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

208 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication March 31, 2026

Reviews

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[amelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

wow. what a beautiful and deeply compassionate book

[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!

[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.

[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!

[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.

[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.

[Stroop · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful and warm-hearted debut. Upward Bound is an adult daycare center. Each chapter gives us the perspective of an Upward Bound client or staff member, and, in one case, a cashier who witnesses Upward Bound’s weekly field trip to her store. The storytelling is thought-provoking, cozy, and empathetic. Highly recommended!

Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.

[Desig · Rating 4 out of 5]

good one

[Ryan Brandenburg · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m torn between giving this book a high or low rating. On one hand, I enjoyed the feel of it being a series of short stories. On the other hand, I wish it had been a single, cohesive story that I could have invested more in.

Overall, it was a sweet book that was quite unique in its setting—an assisted living facility, which I hadn’t really considered before.

I’m curious to see how other readers feel about it when it releases in March 2026.

[Lillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Woody Brown became the first nonspeaking, autistic graduate of UCLA. He is the author of this book.
His writing has touched my heart. He tells what it is like to live in a world not able to communicate with him. Not understanding his sensory process. Carlos, who felt communication with Jorge in his heart. The life inside a person like Tom that if not carefully observed is not realized. #upwardbound #woodybrown
I thank Net Galley for the opportunity to read #upwardbound.
Pop Sugar# 46 A book that includes a nonverbal character.

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imagine being unable to speak, to express your thoughts, feelings, and moods in words, verbally so that others can understand. Imagine being stared at by others because you look different, act differently, and often express your frustrations and discomfort in ways society perceives as unacceptable. In his debut novel, Upward Bound, Woody Brown creates characters who display the personalities and behaviors of individuals who have autism, Down syndrome, and other mental and physical disabilities. Each chapter features someone different – a couple clients at the day program, Upward Bound, the program director, the young woman who is hired as a lifeguard, an employee at Target where the clients go each Friday for a field trip, a couple staff members who are especially dedicated to their work.

I was drawn to this book for two reasons. First, my twin brother and his wife have twin daughters who were both diagnosed with autism when they were three years old. They are now in their 40s. They are mostly non-verbal, have always lived at home with their parents, and attend a day program. When their parents are unable to care for them, the plan is that their brother will become their guardian. Secondly, I worked in a day program for developmentally disabled adults for more than 17 years, so I identified with much of the book. I saw former clients in the descriptions of Jorge and Tom – men who were “trapped” in adult bodies. Jorge – needing the comfort and security of Mr. Potato Head. Tom – handsome, intelligent, educated, able to communicate with a letter board at home, but unable to say many intelligible words and is also physically challenged.

The staff, too, struck me as real people. Dave, the director, is a wanna-be actor who landed this gig instead. He doesn’t understand the clients. His rules are inane. The routine is monotonous and uninspiring. There is no room for individuality or growth. Ann, the lifeguard, is a summer hire who is understandably nervous at first, but the clients grow on her, especially Tom, and she is sorry to leave at the end of the summer. My favorite staffer is Carlos, who was raised by his sister Mariana, who got him the job at Upward Bound. He turns out to be the best employee and the guy who really cares the most about all the clients, especially Jorge. In all my years working with individuals who had multiple disabilities, I enjoyed discovering the personalities of my clients. Often, the challenges were difficult, as Mr. Brown’s book shows, but there can be rewards. All these many years later, I have many fond memories of people I worked with. The program still exists today, and I sincerely hope that there has been growth in the focus and programming since I’ve been gone; there is always room for improvement.

Finally, I was so happy to read the note about the author! In 2022, Woody Brown graduated from UCLA as the first person with autism to graduate from UCLA. He received the English department’s top writing honors and went on to Columbia University, where he earned his MFA in creative writing in 2024. Congratulations, sir, on your accomplishments and on your first book! Outstanding!

I received an ARC of Upward Bound. My thoughts and opinions are my own. Thanks to NetGalley, Hogarth, and the author

5 stars

[Angie Kim · 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."

