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Stim: An Autistic Anthology
Around one in one hundred people in the UK are autistic, yet there remains a fundamental misunderstanding of what autism is. It is rare that autistic people get to share their own experiences, show how creative and talented and passionate they are, how different they are from media stereotypes.
This insightful and eye-opening collection of essays, fiction and visual art showcases the immense talents of some of the UK's most exciting writers and artists - who just happen to be on the spectrum. Here they reclaim the power to speak for themselves and redefine what it means to be autistic.
Stim invites the reader into the lives, experiences, minds of the eighteen contributors, and asks them to recognise the hurdles of being autistic in a non-autistic world and to uncover the empathy and understanding necessary to continue to champion brilliant yet unheard voices.
This insightful and eye-opening collection of essays, fiction and visual art showcases the immense talents of some of the UK's most exciting writers and artists - who just happen to be on the spectrum. Here they reclaim the power to speak for themselves and redefine what it means to be autistic.
Stim invites the reader into the lives, experiences, minds of the eighteen contributors, and asks them to recognise the hurdles of being autistic in a non-autistic world and to uncover the empathy and understanding necessary to continue to champion brilliant yet unheard voices.
216 pages, Paperback
First published April 2, 2020
64 people are currently reading
2285 people want to read
About the author
Lizzie Huxley-Jones
13 books382 followersHello! Thanks for joining me in the 5 star recs zone. Please feel free to follow - I don't tend to add people back as I don't actually use Goodreads myself any more. I just come back here to pop down the recommendations that I post on Twitter and Instagram where I'm @littlehux so you're better off finding me there as I really don't use Goodreads much at all any more.
Official Bit:
Lizzie Huxley-Jones (they/them) is an autistic author and editor based in London. They are the author of the queer holiday rom-com Make You Mine This Christmas (2022) from Hodder Books, the summer romance Hits Different co-written with Tasha Ghouri (2024) from Hot Key Books, and Vivi Conway and the Sword of Legend (2023) from Knights Of. They write joyful stories that centre queerness and disability.
They are the editor of Stim, an anthology of autistic authors and artists, which was published by Unbound in April 2020 to coincide with World Autism Awareness Week. They are also the author of the children’s biography Sir David Attenborough: A Life Story (2020) and a contributor to the anthology Allies: Real Talk About Showing Up, Screwing Up, And Trying Again (2021).
They also work with writers and publishers as a sensitivity reader and editorial consultant, and were an editor at independent micropublisher 3 of Cups Press.
In their past career lives, they have been a research diver, a children’s bookseller and digital communications specialist.
They tweet too much at @littlehux, taking breaks to walk their dog Nerys.
They are represented by Abi Fellows of DHH Literary Agency.
Official Bit:
Lizzie Huxley-Jones (they/them) is an autistic author and editor based in London. They are the author of the queer holiday rom-com Make You Mine This Christmas (2022) from Hodder Books, the summer romance Hits Different co-written with Tasha Ghouri (2024) from Hot Key Books, and Vivi Conway and the Sword of Legend (2023) from Knights Of. They write joyful stories that centre queerness and disability.
They are the editor of Stim, an anthology of autistic authors and artists, which was published by Unbound in April 2020 to coincide with World Autism Awareness Week. They are also the author of the children’s biography Sir David Attenborough: A Life Story (2020) and a contributor to the anthology Allies: Real Talk About Showing Up, Screwing Up, And Trying Again (2021).
They also work with writers and publishers as a sensitivity reader and editorial consultant, and were an editor at independent micropublisher 3 of Cups Press.
In their past career lives, they have been a research diver, a children’s bookseller and digital communications specialist.
They tweet too much at @littlehux, taking breaks to walk their dog Nerys.
They are represented by Abi Fellows of DHH Literary Agency.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
March 3, 2020
Look, I'm allowed to give it 5 stars because I edited it and know how talented and brilliant all eighteen contributors are.
