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Upward Bound: A Read with Jenna Pick: A Novel
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.
A READ WITH JENNA BOOK CLUB PICK AS FEATURED ON TODAY
• 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—“an explosive novel” (Ron Charles) by a major new literary voice hailed as a “groundbreaking debut novelist” (Publishers Weekly)
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.
A READ WITH JENNA BOOK CLUB PICK AS FEATURED ON TODAY
• 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—“an explosive novel” (Ron Charles) by a major new literary voice hailed as a “groundbreaking debut novelist” (Publishers Weekly)
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First published March 31, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 916 reviews
April 9, 2026
Upward Bound is an outpatient facility for clients with diverse disabilities. What makes this story unique is that it is told from different perspectives.
From one with cerebral palsy and the frustration of not being able to communicate; from a student who works there for the summer and tries to bring some fun into mundane activities; the director, who knows so little about all his clients and only that they don’t meet his high expectations with his play productions.
This hit close to home for me. My younger brother was adopted when he was 6 months old and when he wasn’t meeting the milestones, he was diagnosed with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. Everyday a challenge without a schedule; everyday a challenge without being able to communicate feelings.
I feel for all those who have disabilities and just want to be seen.
Kudos to Woody Brown, he himself, has autism. Thank you for reminding us what it means to be human.
5⭐️
From one with cerebral palsy and the frustration of not being able to communicate; from a student who works there for the summer and tries to bring some fun into mundane activities; the director, who knows so little about all his clients and only that they don’t meet his high expectations with his play productions.
This hit close to home for me. My younger brother was adopted when he was 6 months old and when he wasn’t meeting the milestones, he was diagnosed with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. Everyday a challenge without a schedule; everyday a challenge without being able to communicate feelings.
I feel for all those who have disabilities and just want to be seen.
Kudos to Woody Brown, he himself, has autism. Thank you for reminding us what it means to be human.
5⭐️
April 6, 2026
I’ve been struggling to write a review. I applaud any book that can bring understanding and open hearts and minds to autistic individuals. Yet I can’t say I enjoyed the book.
Then I discovered it was written through the use of FC, facilitated communication, via his mother. I’ve done a bit of research and came across this official position:
“It is the position of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) that Facilitated Communication (FC) is a discredited technique that should not be used. There is no scientific evidence of the validity of FC, and there is extensive scientific evidence—produced over several decades and across several countries—that messages are authored by the "facilitator" rather than the person with a disability. Furthermore, there is extensive evidence of harms related to the use of FC. Information obtained through the use of FC should not be considered as the communication of the person with a disability.”
ETA: Watch this video and watch his typing closely, then read the comments, many written by SLPs (speech language pathologists):
https://youtu.be/tLz-5ZEOT80
This in no way is a reflection on Woody Brown or other individuals with autism, a population that deserves a voice, and should be heard.
* I received a digital review copy via NetGalley. All thoughts are my own
Then I discovered it was written through the use of FC, facilitated communication, via his mother. I’ve done a bit of research and came across this official position:
“It is the position of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) that Facilitated Communication (FC) is a discredited technique that should not be used. There is no scientific evidence of the validity of FC, and there is extensive scientific evidence—produced over several decades and across several countries—that messages are authored by the "facilitator" rather than the person with a disability. Furthermore, there is extensive evidence of harms related to the use of FC. Information obtained through the use of FC should not be considered as the communication of the person with a disability.”
ETA: Watch this video and watch his typing closely, then read the comments, many written by SLPs (speech language pathologists):
https://youtu.be/tLz-5ZEOT80
This in no way is a reflection on Woody Brown or other individuals with autism, a population that deserves a voice, and should be heard.
* I received a digital review copy via NetGalley. All thoughts are my own
March 14, 2026
Woody Brown takes his readers to a place unfamiliar to the majority of us - into the thoughts and feelings of a non speaking autistic person and others with disabilities . This is a work of fiction, but so very realistic as I learned that Brown is non speaking and autistic and if you read anything about him, it’s hard to separate him from Walter who takes us on this journey. Both had strong and persistent mothers who bucked the system to make sure their sons received an education in keeping with their abilities that would have been ignored . In addition to taking us on this journey of understanding and empathy, Brown does another thing that I have been drawn to in other novels. He brings together a diverse group of people and personalities, each with their unique story, with an emphasis on the connections people make with each other.
