - I used to work in a residential school for children just like some of these characters, and it took me right back to that time, making me wonder about their inner worlds and how they're doing now.
Books like these are so important for building empathy and compassion, reminding us that no matter the barriers, we're all just human at the end of the day. Woody Brown has a bright writing career ahead of him, and I look forward to reading whatever he writes next. I'll be thinking about this unique story for a long while. Highly recommended.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher, Random House UK for the digital ARC. 'Upward Bound' is published in the UK 2 April 2026.

[Papergirl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Before I launch into my review, I would like to say a huge thank you to Woody Brown, Random House UK, and Netgalley for the Advanced Digital Reader Copy of this title. For anyone curious about this title, here is my personal review of the book to help you make up decide whether to delve in. All opinions offered are my own.

I won’t beat around the bush as I deliver what I know will be an unpopular opinion. I did not really enjoy this book. Whilst there was a lot of emotion in the book, I didn’t find the novel funny, or uplifting. To me, it was rather static until a climatical incident towards the end that moved me for a brief moment before I returned to the general mood I felt throughout the bulk of my reading.

I wasn’t blown away by the premise. Sure, it was different, unlike anything else I have ever come across, particularly in terms of subject matter, however, I was more captivated by the accomplishments of the writer to transcend his disabilities and achieve his degree and his publication. However, the multiple viewpoints wasn’t wow. We’ve seen this before, so it did not feel incredibly special, although I appreciated that every chapter was dedicated to an ‘inmate,’ staff member, or aspiring staff member. I also appreciated how each chapter was a story within a story, some seeming like a standalone incident and others a different perspective of a given scenario. That said, I felt the pace was slow and the book took me far longer to read than it should have done.

It is obvious that the book draws a lot from Woody’s own experience. I was indifferent to this until I read the mini interview with him at the end that asked about his inspiration. The aims Brown had and how he executed them rose the book up in my estimation, but again, I am more taken by the author than the book itself. And I know this is an absolute shame because every last narrator is distinct from the others.

The book is a slow burn, where not a great deal really happens. It’s suited to a reader that wants to immerse themselves in someone else’s life, the type of life that isn’t imbued with romantic notions, fantasy, or even constant drama. People with disabilities might appreciate seeing characters that endure their struggles, mirrors to themselves. Able-bodied readers may gather an understanding of how the other half live, and how they feel. Overall, I think the book is for a novel niche audience. I would welcome more books on the subject matter, but I need a bit more pizzazz in the plot, or a bigger, longer climax to hold my attention. This book just seems extremely slow until it wasn’t, but it was a ‘blink and you’ll miss it’ moment before returning to a very sedate stroll to the end. It’s going to take some more empathetic readers than I to fully appreciate this book.

[Al · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a touching, eye-opening book. The author, Woody Brown, was the first nonspeaking autistic graduate of UCLA. The novel, a series of interconnected vignettes, offers the reader a glimpse into the lives of neurodivergent people along with the neurotypical people who interact with them - even a clerk at Target who observes their group on outings to the store. Brown gets into the minds of the different characters and helps the reader try to understand what it’s like to be in their heads and to live their lives. He has accomplished something remarkable in his writing.

Thank you to Random House/Hogarth and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[em · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a beautifully hopeful, at times funny, and others heart wrenching, book. Brown gives voice to the voiceless in this, from Walter’s inquisitive commentary to Tom and his daydreams. And Carlos, loveable and doomed Carlos. I loved every single second of this, it is a must read for anyone and everyone. This book highlights the importance of listening to every, really listening, and understanding. Every character and POV was created and written with such care and detail, that I really came to believe they were real people. Felt like a hug in book form, a real treasure to read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for kindly providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. #UpwardBound #NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book that I'm going to be recommending to everyone that I know. Upward Bound is written in a perspective that I feel like anyone who reads it will come away better for it. Woody Brown has written such a lovely debut novel and I will be keeping an eye out for what he releases in the future. Brown, who is a non verbal autistic, really brings a voice to the voiceless. I just can't say enough good things about it. He brings the perspectives of the clients and the caregivers out in such an honest raw way. Don't skip on this one. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy. I will be thinking about this book for a long time.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a debut for Woody Brown - the first nonspeaking autistic graduate of UCLA!