October 20, 2020
I deeply wanted to love this book. As an autistic person it is such a rare opportunity to see own voices writing about their lived experience of autism. however I felt that the book lacked a sense of unity and cohesion; and the change from fiction from non-fiction was jarring. I liked the use of content warnings.
One thing I wish for this, though it's not the fault of the editor, is that more unknown voices were portrayed here. In the acknowledgements I saw writers who have books due to be published, or have won literary awards. I think this would have been a really good opportunity for those who are lesser heard from, though I suppose you can only work with what has been submitted to you.
In all there was some beautiful writing in here and poignant moments which I really related to. I think as an autistic person I might just be a bit more critical when it comes to how autism is spoken about and portrayed. As this book says, once you've met one autistic person, you've met one autistic person. I hope more anthologies like this come into being.
One thing I wish for this, though it's not the fault of the editor, is that more unknown voices were portrayed here. In the acknowledgements I saw writers who have books due to be published, or have won literary awards. I think this would have been a really good opportunity for those who are lesser heard from, though I suppose you can only work with what has been submitted to you.
In all there was some beautiful writing in here and poignant moments which I really related to. I think as an autistic person I might just be a bit more critical when it comes to how autism is spoken about and portrayed. As this book says, once you've met one autistic person, you've met one autistic person. I hope more anthologies like this come into being.
April 7, 2020
This was a very important read for me since I actually helped to crowdfund the publication of this anthology via the website Unbound Publishing. I have autism and I know from experience just how difficult it is for writers like myself to find opportunities to get their writing and ideas noticed. Stim contains a variety of pieces from all autistic authors and I also appreciated the appropriate trigger warnings that were listed before each piece. When the final hardback popped through the letterbox and to see my name listed as one of the fundraisers at the back was a pleasure and joy to see. Please during this time, support this new release. It's important to make sure that no voices ever get ignored again!
September 17, 2019
this book slaps
March 1, 2020
I think back to those representations of autistic people I once reached for, and wonder if they explain why some people tell me that I don’t seem autistic. I wonder how many people see such characters when they imagine autism; I wonder how many mistakes some of their shared traits (including maleness and whiteness) as inherent to autism, rather than seeing them as a repetition and amplification of one possibility. I wonder about the relationship between cultural stereotypes and medical ones: who are doctors overlooking?’
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Thank you to @unbounders for sending me an ARC of Stim: An Autistic Anthology, and finally providing my second five star read of the year! Stim is a hugely important anthology that seeks to challenge how autistic characters are usually written by non-autistic people, who often rely on stereotypes and cultural expectations that are not true for many people. Most of the essays are about autism itself, but some aren’t; editor Lizzie Huxley-Jones explains in her introduction that the specifications for submission was just that the writer or artist had autism. No matter the subject, every writer or artist shows incredible writing talent. The pieces are in turn creative, factual, moving, fun and inventive. My favourites were ‘Escape to the Country’ by c.f. prior (on queer spaces outside of the city), The Lost Mothers by Rachael Lucas (on being an undiagnosed autistic person while raising children) and Hungry by Grace Au (on visiting China when her grandfather is very ill). Stim is released on World Autism Awareness Day, April 2nd. 5 stars 🌟
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Thank you to @unbounders for sending me an ARC of Stim: An Autistic Anthology, and finally providing my second five star read of the year! Stim is a hugely important anthology that seeks to challenge how autistic characters are usually written by non-autistic people, who often rely on stereotypes and cultural expectations that are not true for many people. Most of the essays are about autism itself, but some aren’t; editor Lizzie Huxley-Jones explains in her introduction that the specifications for submission was just that the writer or artist had autism. No matter the subject, every writer or artist shows incredible writing talent. The pieces are in turn creative, factual, moving, fun and inventive. My favourites were ‘Escape to the Country’ by c.f. prior (on queer spaces outside of the city), The Lost Mothers by Rachael Lucas (on being an undiagnosed autistic person while raising children) and Hungry by Grace Au (on visiting China when her grandfather is very ill). Stim is released on World Autism Awareness Day, April 2nd. 5 stars 🌟
January 7, 2021
I originally didn't rate this book, but after thinking on it, I'm now giving it 3 stars.