It isn’t only the autistic and disabled “clients “ at the Upward Bound adult day care who touch the reader’s heart, but also some of the care givers who really do care and can see in them what others don’t. It’s enlightening, touching, impactful and so inspiring. An extraordinary novel that made me cry, laugh, more empathetic . A novel that will change you.
“I wanted to show readers what it’s like to be constantly underestimated and misunderstood, what it feels like to not be seen because of disability and how it feels when people refuse to look at us.” Woody Brown (People Magazine August 21, 2025) . Brown has done that and so much more.
I received a copy of this from Hogarth through NetGalley.
It isn’t only the autistic and disabled “clients “ at the Upward Bound adult day care who touch the reader’s heart, but also some of the care givers who really do care and can see in them what others don’t. It’s enlightening, touching, impactful and so inspiring. An extraordinary novel that made me cry, laugh, more empathetic . A novel that will change you.
“I wanted to show readers what it’s like to be constantly underestimated and misunderstood, what it feels like to not be seen because of disability and how it feels when people refuse to look at us.” Woody Brown (People Magazine August 21, 2025) . Brown has done that and so much more.
I received a copy of this from Hogarth through NetGalley.
April 1, 2026
As a father of a non-verbal autistic child, I find this book extremely upsetting. It's the product of facilitated communication.
This book is a fraud. It was not written by Woody Brown. It was written by his mother. Woody does not type letters like you or I do. He uses a letter board that his mother holds for him in midair, then his mother 'translates' what she thinks Woody is typing. This is called Spelling 2 Communicate, and is widely discredited because no one has ever been able to prove that the child and not the adult is picking the letters. The tests that have been done tend to prove it's the adult, the mother in this case, who is picking the letters subconsciously.
I think the only reason this kind of thing gets overlooked is that nobody wants to imagine the kind of deluded monsters who would use a disabled child as their own puppet like this. We would much rather imagine a world where an autistic person is overcoming their disability and proving all the naysayers wrong. It's much more convenient to talk about Woody's big heart than to realize his mother wrote this book and earned his degrees for him.
We owe it to these kids to meet them where they are and to understand them. Not to invent false narratives around their abilities to make us tear up and feel better.
I invite anyone who thinks this isn't fraudulent to watch a video of Woody picking letters and explain to us why he's often typing a few letters and his mother is reading off multiple words or larger words with many more letters. Explain why Woody is often not looking at his letter board while he types. Explain why the letters Woody is pointing to don't match up with the letters the mother is reading off.
The simple and true explanation is that this is a total fraud.
This book is a fraud. It was not written by Woody Brown. It was written by his mother. Woody does not type letters like you or I do. He uses a letter board that his mother holds for him in midair, then his mother 'translates' what she thinks Woody is typing. This is called Spelling 2 Communicate, and is widely discredited because no one has ever been able to prove that the child and not the adult is picking the letters. The tests that have been done tend to prove it's the adult, the mother in this case, who is picking the letters subconsciously.
I think the only reason this kind of thing gets overlooked is that nobody wants to imagine the kind of deluded monsters who would use a disabled child as their own puppet like this. We would much rather imagine a world where an autistic person is overcoming their disability and proving all the naysayers wrong. It's much more convenient to talk about Woody's big heart than to realize his mother wrote this book and earned his degrees for him.
We owe it to these kids to meet them where they are and to understand them. Not to invent false narratives around their abilities to make us tear up and feel better.
I invite anyone who thinks this isn't fraudulent to watch a video of Woody picking letters and explain to us why he's often typing a few letters and his mother is reading off multiple words or larger words with many more letters. Explain why Woody is often not looking at his letter board while he types. Explain why the letters Woody is pointing to don't match up with the letters the mother is reading off.
The simple and true explanation is that this is a total fraud.
April 13, 2026
“Autism on my end of the spectrum is like ADHD times a thousand.” ~Walter
Upward Bound, the debut novel from Woody Brown, gives us a rare glimpse inside the neurodivergent world.
After his father’s death, Walter — a non‑speaking autistic man who graduated from high school with honors and attended a community college — is placed in a day program for disabled adults.
Because he can’t talk, the world assumes that Walter can’t think. In fact, he is searingly intelligent.
But at our eponymous adult day center, it's not uncommon to find grown men and women gluing macaroni to popsicle sticks or singing nursery songs.
Through Walter's sharp, sardonic internal voice, we see how disabled adults in care systems are too often infantilized as perpetual children, stripped of dignity.
I loved meeting Walter and the other "clients" at Upward Bound. Despite a myriad of communication barriers, the characters lead rich inner lives.