I really enjoyed reading this novel. It's funny, frustrating, and melancholic all at the same time. I also liked how it was split into smaller viewpoints from different characters to see how they all intertwine with each other. I believe this should be required reading for everyone and I'm looking forward to more books in the future from Brown.

Thank you Random House UK, Vintage and NetGalley for the chance to read this fantastic book.

[Lola · Rating 5 out of 5]

Upward Bound gives readers rare, eye-opening access to the candid inner thoughts of people with disabilities (including those who cannot speak), and answers questions people may shy away from asking. This speech-language pathologist devoured it in one evening.

Thanks to NetGalley and Hogarth for the ARC!

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This should be required reading for everyone. I laughed, I cried, I reflected on my own ignorance that someone who’s severely disabled may be having a full and nuanced inner monologue as they go about their life. I hope this book wins awards because it deserves to shine.

[Alli · Rating 5 out of 5]

A debut???

An autistic daycare center…from POVs of a guy with CP, the manager of the daycare, a seasonal employee, an admin and her brother who is a caretaker, and other autistic folks that attend.

While the story is non-linear, the chapters clearly differentiate the different POVs. The first couple breaks I needed to figure it out but then came to anticipate it.

My heart aches for Walter. I want to be his friend. And Jorge. And Carlos? Ugh.

This one will stick with you.

Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Lucy Ellis-Hardy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was very pleased to receive a free advance review copy of Upward Bound by Woody Brown, and this is my honest review.  This book really stayed with me. I found it completely compelling and ended up reading it in two sittings.

The story centres on Walter, a recent college graduate whose father has just died. His mother is struggling, and with very few options, enrols her non-verbal autistic son in Upward Bound, an adult day care facility for people with autism and other disabilities.  Walter  communicates at home with his mother through a word board and typing, but this doesn't happen at the facility.  From there, Brown gives us a close, often uncomfortable look at life inside that world for Walter and the other clients, while also allowing space for some moments of real kindness and compassion.

The book is written mainly from Walter’s perspective, but Brown also shifts into the voices of others at Upward Bound, including Director Dave, carer Carlos, fellow “inmate” Jorge, and others. These different perspectives add so much depth and nuance, and I’m really glad the author chose to structure the book this way. It made the place, and the people in it, feel fully realised rather than observed from a distance.

I found this book both enlightening and very emotional at times. It’s often heartbreaking, and it quietly but firmly challenges stereotypes around disability, adult day care, and non-verbal autism.

Knowing that Woody Brown himself is a non-verbal autistic man adds another layer to this book. It feels important, necessary, and deeply human.  This is not a light read, but it is a meaningful one, and I’ll definitely be telling my bookish friends about this novel. I look forward to reading more from this author.

[Deb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher, Hogarth, an imprint of Random House, a division of Penguin Random House LLC,
and the author, Woody Brown, for the privilege to read this advanced copy through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

I'm very selective and stingy on giving a book five stars. It has to be a book that will "stay" with me, that is, I'll remember it in the future. This book definitely qualifies. I found it very enlightening and informative on life in a facility for adults with special needs, including its limitations. Upward Bound is the facility that accommodates autistic adults. The relationships between clients and staff as well as between each other are well developed in the book. The reader gets to know each character. What they're thinking and feeling especially for nonspeaking clients. It dives into their past and their challenges experienced in the home, at school and in public. What life is like for an autistic person. I learned alot about what life is like for an autistic person: "Many autistic students do not at first glance appear to be capable of sophisticated thoughts."