The pieces individually were good but I found it incredibly jarring to read (as you can see it took me over a month to get through. Usually I'd DNF but I wanted to support a book by autistic people) and to reiterate what I saw in another comment; I'm autistic and this book is by autistic writers.. yet they decided to jumble fiction, non-fiction and art, forcing me to switch my brain to different processing ways that was really confusing.
Anthologies can be hard for me regardless as I have to handle different writing styles, but typically the stories are all in the same genre or at least have some sort of connecting factor. For STIM, the connecting factor is autism, which is such a vast/broad subject that without having a more specific subject (say, non-fiction pieces where the writer talks about learning they were autistic, or discusses being autistic in high school etc) it makes for such a mismatched book that while may work for neurotypicals, isn't so great for a lot of autistic people who would perhaps be really excited by a book entirely by autistic creators.
I donated towards the creation of this book and I'm incredibly glad I did as I hope this book will help showcase these writers and hopefully see them published but I am disappointed overall that I couldn't enjoy this and often would skim through a piece because I couldn't get myself to switch
The pieces individually were good but I found it incredibly jarring to read (as you can see it took me over a month to get through. Usually I'd DNF but I wanted to support a book by autistic people) and to reiterate what I saw in another comment; I'm autistic and this book is by autistic writers.. yet they decided to jumble fiction, non-fiction and art, forcing me to switch my brain to different processing ways that was really confusing.
Anthologies can be hard for me regardless as I have to handle different writing styles, but typically the stories are all in the same genre or at least have some sort of connecting factor. For STIM, the connecting factor is autism, which is such a vast/broad subject that without having a more specific subject (say, non-fiction pieces where the writer talks about learning they were autistic, or discusses being autistic in high school etc) it makes for such a mismatched book that while may work for neurotypicals, isn't so great for a lot of autistic people who would perhaps be really excited by a book entirely by autistic creators.
I donated towards the creation of this book and I'm incredibly glad I did as I hope this book will help showcase these writers and hopefully see them published but I am disappointed overall that I couldn't enjoy this and often would skim through a piece because I couldn't get myself to switch
January 25, 2022
A beautiful look into the true spectrum of autistic voices
March 31, 2020
I received a free eArc from the publisher (via NetGalley) in exchange for my honest review. For more reviews and other bookish content, check out my blog!
I really wanted to love this book, but I think overall I was just a bit disappointed. I remember being on twitter when the idea first came about, and eagerly awaiting the publication of the final book. So when I saw that I have been approved for an ARC I was very excited. I do think this book is incredibly well written, and each writer did an excellent job on their section, there is no denying that.
My problem with it is that it just wasn't coherent to me. I am autistic, and I think it's a little ironic that a book written and edited by autistic people was forcing me to switch between reading fiction, non-fiction and something in between. There just didn't seem to be a consistent theme to help me link this book together and it made it really difficult to read. Is it fiction? Non-fiction? About autism? Not about autism? It just felt very confused. I feel like it may have worked better for me as a reader if it had a strong theme, like other anthologies I have read, or was strictly a collection of fiction or non-fiction. However, I do accept that this could just be a personal preference and does not make this a "bad book".
As I said, the writing is very good, and I did enjoy many of the pieces I read. Seeing other people describe their experiences and seeing myself in them was really nice. It was especially gratifying to hear accounts from people who had also not been diagnosed until adulthood, as that is the position I am in. I hope that this anthology leads to more, and these writers continue to share their experiences. It is very important to get autistic voices out there, speaking up for themselves and other autistic people, rather than neurotypicals speaking over us.