The novel explores echolalia, typing, eye‑blinking, and intuitive mind melds — all forms of connection that bypass speech — and exposes the chasm between who these individuals are and how the world sees them.
Perhaps what makes this debut work particularly insightful is that Brown draws from some of his own experiences as a non-verbal autistic man.
A summa cum laude graduate from UCLA, Brown went on to earn an MFA in creative writing from Columbia University in 2024.
Because he has visuospatial issues that make it difficult to focus on the words on the page, Brown's parents have read aloud to him daily since he was a small child.
Likewise, since the electronic impulses in Brown's neurodivergent brain resist performing the complex motor actions involved in typed communication, he and his Mom spent years learning and perfecting the Rapid Prompting Method (RPM), developed by Soma Mukhopadhyay.
There's currently lots of furor among the internet detectives and armchair psychologists over who actually wrote Brown's novel.
Regardless, Upward Bound is a rare work that gives voice to those who are too often silenced.
Strongly recommend.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4+
Upward Bound is an adult day care facility in Southern California providing care for adults with autism and other disabilities.
The characters in this story are the clients, their families and the workers at the facility.
It is a vivid and realistic portrait of what neurodivergent/disabled daily life is like.
It is an emotional and often humorous read.
Quite an achievement for this author as
Woody Brown, is a non verbal autistic man who is the first non speaking graduate of UCLA.
I will be eagerly awaiting his next novel which will be called Alfie.
Thank you to Random House/Hogarth for the gifted ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Upward Bound is an adult day care facility in Southern California providing care for adults with autism and other disabilities.
The characters in this story are the clients, their families and the workers at the facility.
It is a vivid and realistic portrait of what neurodivergent/disabled daily life is like.
It is an emotional and often humorous read.
Quite an achievement for this author as
Woody Brown, is a non verbal autistic man who is the first non speaking graduate of UCLA.
I will be eagerly awaiting his next novel which will be called Alfie.
Thank you to Random House/Hogarth for the gifted ARC in exchange for an honest review!
May 2, 2026
"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.
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.
March 8, 2026
Stories like Upward Bound are near and dear to my heart. My oldest son is on the autism spectrum and even though he is higher functioning, the struggles he has faced and the obstacles he's had to overcome are no less devastating. My son also attends a center for teens with disabilities a couple of hours a week (yes the name of our center is equally as silly as Upward Bound). So after reading the synopsis of Upward Bound, my heart smiled to finally see some more disability rep in literature!
Upward Bound is a magnetic, searing, heartfelt, and remarkable novel. Upward Bound takes readers inside the lives of those who are constantly misconstrued, misrepresented, minimized, and unseen while inviting readers to check our assumptions and attitudes towards the disabled. At times I found myself laughing and others tearing up. Woody Brown’s writing is beautiful and the story is unforgettable.
After finishing the book, I learned that not only is this Woody Brown’s debut novel but also that the author was the first nonspeaking person in history to graduate from UCLA. I absolutely cannot wait to read whatever this brilliant author writes next and I highly recommend it to all!
I listened to the audiobook version of Upward Bound and it is read by a full cast including, T.R. Knight, Pete Holmes, Midori Francis, Carlos Miranda, Brandon Flynn, Nikki M. James, Alex Edelman, and Daphne Rubin Vega.
Upward Bound by Woody Brown will be available on March 31. Many thanks to Penguin Random House Audio for the gifted audiobook!
Upward Bound is a magnetic, searing, heartfelt, and remarkable novel. Upward Bound takes readers inside the lives of those who are constantly misconstrued, misrepresented, minimized, and unseen while inviting readers to check our assumptions and attitudes towards the disabled. At times I found myself laughing and others tearing up. Woody Brown’s writing is beautiful and the story is unforgettable.
After finishing the book, I learned that not only is this Woody Brown’s debut novel but also that the author was the first nonspeaking person in history to graduate from UCLA. I absolutely cannot wait to read whatever this brilliant author writes next and I highly recommend it to all!
I listened to the audiobook version of Upward Bound and it is read by a full cast including, T.R. Knight, Pete Holmes, Midori Francis, Carlos Miranda, Brandon Flynn, Nikki M. James, Alex Edelman, and Daphne Rubin Vega.
Upward Bound by Woody Brown will be available on March 31. Many thanks to Penguin Random House Audio for the gifted audiobook!