Each chapter is written from a character's perspective. I especially loved Ann, the lifeguard. The love, fun, and enthusiasm she showed the people in her care was contagious and touched me! One client with the cerebral palsy was intelligent but nonverbal. So many aspects about this book is thought provoking and heart touching. I absolutely loved how well written this book is and how insightful it is to inspire readers to be understanding with disabled people. The story weaves through a plot that just won't let go. Ann, the lifeguard, said it best, "They, the disabled, were not the other. I was the other, and they had let me in." Amen!

I couldn't put the book down. I highly recommend this book. To anyone! You can't help but be glad you have read it.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't know until I read the author's bio that he is the first nonspeaking person with autism to graduate from UCLA, somehow making this book more powerful. It centers around an adult daycare center, where most of the clients have autism. I don't like the usage of archaic/non-PC phrases like "mentally retarded," but I like how the narration alternated perspectives, including a couple of the clients. Getting inside their "brain" emphasizes that they are truly like everyone else. Walter and Tom's minds work just fine; it's their bodies that don't.

This was too much of a glimpse, however; I want to know more. And Carlos' death is heartbreaking, but shows how real life can be dangerous for people with disabilities. Does Ann come back? And why are the employees at Upward Bound so...unqualified? Especially for clients who need help communicating? I suspect that is likely the sad reality at many places.

Thank you to Hogarth and NetGalley for the ARC.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Upward Bound is an adult daycare center for people with disabilities, many of them autistic and/or nonverbal. (The author is a nonverbal autistic college and MFA grad.) Through interconnected stories from the points of view of various clients, caregivers, and outsiders observing, Brown paints a kaleidoscopic picture of the connections and challenges, the sad and the funny, and the structural and personal obstacles these characters encounter. Written with keen observation, the author gives voice to characters I don't encounter much, or really at all, in fiction. I loved having the perspectives of both the clients and the caregivers together, seeing the impact both have on each other, as well as the missed communication that sometimes occurs. Everyone is given such attention and complexity, from each of the clients and the differences in their physical and communication abilities and personalities, to the various staff: the stickler manager, the temporary staff member, even the Target cashier who witnesses their weekly outings. It takes a turn to the slightly melodramatic near the end, though I recognize the importance of the storyline and the reason for including it.

[Erin J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Upward Bound is written by a nonverbal autistic man, and reading it forced me to confront a reality I hadn’t spent much time considering before - what adulthood looks like when you cannot communicate in ways the world recognizes. The book centers on life inside an adult day facility for autistic and disabled adults, and what stayed with me most was the constant feeling of being trapped inside yourself. The clients are desperate to be seen and understood, and as a reader I found myself yearning for the people around them to notice. When those moments of connection did happen, they felt both joyful and heartbreaking because of how rare and fleeting they were.

What makes this book so powerful is that it doesn’t simplify that world. The author shows the full range of frustration, exhaustion, tenderness, and misunderstanding that exists not only for the nonverbal clients, but also for their families and the employees trying to care for them. No one is spared, and no one is villainized. I finished this book with my eyes opened to how many lives unfold quietly, out of sight, simply because they don’t fit the ways we expect people to speak or connect.

If you’re looking for a book that will really stick with you, this is the one.

[Elizabeth Hailwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The story of my people isn’t being told, or it’s being told wrong. No neurotypical person can tell this story. No lovely actress, no smart but normal writer can tell you what this is like. My scar is a hieroglyph telling me to tell the story myself. My scar is in three dimensions.”

Thank you to NetGalley and random house uk for this e-arc of Upward Bound by Woody Brown.

This book was a witty, beautiful, uncomfortable and thought-provoking insight into the challenges faced by disabled people. I loved hearing snippets of the story from different viewpoints, moving around between those attending the centre, the staff and other members of the public who came into contact with them.

It covered the very clear lack of funding, training and awareness when it comes to care and support for disabled people whilst remaining entertaining and engaging. The pace, the humour and the glimmers of hope, connection and respect from some wonderful characters all came together to make a really fantastic story.