I really wanted to love this book, but I think overall I was just a bit disappointed. I remember being on twitter when the idea first came about, and eagerly awaiting the publication of the final book. So when I saw that I have been approved for an ARC I was very excited. I do think this book is incredibly well written, and each writer did an excellent job on their section, there is no denying that.
My problem with it is that it just wasn't coherent to me. I am autistic, and I think it's a little ironic that a book written and edited by autistic people was forcing me to switch between reading fiction, non-fiction and something in between. There just didn't seem to be a consistent theme to help me link this book together and it made it really difficult to read. Is it fiction? Non-fiction? About autism? Not about autism? It just felt very confused. I feel like it may have worked better for me as a reader if it had a strong theme, like other anthologies I have read, or was strictly a collection of fiction or non-fiction. However, I do accept that this could just be a personal preference and does not make this a "bad book".
As I said, the writing is very good, and I did enjoy many of the pieces I read. Seeing other people describe their experiences and seeing myself in them was really nice. It was especially gratifying to hear accounts from people who had also not been diagnosed until adulthood, as that is the position I am in. I hope that this anthology leads to more, and these writers continue to share their experiences. It is very important to get autistic voices out there, speaking up for themselves and other autistic people, rather than neurotypicals speaking over us.
March 31, 2020
This anthology is everything.
It’s so reassuring to see minds like mine reflected in so many experiences. Thank you to Lizzie for getting such an important project off the ground and on to shelves!
It’s so reassuring to see minds like mine reflected in so many experiences. Thank you to Lizzie for getting such an important project off the ground and on to shelves!
July 3, 2022
"Stim" is a collection of short stories, essays and drawings by autists (not all but most of them about autism).
This visibility matters.
I know that I am not to decide how other autists label themselves but the A-word (created by the eugenist of the same name) impacts my emotions rather negativelly (sometimes even makes me cry) so I didn't like that it was used a number of times in the book (without critical context).
I didn't enjoy all of the works but especially the following ones were great:
"The lost mothers" by and about yet an other autistic mother who learned about her autism only learning about her child's autism.
"This Love" about the variety of special interests (both in topic and form).
"Stripping While Autistic" about masking (with a focus on masking at the work place).
"Information Highway" which I interpret as piece of art about concentatrion issues due to sensory issues.
"More Human than Human": I loved that the author reffered to Max Weber and David Graber and that he represented self-diagnosed autists.
"Once More With Feeling" about alexithymia.
I think it is rather difficul to find books that can keep up with the quality of #actuallyautistic instagram info posts ("The ABCs of Autism Acceptance" which I love did) but I still think this book (especially the parts I mentioned) was an interesting read and of course not everyone has Instagram. If I recommended/lent it to somebody I'd add some information about the A-word though, I guess.
This visibility matters.
I know that I am not to decide how other autists label themselves but the A-word (created by the eugenist of the same name) impacts my emotions rather negativelly (sometimes even makes me cry) so I didn't like that it was used a number of times in the book (without critical context).
I didn't enjoy all of the works but especially the following ones were great:
"The lost mothers" by and about yet an other autistic mother who learned about her autism only learning about her child's autism.
"This Love" about the variety of special interests (both in topic and form).
"Stripping While Autistic" about masking (with a focus on masking at the work place).
"Information Highway" which I interpret as piece of art about concentatrion issues due to sensory issues.
"More Human than Human": I loved that the author reffered to Max Weber and David Graber and that he represented self-diagnosed autists.
"Once More With Feeling" about alexithymia.
I think it is rather difficul to find books that can keep up with the quality of #actuallyautistic instagram info posts ("The ABCs of Autism Acceptance" which I love did) but I still think this book (especially the parts I mentioned) was an interesting read and of course not everyone has Instagram. If I recommended/lent it to somebody I'd add some information about the A-word though, I guess.