Reading Upward Bound is a profoundly moving and powerful experience. Comprised of twelve related stories told by people with different relationships to an adult daycare center in LA (some staff, some clients, and one outside observer), this novel tells the story of how a group of disabled, nonspeaking adults come together with one another and with their caregiving staff. They form friendships, put on shows, find moments of joy in the pool and at the nearby Target, try to communicate in different ways, and when it all gets to be too much, they fall apart, too. Woody Brown shows such a sophisticated command of language and voice in how he uses different POVs to expose biases and flawed assumptions, Rashomon-style. For me, as the different perspectives came together, culminating in a heartbreaking and shocking ending, I was left to marvel at how much I'd come to care about the characters by virtue of having gotten to know them directly (through their own narrated stories) and through the eyes of a variety of other narrators as well.

The ARC I have has a wonderful Q&A with Woody Brown at the end. When asked why he wrote this book, he said, "I wanted to show readers what it's like to be constantly underestimated and misunderstood. I wanted to let typical people know what it feels like to not be seen because of disability and how it feels when they refuse to look at us.... I want readers to reconsider their attitudes and assumptions about severely disabled people in light of how they are depicted in my work." Woody Brown, you have succeeded in doing all that. Bravo!

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Upward Bound
By Woody Brown

This is a fantastic book by a fantastic young man who was the first non-speaking autistic to graduate from UCLA and garner the English department's top writing honors. Mr. Brown went on to earn an MFA in creative writing from Columbia University in 2024. This is his first book. He is currently at work writing another.

Upward Bound is the name of an adult daycare for adults with disabilities. Woody writes about the facility as only a "client" can. He talks about the caregivers and his fellow clients in a way that will break your heart while he opens your eyes to the reality of what life is like for people with these kinds of disabilities. To be trapped in a body that does not allow you to communicate while your mind is working overtime is truly a nightmare.

Woody is fortunate that he had two loving parents. When his dad died, Woody's mom became his champion, dedicating her life to opening up his world by teaching him how to "write" by selecting letters on a letter-board to spell out messages. He certainly owes his mom more than he can ever repay. But his continued successes are due to his perseverance and his strong desire to communicate with "normal" people.

This should be a must read for anyone who has ever looked at a disabled person and only seen the differences. Truly we are all much more alike than we think.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC.

[Danna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Upward Bound is a special book. Woody Brown’s cast of characters is associated with Upward Bound, a daycare for adults with autism. Each chapter is told from a different vantage point: a community member or someone on the Upward Bound staff. It reads a bit like short stories, but clearly and expertly linked. None of the autistic people in this book have full verbal ability. Yet, Brown provides what feels like an incredibly accurate and emotional view into each of their minds. Brown, the author, is also nonspeaking,

This book is poignant, beautiful, and deeply sad. Highly recommended. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Favorite quote:
“She hates the customers who stay glued to their phones while they shop. They make the stupidest mistakes at checkout. Like leaving behind their wallets or half their items. Avery doesn’t care about the abandoned credit card or forgotten Lysol. She worries about the little kids staring at the wrong side of the device devouring their parents’ focus and attention. She’s no expert, but Avery assumes that most kids would escalate their behaviors to compete with the powerful computer in their parent’s face. As in the scene playing out in front of her.“

[Anne Wolfe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before finishing the first chapter of Woody Brown's first novel, I realized that what I was reading was written by a voice who knew everything about the particular handicap suffered by Walter. Each successive chapter is written in the voice or from the viewpoint of other employees or "clients" of Upward Bound. Whether it is Ann, a college student working a summer job as a lifeguard or Dave, the ill-equipped center administrator who hasn't a clue about the problems his day care attendees battle in order to survive. There is also a chapter devoted to a Target check out cashier who is fascinated by the groups weekly visit to the store.

Brown, I learned, was the first non-speaker to graduate from UCLA and then to go on to earn a degree in Writing from Columbia. The difficulties in achieving this impressive life are eye-opening and should make each reader more aware of people with multiple handicaps. I will never look at a child or adult in a wheelchair or a child creating a disturbance in a chain store the same way.