April 8, 2026
This is a fictionalized autobiography, but with many viewpoints. The author and main narrator is autistic and has trouble communicating, only his mother understands him by using a letter board. Seeing a clip of Brown and his mother using the board and communicating, it appears that she interprets heavily, so maybe there are actually two authors for this book.
Despite that, the book on it’s own is heart-felt. It shows how people with disabilities can connect even when they have a hard time verbalizing words. One of the characters is so heart-breaking as he tries to communicate with blinking but no one seems to notice.
The book has the point-of-view with several of the people who go to Upward Bound, a day-care facility for adults with disabilities. The book also includes several of the people who work there, and one who does not. This one is a worker at Target, where the Upward Bound group visits every Friday morning.
There isn't a plot, but there is a trajectory of sorts, and through the different voices one can understand what this place is like. And the book while emotional, is not all heavy, there is some bits of humor as well.
I listened to an audiobook of this and it has a different narrator for each character. Most do not repeat, except for the fictionalized author, he appears for a few chapters.
Book rating: 3.75 stars.
Thanks to Random House/Hogarth and NetGalley for an uncorrected electronic advance review copy of this book. However, I listened to a published audiobook copy of the book.
Despite that, the book on it’s own is heart-felt. It shows how people with disabilities can connect even when they have a hard time verbalizing words. One of the characters is so heart-breaking as he tries to communicate with blinking but no one seems to notice.
The book has the point-of-view with several of the people who go to Upward Bound, a day-care facility for adults with disabilities. The book also includes several of the people who work there, and one who does not. This one is a worker at Target, where the Upward Bound group visits every Friday morning.
There isn't a plot, but there is a trajectory of sorts, and through the different voices one can understand what this place is like. And the book while emotional, is not all heavy, there is some bits of humor as well.
I listened to an audiobook of this and it has a different narrator for each character. Most do not repeat, except for the fictionalized author, he appears for a few chapters.
Book rating: 3.75 stars.
Thanks to Random House/Hogarth and NetGalley for an uncorrected electronic advance review copy of this book. However, I listened to a published audiobook copy of the book.
April 22, 2026
I enjoyed this book. It is a rare honest look at what it is like to be a young person with disabilities in an adult daycare center. Readers also get a glimpse into what days at the center are like for the administrator and staff. Filled with stories from the viewpoint of clients with autism, cerebral palsy, or Down's syndrome this is a tenderhearted book that is written by a debut author who knows. I am grateful to this author for writing this unique and sensitive story.
Read
April 10, 2026As a disability advocate, I was excited about this book until I learned that it was written via Facilitated Communication, a technique that has been proven scientifically to be, at best, woefully inaccurate and, at worst, utterly fraudulent and abusive.
Please do some research on Facilitated Communication before reading this book. There's a documentary on Netflix called Tell Them You Love Me that involves FC. Check trigger warnings because it is a VERY difficult watch.
I cannot, in good faith, read Upward Bound, so I've removed it from my list. I am posting this as a warning to anyone who does not know about Facilitated Communication and the fact that it has long been proven to be a pseudoscience.
Research has shown, repeatedly, that it is the facilitator communicating, whether consciously or unconsciously, not the disabled person. I get that it is difficult to accept disability, especially for a parent. To an extent, I understand wanting to believe that non-verbal people or disabled people with significant support needs have a hidden ability or genius waiting to be unlocked by the right key.
But that just isn't reality. It is also ableist and devalues the lives of many disabled people.
Edit: I pulled this review up on the Goodreads app and it is saying "Review of advance copy received from Netgalley". Not sure if other people are seeing that, but I want to make it clear that this is inaccurate. I do not participate in Netgalley and never will.
Please do some research on Facilitated Communication before reading this book. There's a documentary on Netflix called Tell Them You Love Me that involves FC. Check trigger warnings because it is a VERY difficult watch.
I cannot, in good faith, read Upward Bound, so I've removed it from my list. I am posting this as a warning to anyone who does not know about Facilitated Communication and the fact that it has long been proven to be a pseudoscience.
Research has shown, repeatedly, that it is the facilitator communicating, whether consciously or unconsciously, not the disabled person. I get that it is difficult to accept disability, especially for a parent. To an extent, I understand wanting to believe that non-verbal people or disabled people with significant support needs have a hidden ability or genius waiting to be unlocked by the right key.
But that just isn't reality. It is also ableist and devalues the lives of many disabled people.
Edit: I pulled this review up on the Goodreads app and it is saying "Review of advance copy received from Netgalley". Not sure if other people are seeing that, but I want to make it clear that this is inaccurate. I do not participate in Netgalley and never will.