January 30, 2022
Stim is a collection of short stories, essays, and graphic artwork by 18 diverse autistic writers and authors. While this collection is intriguing for what it is, I found the title to be misleading. Huxley-Jones explains her thought process behind choosing the title at the end of the book, but it still doesn’t make sense to me. None of the entries in this anthology have to do with stimming. But that just kind of sums up my reading experience as a whole. It might just be the writing style used in most of the short stories, but I often found myself confused. I largely prefer the essays and graphic artwork over the short stories. My two favorite essays are “Stripping While Autistic” and “Handling the Bones.” Both are written by autistic women and document their struggles in maneuvering social situations. My favorite graphic is “Information Superhighway;” I thought it was really creative visual representation of overstimulation and I’d love to see it as a large print. My favorite short story is “The Strangers,” although I’m not sure there’s a parallel to autism there; I think it’s just a story about lions. Overall, Stim was a mixed bag. Upon first finishing this collection, I was a bit disappointed for the amount of entries I didn’t like. I don’t think Stim was intended for me anyways; it seems more targeted at a nuerotypical audience. However, upon reflection, I’m more appreciative for the exposure to the pieces that did resonate with me. Even thought this wasn’t a perfect fit for me, I highly encourage others to check Stim out and discover the diverse experience of many different autistic writers and artists.
3.5/5⭐️
3.5/5⭐️
April 21, 2020
I really really appreciate that this book exists and I'm so grateful that I got the opportunity to read and review it. I don't think that autistic authors are celebrated enough; and unfortunately, they are often not the ones telling the story on what a person with autism looks like.
Like all anthologies, there were some stories that I enjoyed in here more than others. My main problem with this collection was that there wasn't a strong theme running throughout it - the only common thread was that the authors have autism. On one hand, that was a good illustration of the fact that there is no one way that autistic people act, think, or write. But also, there is such a wide range of styles within this one book that I think you would be hard-pressed to find a reader who meshed well with all of them.
That being said, I really enjoyed reading this book. There was art, poetic fiction, and personal narratives. While some were harder to get through, some (ahem, Becoming Less) will stick with me for a long time. And this was a great way to get introduced with a lot of amazing storytellers!
Like all anthologies, there were some stories that I enjoyed in here more than others. My main problem with this collection was that there wasn't a strong theme running throughout it - the only common thread was that the authors have autism. On one hand, that was a good illustration of the fact that there is no one way that autistic people act, think, or write. But also, there is such a wide range of styles within this one book that I think you would be hard-pressed to find a reader who meshed well with all of them.
That being said, I really enjoyed reading this book. There was art, poetic fiction, and personal narratives. While some were harder to get through, some (ahem, Becoming Less) will stick with me for a long time. And this was a great way to get introduced with a lot of amazing storytellers!
August 1, 2025
i love reading stories by autistic people, they make so much sense to me.
the one thing i didn't like was the alternation between ficiton and non-fiction.
the one thing i didn't like was the alternation between ficiton and non-fiction.
October 28, 2021
I came across this anthology whilst searching for books by autistic authors. Books like this are important for learning about the subtleties of autism and the experience of autistic people, but this collection was also just great reading, variously interesting, entertaining, thought provoking and emotive.
Editor Lizzie Huxley-Jones has put together an wonderful collection with wide scope. There is a mixture of expressive, sometime surreal or abstract fiction, candid and plain-speaking personal essays, and visual art, which combine to capture different angles, experiences and perspectives very well.
The book opens with M A R A C A, a short story by Gemma Williams. I found this particular story hard to follow. It required a lot of thought and decipherment from me as a reader. While I was reading it, I wasn't sure what to make of it, but looking back having read the book, I now think it was the perfect way to begin. It wrong foots the reader and requests that they make an effort to understand, a sentiment that is mirrored in the final contribution by Waverly SM. In Thirteen ways of looking at [you], Waverly explains how from a young age, autistic children learn that being understood is their responsibility and not something they can expect others to work on. The perfect counterpoint to M A R A C A which insists that, for once, we try.