I highlighted this quote from the questions with the author at the end of the book and I think he’s achieved exactly what he set out to do, certainly for me anyway. I think more people need to read books like this, written by those with first hand experience of the struggles faced.

“I wanted to speak to the general population, those who have no intimate knowledge of profound disability. My hope is that they will be drawn to my book because it is good writing, then learn something about our world in the process.”

[Maya Friend · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘My hope is that they will be drawn to my book because it is good writing, then learn something about our world in the process’ - goal achieved that was an amazing read.

I can’t remember the last time I read a whole book in one day but I was gripped! It seems odd to say as this is a book predominantly about character development rather than plot, but I was so invested in learning more about the characters that I couldn’t put it down.

Reading a book about the experience of autistic people, from someone who is non-speaking autistic, felt like a privilege. Lots of our understanding of autism comes from people like me, autistic people who can communicate verbally. And it’s too easy to forget how differently that can impact people.

The frustration and desire to be understood was palpable, I felt annoyed on the character’s behalves on multiple occasions! But I loved the hope it left in between heavy topics.

Whether Brown decides to carry on with the same characters, or shift to a new story, I’d be really interested to read any more books he releases. Impressive debut!

ARC received through Net Galley

[Paul Gormley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful book, full of laughter and kindness, sadness and tragedy.

Upward Bound is a daycare facility for young adults with a range of needs, many of whom are severely autistic and non speaking. The novel presents us with the stories of clients, staff and one outsider who witnesses the clients on their weekly trip to Target.

The insights are many and the author, himself autistic, shows how connections can be made between the neurotypical and the neurodivergent even when communication is limited.

There is also a recurring theme of the ways in which such young people are institutionalised and infantilised by the care system, and cared for by other young people with limited training (and poorly remunerated).

This is an important story with an avoidable tragedy at its core which shows the fear and ignorance that most people with autism and other needs face. The story is a cry for inclusivity and empathy, with a need for both understanding and financial resources to support young people to maximise their potential.

A must read.

(I was given an advance copy in exchange for an honest review)

[Ben Dutton · Rating 5 out of 5]

The debut novel of Woody Brown is set in Upward Bound, a day care facility for people with disabilities. Walter, a recent college graduate dealing with the loss of his father, enrols his non-verbal mother in this facility, and Woody Brown's novel expands to hear the voices of these non-verbal residents, the staff and Walter. This makes for a compelling and fascinating insight into a world that will be unfamiliar to many, myself included.

Brown's novel is very conversational and immediately engaging, with a strong sense of character. He manages to build up small portraits of the various characters that pass through the doors of Upward Bound and makes us care for them.

Brown himself is non-verbal, but through this debut he novels he speaks volumes. I'm very keen to read what comes next from him.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC.

[Toni Madison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had a hard time putting into words all of the emotions that this book made me feel. The author, Woody Brown, is a nonspeaking autistic graduate of UCLA and his book is a breath of fresh air. Upward Bound is an adult daycare facility for disabled adults who are mostly autistic, although down syndrome and cystic fibrosis is also mentioned.

The insight you get from Walter, who reminds me a lot of my son, is incredible. The chapters change to different characters and perspectives and I REALLY wanted a chapter from Jorge’s point of view. This book will make you feel ALL the feelings, from sadness to joy, to comfort and you might even ugly cry(🙋🏼‍♀️) Highly recommend. Thank you to Random House and Netgalley for the advanced copy.

[Tabitha Kluka · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so glad to have received a copy of this ARC. I was fully and happily engrossed in this world as it pertains to one fictional daycare center for disabled adults. The story is phenomenal and vast, while being limited to quick peeks into the lives of different staff members, clients, and others who have been affected by a small group of people perpetually frustrated by their lack of autonomy and control. This book's passionate insight is staggering and heartbreaking. This might be one of the most important books to be published this year.