Read
April 13, 2026🚩 I want to believe this book was genuinely written by Woody Brown, a nonverbal autistic adult, and not his mother.
But watch his interview on the Today Show. Read what speech and language experts are saying in the comments. Is this novel illuminating and empowering, or doing more harm than good by giving false hope? I am torn.
I cannot tag the GR review by JanB, but it’s what alerted me to the potential issue. Thank you, JanB, for sharing your thoughtful review amid a sea of 5⭐️s.
❓My review seems to disappear. I wonder if it’s being hidden/flagged for calling the authorship into question? Let me know if you’re seeing my review on your feed.
But watch his interview on the Today Show. Read what speech and language experts are saying in the comments. Is this novel illuminating and empowering, or doing more harm than good by giving false hope? I am torn.
I cannot tag the GR review by JanB, but it’s what alerted me to the potential issue. Thank you, JanB, for sharing your thoughtful review amid a sea of 5⭐️s.
❓My review seems to disappear. I wonder if it’s being hidden/flagged for calling the authorship into question? Let me know if you’re seeing my review on your feed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Upward Bound tells us the story of the users of an adult day care centre. The story is narrated by several of the "inmates" none of whom seem to be particularly well served by the ministrations of Dave, who is in charge and merely wants them to be well behaved and to look good for donors. Thankfully, some of the assistants have different ideas and make their own fun for the clients who, otherwise, would be desperately bored.
I liked the different voices of the centre's clients. Each one added a different perspective along with the views of some of the staff.
The story itself is particularly moving and by the end I was invested in what happened to every one of them.
If this is Woody Brown's debut then I look forward to the rest of his writing career. But then I don't suppose you leave UCLA with top writing honours and not be expected to produce some wonderful fiction.
Highly recommended.
Thankyou to Netgalley and Random House for the digital review copy.
I liked the different voices of the centre's clients. Each one added a different perspective along with the views of some of the staff.
The story itself is particularly moving and by the end I was invested in what happened to every one of them.
If this is Woody Brown's debut then I look forward to the rest of his writing career. But then I don't suppose you leave UCLA with top writing honours and not be expected to produce some wonderful fiction.
Highly recommended.
Thankyou to Netgalley and Random House for the digital review copy.
April 23, 2026
A very good first novel by the first nonspeaking autistic graduate of UCLA, Woody Brown, is fun and fun to read, but more than that it was absolutely wonderful to get to see inside Brown's characters, the "inmates" at a daycare program for disabled adults. I will never look at autistic nonspeakers again without thinking about all that might be going on in them that they are simply not wired to share.
Substack essay about this book here. (Publishes 4/25/26)
Substack essay about this book here. (Publishes 4/25/26)
April 1, 2026
Warning….book gush ahead.
This takes place at an adult day program for disabled adults. Each chapter is written from the perspective of those involved- the attendees, the staff, the director, and even someone from the public who sees them on their outing.
I’ve worked in the disability field for most of my adult life, so the synopsis alone spoke to me. But inside the pages….man. I loved the perspectives and it really gave me a lot to chew on and think about. I finished it last weekend and as I move through my work week, there is so much that gave me a need to pause and reflect.
The author became the first non speaking autistic graduate from UCLA in 2022. I think it’s so important to read from Own Voices and learn about their perspectives. This also happened to be a phenomenal story.
I LOVED this book. There was nothing I would change. Zero notes. Read it in a matter of hours. All of the stars!
This takes place at an adult day program for disabled adults. Each chapter is written from the perspective of those involved- the attendees, the staff, the director, and even someone from the public who sees them on their outing.
I’ve worked in the disability field for most of my adult life, so the synopsis alone spoke to me. But inside the pages….man. I loved the perspectives and it really gave me a lot to chew on and think about. I finished it last weekend and as I move through my work week, there is so much that gave me a need to pause and reflect.
The author became the first non speaking autistic graduate from UCLA in 2022. I think it’s so important to read from Own Voices and learn about their perspectives. This also happened to be a phenomenal story.
I LOVED this book. There was nothing I would change. Zero notes. Read it in a matter of hours. All of the stars!
December 15, 2025
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.
April 25, 2026
For context: I am a pediatrician and I have worked extensively with non speaking children and young adults, and my research is in disability studies. I love working with people with developmental disabilities.