The most poignant piece for me was Information Superhighway, a one page art piece by Tristan Alice Nieto. I sat and stared at the page for quite some time.
Becoming Less by Robert Shepherd also stood out for me. There is a mix of fiction and non-fiction in the book, but none of the contributions are labelled as one or the other. In most cases it is obvious, but not with this one. I'm not sure if it's a piece of fiction told with the candid tone of experience, or an essay enriched with fictional flourishes. Or both, or neither. I'm still not sure, and I love that.
Hungry by Grace Au was probably my favourite fiction piece. Full of detailed and unsettling sensory description, it is at heart, a ghost story, but with a sweet, uplifting ending that made me very emotional.
I also want to mention Stripping Whilst Autistic, which I thought was a great addition to the collection both for it's engaging story and the fact that it (along with M A R A C A) challenges assumptions about autism, sex and sexuality. Something that "mainstream" fictional representations of autistic people are still really struggling with.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the journey this anthology takes the reader on.
Editor Lizzie Huxley-Jones has put together an wonderful collection with wide scope. There is a mixture of expressive, sometime surreal or abstract fiction, candid and plain-speaking personal essays, and visual art, which combine to capture different angles, experiences and perspectives very well.
The book opens with M A R A C A, a short story by Gemma Williams. I found this particular story hard to follow. It required a lot of thought and decipherment from me as a reader. While I was reading it, I wasn't sure what to make of it, but looking back having read the book, I now think it was the perfect way to begin. It wrong foots the reader and requests that they make an effort to understand, a sentiment that is mirrored in the final contribution by Waverly SM. In Thirteen ways of looking at [you], Waverly explains how from a young age, autistic children learn that being understood is their responsibility and not something they can expect others to work on. The perfect counterpoint to M A R A C A which insists that, for once, we try.
The most poignant piece for me was Information Superhighway, a one page art piece by Tristan Alice Nieto. I sat and stared at the page for quite some time.
Becoming Less by Robert Shepherd also stood out for me. There is a mix of fiction and non-fiction in the book, but none of the contributions are labelled as one or the other. In most cases it is obvious, but not with this one. I'm not sure if it's a piece of fiction told with the candid tone of experience, or an essay enriched with fictional flourishes. Or both, or neither. I'm still not sure, and I love that.
Hungry by Grace Au was probably my favourite fiction piece. Full of detailed and unsettling sensory description, it is at heart, a ghost story, but with a sweet, uplifting ending that made me very emotional.
I also want to mention Stripping Whilst Autistic, which I thought was a great addition to the collection both for it's engaging story and the fact that it (along with M A R A C A) challenges assumptions about autism, sex and sexuality. Something that "mainstream" fictional representations of autistic people are still really struggling with.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the journey this anthology takes the reader on.
April 13, 2020
This anthology is a treasure trove of essays, short stories and visual art by autistic people, masterfully put together and edited by Lizzie Huxley-Jones. Some of the work is about the experiences of being autistic, or how autism intersects with other marginalised identities, while other pieces are not overtly ‘about’ autism at all. As with any anthology, especially such a varied one, there were pieces that I enjoyed more than others – but I think most people would find something to enjoy in this pages. I could appreciate the craft and techniques even in the work that didn’t particularly appeal to me. My personal highlights were Rachael Lucas’ essay ‘The Lost Mothers’, the visual art essay ‘It has nothing to do with how I look’ and the short stories ‘Hungry’ and ‘The Strangers’. I’m also looking forward to perusing the list of resources and further reading at the back – I’m particularly keen to read more fantasy and sci-fi fiction with autistic protagonists! Overall this is an important book, providing much-needed space to amplify autistic voices.
September 6, 2025
non autistic person who loved this book and also recommended a few essays to my autistic friend who really liked it also.