Thanks you to Net Galley and Random House/Hogarth for the chance to read this early copy. My opinion is my own.

[Kate Belt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pageturner of a short novel about day to day life in a facility providing day care for adults with disabilities. Most are autistic, while a few have other conditions such as Down Syndrome or Cerebral Palsy. Multiple points of view come from the clients, their family members, staff, and management. Only a totally heartless person could come away from reading this without a greater sense of empathy for those unable to communicate verbally in a style society can understand. I can only hope that most such sites are better than the one portrayed here, which needlessly infantilizes the clients under the management of an administrator who lacks any study of social sciences and who has never read a book about autism. Thanks to #Netgalley for offering me an ARC for this title that was not on my radar. Brown is the first nonspeaking autistic graduate of UCLA where he received the English department’s top writing honors. He completed his MFA in Creative Writing at Columbia University in 2024.

[Rachel]

Content warning: frequent use of R word and ableism

I was really surprised to learn that the author uses the language assistance that he describes in his book. I know communication boards are used but I always thought it was more word based rather than letter/spelling based so I found that really interesting. The author is the first non-speaking autistic graduate from UCLA.

The storyline was told in multiple points of view but mostly centered around Walter, who is forced into adult daycare after the death of his father. It explores grief, ableism, and what it's like to work to get by. There were several uses of the R word which was incredibly jarring. I know people still use that word often, especially online but I was still unsettled every time I read it.

Overall I enjoyed the storytelling and I feel like everyone should read this book because it really makes you think about the inner lives of non-speaking and non-verbal people.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hogarth for the eARC

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

100% recommend Upward Bound: The story of an adult daycare center in L.A., where adults with autism and other disabilities are housed during the day. Meet Walter, a nonverbal man who can communicate using a letter board as long as someone takes the time to "listen" to him. Woody graduated from community college with an A.A. degree. He'd have much to discuss if he weren't stereotyped for his disability. His days are relegated to coloring and other mundane activities. It's through his eyes that we see what a typical day at Upward Bound is like. The novel then lends a voice to other individuals who are "clients" of the center.

The authentic voice to the clients comes in part from Woody Brown, the author, who was the first non-verbal student with autism to graduate from UCLA.

A stellar debut!

[Sheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Upward Bound” by Woody Brown is a story about an adult daycare center in Los Angeles, a place of last resort, for the disabled community. The author writes about the facility as only a “client” can. Each chapter speaks about the experiences of a client or a caregiver in a way that is heartbreaking but authentic, with the clarity of personal knowledge.

Mr. Brown is the first non-speaking autistic person to graduate from UCLA to garner top honors. He also earned an MFA in creative writing from Columbia University in 2024.
Although this book is fictional, it is clear it’s based on the author’s experience. This is an amazing must read novel that will educate readers on the challenges of the neurodivergent population. A profoundly emotional book!

Thank you Net NetGalley and Random House for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants and should want to understand the world of people who are not as you.
This is an eye opening story taking place in a daycare facility for disabled people and their caregivers here. Some are autistic.
Though some cannot communicate or move about as you and I, this does not mean that understanding,feeling and caring are not present from within as this story will show.
I loved this book. It is heartbreaking and heartfelt as we meet some of the residents of Upward Bound.

Thank you to @NetGalley and to @Random House for this so needed story and ARC and allowing me to provide my own review.
Well done!

[Ema · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adored this. Quick read that absorbed me right away. Read a little like a series of interconnected short stories which I'd usually find off-putting, but the continuity in characters was propulsive. The Big Event tied it all together and added an arc that worked well. Loved the humanization of every character (even Dave) and I hope this makes us all a little more empathetic.

[Barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book takes us into the lives of disabled adults and their families. We meet the director of the adult day care, its workers, families, and those who are disabled. It is a powerful book with a lot of insight. Just because disabled people cannot speak does not mean they do not hear. It is hard to imagine the trials their families go through. Beautifully written and an important book.

[Krishna Bhatt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great