I initially saw a brief blurb about this book and that it was a Read With Jenna Pick and was excited to read it, given all of that. I knew nothing about its authorship. And then I found out that it was supposedly written by a non speaking autistic man using facilitated communication with his mother. Then I had to read it for a whole different reason.
To be clear: facilitated communication is pseudoscience. It is a completely different thing than using an assisted communication device. Assisted communication devices are life changing/life saving tools. Facilitated communication is completely and entirely not a real thing and if you don’t know anything about it, I encourage you to look into it. Another reviewer posted a video of an interview with Woody Brown and his mother where you can see him pointing to random letters and her speaking robotically as if she’s reading what he is writing. It is… telling.
If the claim is that this book was written by Woody Brown using FC with his mother as his only facilitator, it unfortunately means this book was written by his mother, not him. I don’t know if, like many who use facilitated communication, she believes that she really is saying what he is thinking due to hopeful delusions, or if she is flat out lying, but this is her work, not his. Either way, it means that Woody Brown is a victim of this charade. He had a whole inner world of thoughts and feelings, and it is not what is written here.
And, quite frankly, the book reads like she wrote it. She learned Woody would need to go to adult daycare and so she quit her job to make sure that didn’t happen. Then he writes a book about how awful adult daycare is? Feels a lot like it’s her story. Several of the characters are functionally locked in due to their disabilities and not believed to be of average intelligence by their caregivers. Several characters use the R Word. There are plenty of horrible people who work with intellectually disabled individuals, but the casual use of the R word among these particular characters seems extreme.
And, aside from the major issue of authorship, the book just isn’t that good.
I initially saw a brief blurb about this book and that it was a Read With Jenna Pick and was excited to read it, given all of that. I knew nothing about its authorship. And then I found out that it was supposedly written by a non speaking autistic man using facilitated communication with his mother. Then I had to read it for a whole different reason.
To be clear: facilitated communication is pseudoscience. It is a completely different thing than using an assisted communication device. Assisted communication devices are life changing/life saving tools. Facilitated communication is completely and entirely not a real thing and if you don’t know anything about it, I encourage you to look into it. Another reviewer posted a video of an interview with Woody Brown and his mother where you can see him pointing to random letters and her speaking robotically as if she’s reading what he is writing. It is… telling.
If the claim is that this book was written by Woody Brown using FC with his mother as his only facilitator, it unfortunately means this book was written by his mother, not him. I don’t know if, like many who use facilitated communication, she believes that she really is saying what he is thinking due to hopeful delusions, or if she is flat out lying, but this is her work, not his. Either way, it means that Woody Brown is a victim of this charade. He had a whole inner world of thoughts and feelings, and it is not what is written here.
And, quite frankly, the book reads like she wrote it. She learned Woody would need to go to adult daycare and so she quit her job to make sure that didn’t happen. Then he writes a book about how awful adult daycare is? Feels a lot like it’s her story. Several of the characters are functionally locked in due to their disabilities and not believed to be of average intelligence by their caregivers. Several characters use the R Word. There are plenty of horrible people who work with intellectually disabled individuals, but the casual use of the R word among these particular characters seems extreme.
And, aside from the major issue of authorship, the book just isn’t that good.
April 14, 2026
4.5 stars "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)"
Upward Bound is an adult day care facility for those with autism and other abilities. Walter is a nonverbal autistic young man who is receiving an education thanks to his mother advocating for him. He is based on the author, who is a nonverbal autistic person.
The story centers around a few residents, the caregivers, and the CEO, all told in their own point of view. This book is heartwarming and emotional. It details the stress of their days and often feeling frustrated and invisible due to communication barriers. The caregivers also feel those setbacks and fatigue from the stress of their jobs. But there is also happiness and caring relationships between residents and caregivers.
Finally, the novel discusses how people with autism are often misunderstood in society and either ignored or mistreated. I found this informative, heartwarming and at times heartbreaking. It is a worthwhile read and I highly recommend it.
The full cast audiobook is outstanding and they bring the characters to life.
Many thanks to PRH Audio for the gifted advance listening copy. All opinions are my own. 🎧
Upward Bound is an adult day care facility for those with autism and other abilities. Walter is a nonverbal autistic young man who is receiving an education thanks to his mother advocating for him. He is based on the author, who is a nonverbal autistic person.
The story centers around a few residents, the caregivers, and the CEO, all told in their own point of view. This book is heartwarming and emotional. It details the stress of their days and often feeling frustrated and invisible due to communication barriers. The caregivers also feel those setbacks and fatigue from the stress of their jobs. But there is also happiness and caring relationships between residents and caregivers.