July 9, 2021
This book does not want to be in a box! I loved that this anthology was a mishmash of essays, short stories, and art. But it still came together as a cohesive collection full of interesting experiences.
August 13, 2020
I always find anthologies hard to rate. I found the short stories a little hard to understand personally but that's just me as I do generally find short stories (unless they're super straight forward) hard to read. But I enjoyed nearly all the essays and these were definitely worth the read and found these so important to understand each person's individual experience. This rating is definitely more personal to me rather than for other people. Like I said, I always find anthologies hard to rate, there's always pieces I enjoyed SO much and then pieces not so much. However, this is definitely worth picking up and supporting autistic own voices!
January 22, 2022
This is a very mixed bag for me. There were two five star entries toward the end and there were a few others I liked. But at least two entries didn't seem to relate to autism at all, not that I could see?
I wish the pieces had been presented in a different order. Why, for example, would you place the explanation of what autism is at the end? Why start off with a (to me) obscure piece of short fiction instead of one of the more insightful essays? I don't feel I could hand this anthology to one of my friends and say 'read this to understand my experience better'.
I wish the pieces had been presented in a different order. Why, for example, would you place the explanation of what autism is at the end? Why start off with a (to me) obscure piece of short fiction instead of one of the more insightful essays? I don't feel I could hand this anthology to one of my friends and say 'read this to understand my experience better'.
May 17, 2020
I was very excited to finally be able to read this, having seen the original tweets looking for authors ages ago. I wasn't sure what to expect but the back cover describes it as a collection of pieces that explore the many facets of being autistic.
Unfortunately, I almost gave up after the first piece which is probably the worst in the entire anthology. Luckily I'd already skipped ahead and read two other pieces which were fantastic but seriously I question the decision to start the anthology with such a strange and confusing piece. Is it fiction or non-fiction? I can't tell, I also cannot tell what on earth it has to do with autism, all I can tell is that it's some of the worst writing I've ever read and I don't even know why it's in here at all - there are already a couple excellent pieces exploring sexuality so this strange nonsense seems unneccessary. It seems I'm not the only one that thinks that and it's the first of several very questionable editing decisions that frankly detract from fully enjoying the anthology. I've already seen several other people talk about the lack of structure which did also definitely bother me - especially since some placement did seem deliberate such as the two pieces about parenthood are together but then there's no distinction between fiction and non-fiction meaning that for some pieces you can't even tell what they're meant to be and the lack of descriptions of the artwork disappointed me (especially since it makes it very inaccessible to those that are partially sighted).
Luckily the next piece is fantastic, a non-fiction piece about being an autistic parent of autistic children and it is a delight to read, along with the following piece Intersected Like Me.
The next piece that I think is fiction, maybe also non-fiction as I can't tell, is another of the weak ones. I did not enjoy it at all, I'm not a fan of stream of conscious so that probably influenced me a bit.
Following this is a piece of artwork entitled Untitled and Tension. When I turned to this page my face was just "wtf?" because it's presented with no accompanying text. My bf explained to me about the artist and how this artwork is how they stim which upon closer inspection I can relate as I've drawn similar pieces myself and enjoyed the linework. However, without that explanation I wouldn't be able to appreciate it nearly as much - just like how in art museums the guide is able to increase your appreciation of the art by giving you background information. I feel it was a poor editing choice to present it without at least a small accompanying text to give it some context.
This Love is the piece that follows it, focusing on "special interests" and how theirs differed from the stereotypical male interests - with a particular focus on fandom. Most autistic people I know are heavily involved in at least one fandom.
The next piece, Becoming Less, is the only fiction story in the collection that I enjoyed, and it is fantastic. My mum actually cried while reading this story because it was so upsetting.
Escape to the country is a very interesting look at queer spaces, and it's followed by a comic illustrating common autistic traits then a story revolving around returning home for the death of a loved one. These were all interesting in different ways and I definitely enjoyed them.