Finally, the novel discusses how people with autism are often misunderstood in society and either ignored or mistreated. I found this informative, heartwarming and at times heartbreaking. It is a worthwhile read and I highly recommend it.
The full cast audiobook is outstanding and they bring the characters to life.
Many thanks to PRH Audio for the gifted advance listening copy. All opinions are my own. 🎧
April 20, 2026
This book has been making the rounds here on Goodreads and getting accolades, with good reason. "Upward Bound" is the first novel to be written by an autistic author who is nonspeaking. It also happens to be beautifully written.
Through the story, we get to meet and understand the severely autistic young adults who attend Upward Bound, an adult day care center. The main character is Walter. He is in his early twenties and lives at home with a mother who loves and understands him. She has been his fiercest advocate. Walter can communicate by using a language board, which he requires help to use. Upward Bound does not have one and is always short of staff. So, in the hours that Walter spends at the center, he is unable to communicate and make his needs known. This is very frustrating for him. Other key characters in the book are:
* Jorge - is a gentle giant. He and Walter had been in Special Needs preschool together and had known each other off and on throughout their childhoods. Jorge is nonverbal. His comfort object is Mr. Potato Head. Staff have to watch out that Jorge doesn't take off and leave the premises, as he is inclined to do.
* Tom - has cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair. He is sensitive and bright, but cannot communicate. Tom has a crush on a summer aide who has been attentive to him (Ann).
* Ann - is majoring in Psychology and is working at Upward Bound for the summer, due to thinking that it will look good on her resume. At first, caring for the clients is a daunting task, but Ann grows into it. She adopts a chatty, flirtatious style with them and especially with Tom.
* Carlos - had been in trouble with the law before getting hired by Upward Bound. To his own surprise, Carlos has a special affinity for working with the center's clients. He forges a unique bond with Jorge and knows how to calm him down when Jorge gets agitated.
There are more key characters, but I will stop here. The book is a realistic look at what life is like for autistic, nonspeaking individuals and their families. In the book, Walter calls them, "my people."
Here is a video of the author communicating with Today Show's Jenna Bush Hager through use of a communication board with his mother's assistance. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLz-5...
**************************************
4-20-26 Update:
After writing my review, I read a slew of reviews for it. Unfortunately, I learned that there is a controversy about who actually wrote the book. Woody's method of communication, called "Facilitated Communication," is thought by some to be unconsciously guided by his mother. He spells thoughts out to her that look to be incomplete in the above video and she fills them in.
In thinking about this, the book is still a good one, whether it was all written by Woody or a combination of him and his mother.
Through the story, we get to meet and understand the severely autistic young adults who attend Upward Bound, an adult day care center. The main character is Walter. He is in his early twenties and lives at home with a mother who loves and understands him. She has been his fiercest advocate. Walter can communicate by using a language board, which he requires help to use. Upward Bound does not have one and is always short of staff. So, in the hours that Walter spends at the center, he is unable to communicate and make his needs known. This is very frustrating for him. Other key characters in the book are:
* Jorge - is a gentle giant. He and Walter had been in Special Needs preschool together and had known each other off and on throughout their childhoods. Jorge is nonverbal. His comfort object is Mr. Potato Head. Staff have to watch out that Jorge doesn't take off and leave the premises, as he is inclined to do.
* Tom - has cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair. He is sensitive and bright, but cannot communicate. Tom has a crush on a summer aide who has been attentive to him (Ann).
* Ann - is majoring in Psychology and is working at Upward Bound for the summer, due to thinking that it will look good on her resume. At first, caring for the clients is a daunting task, but Ann grows into it. She adopts a chatty, flirtatious style with them and especially with Tom.
* Carlos - had been in trouble with the law before getting hired by Upward Bound. To his own surprise, Carlos has a special affinity for working with the center's clients. He forges a unique bond with Jorge and knows how to calm him down when Jorge gets agitated.
There are more key characters, but I will stop here. The book is a realistic look at what life is like for autistic, nonspeaking individuals and their families. In the book, Walter calls them, "my people."
Here is a video of the author communicating with Today Show's Jenna Bush Hager through use of a communication board with his mother's assistance. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLz-5...
**************************************
4-20-26 Update:
After writing my review, I read a slew of reviews for it. Unfortunately, I learned that there is a controversy about who actually wrote the book. Woody's method of communication, called "Facilitated Communication," is thought by some to be unconsciously guided by his mother. He spells thoughts out to her that look to be incomplete in the above video and she fills them in.
In thinking about this, the book is still a good one, whether it was all written by Woody or a combination of him and his mother.
April 14, 2026
I thought this book was very sweet. I liked it. It is one of those books where you see the same situations and moments and characters from different perspectives which when done well in the book I loved. At other times I thought there were missed opportunities on that front. All the characters were a little one note for me.
April 5, 2026
Ugh. Passing this off as her son’s writing is so sad. Facilitated communication is only possible if the facilitator hears the question.
April 9, 2026
I was excited to read this book because it was written by a non-verbal autistic person, but after about 30 pages in, I started questioning how this was written. I found the Today show segment with the author and their mom and cannot believe that Woody wrote this book. The mom 100% wrote this book and you cannot convince me otherwise. Woody is shown pointing to a laminated sheet of paper with letters and the mother is telling the interviewer what he is saying BUT NONE OF THE LETTERS ARE ACTUALLY MAKING WORDS. Slow the video down and watch it yourself.
I continued on with the book, but with the tv interview in mind, it just made me mad that the mother is trying to pass this off as her son’s work. I think the book itself is a good story and provides insight into adult life for those not able to live on their own, but disappointed that the mother is claiming her son wrote this.
I continued on with the book, but with the tv interview in mind, it just made me mad that the mother is trying to pass this off as her son’s work. I think the book itself is a good story and provides insight into adult life for those not able to live on their own, but disappointed that the mother is claiming her son wrote this.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
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.
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.
January 20, 2026
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.
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.
December 4, 2025
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.
May 2, 2026
Upward Bound is set in a fictional adult day care center of the same name in Los Angeles, serving adults with autism and other disabilities. The novel moves through a series of linked narratives from the perspectives of clients and staff. Walter, a nonspeaking autistic young man and recent community college graduate, ends up there after his father's death because his mother has to work and can't leave him alone.
The main point of this novel is that nonspeaking people have rich interior lives that institutional care often does not recognize and society at large tends to ignore. The author's humor is sharp, and the characters are well-defined. As a warning, the book uses slurs against the disabled, but this use is intended to provoke a reaction.
I'm aware of the controversy around this book, but my position on any work of literature is to respond to the book itself. On its own terms, this one drew me in. The dramatic episode toward the end feels unnecessary (not every novel needs to escalate that way), and the book's quieter observations are the most impactful.
The main point of this novel is that nonspeaking people have rich interior lives that institutional care often does not recognize and society at large tends to ignore. The author's humor is sharp, and the characters are well-defined. As a warning, the book uses slurs against the disabled, but this use is intended to provoke a reaction.
I'm aware of the controversy around this book, but my position on any work of literature is to respond to the book itself. On its own terms, this one drew me in. The dramatic episode toward the end feels unnecessary (not every novel needs to escalate that way), and the book's quieter observations are the most impactful.
April 13, 2026
please keep the books coming. Woody you speak to and about my heart 💕 My first thought was that I do not need to mention that I live within this autism spectrum. however, after reading some of the other reviews I feel I should mention this (Jan B )
April 10, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5)
Upward Bound is a compelling and thought-provoking read that really stuck with me after I finished it. Woody Brown does a great job of blending personal growth themes with an engaging narrative, making it both inspiring and relatable.
One of the things I appreciated most was how the book explores ambition and perseverance without feeling overly preachy. The characters (and the journey itself) felt authentic, and there were several moments that made me pause and reflect on my own goals and mindset.
That said, there were a few sections where the pacing slowed a bit, which kept it from being a full 5-star read for me. Still, the overall message and emotional impact more than made up for it.
If you're looking for a book that encourages self-reflection and growth while still telling a meaningful story, this one is definitely worth picking up.
Upward Bound is a compelling and thought-provoking read that really stuck with me after I finished it. Woody Brown does a great job of blending personal growth themes with an engaging narrative, making it both inspiring and relatable.
One of the things I appreciated most was how the book explores ambition and perseverance without feeling overly preachy. The characters (and the journey itself) felt authentic, and there were several moments that made me pause and reflect on my own goals and mindset.
That said, there were a few sections where the pacing slowed a bit, which kept it from being a full 5-star read for me. Still, the overall message and emotional impact more than made up for it.
If you're looking for a book that encourages self-reflection and growth while still telling a meaningful story, this one is definitely worth picking up.
November 28, 2025
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.
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.
January 16, 2026
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.
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