Stripping While Autistic is likely my favourite out of the entire anthology, focusing on how the author learned masking skills through stripping and it was a fascinating read. It's followed by Handling the Bones which explores the authors sexuality and is another very good read. Bluebells follows this and I'm rather indifferent towards it, it didn't really stand out.
I just went "wtf" again during The Strangers because what on earth does this piece about tracking devices on lions have to do with autism? There's even a wee explanation at the end about the project, but nothing explaining the frankly bizarre decision to include it in this anthology. It definitely was very jarring and made no sense.
Information Superhighway was another piece that I felt could use an explanation, like the artwork. This piece I did understand, at least I assumed it was a representation of information overload and how it can affect auditory processing leading you to be unable to distinguish anything that people are saying. I did enjoy it, but again feel it would be more impactful with at least a small description.
More Human than Human was very interesting and I particularly enjoyed learning about to process of getting diagnosed in Sweden. The penultimate story was about alexithymia which I related to a lot, same with the final story.
Unfortunately, I almost gave up after the first piece which is probably the worst in the entire anthology. Luckily I'd already skipped ahead and read two other pieces which were fantastic but seriously I question the decision to start the anthology with such a strange and confusing piece. Is it fiction or non-fiction? I can't tell, I also cannot tell what on earth it has to do with autism, all I can tell is that it's some of the worst writing I've ever read and I don't even know why it's in here at all - there are already a couple excellent pieces exploring sexuality so this strange nonsense seems unneccessary. It seems I'm not the only one that thinks that and it's the first of several very questionable editing decisions that frankly detract from fully enjoying the anthology. I've already seen several other people talk about the lack of structure which did also definitely bother me - especially since some placement did seem deliberate such as the two pieces about parenthood are together but then there's no distinction between fiction and non-fiction meaning that for some pieces you can't even tell what they're meant to be and the lack of descriptions of the artwork disappointed me (especially since it makes it very inaccessible to those that are partially sighted).
Luckily the next piece is fantastic, a non-fiction piece about being an autistic parent of autistic children and it is a delight to read, along with the following piece Intersected Like Me.
The next piece that I think is fiction, maybe also non-fiction as I can't tell, is another of the weak ones. I did not enjoy it at all, I'm not a fan of stream of conscious so that probably influenced me a bit.
Following this is a piece of artwork entitled Untitled and Tension. When I turned to this page my face was just "wtf?" because it's presented with no accompanying text. My bf explained to me about the artist and how this artwork is how they stim which upon closer inspection I can relate as I've drawn similar pieces myself and enjoyed the linework. However, without that explanation I wouldn't be able to appreciate it nearly as much - just like how in art museums the guide is able to increase your appreciation of the art by giving you background information. I feel it was a poor editing choice to present it without at least a small accompanying text to give it some context.
This Love is the piece that follows it, focusing on "special interests" and how theirs differed from the stereotypical male interests - with a particular focus on fandom. Most autistic people I know are heavily involved in at least one fandom.
The next piece, Becoming Less, is the only fiction story in the collection that I enjoyed, and it is fantastic. My mum actually cried while reading this story because it was so upsetting.
Escape to the country is a very interesting look at queer spaces, and it's followed by a comic illustrating common autistic traits then a story revolving around returning home for the death of a loved one. These were all interesting in different ways and I definitely enjoyed them.
Stripping While Autistic is likely my favourite out of the entire anthology, focusing on how the author learned masking skills through stripping and it was a fascinating read. It's followed by Handling the Bones which explores the authors sexuality and is another very good read. Bluebells follows this and I'm rather indifferent towards it, it didn't really stand out.
I just went "wtf" again during The Strangers because what on earth does this piece about tracking devices on lions have to do with autism? There's even a wee explanation at the end about the project, but nothing explaining the frankly bizarre decision to include it in this anthology. It definitely was very jarring and made no sense.
Information Superhighway was another piece that I felt could use an explanation, like the artwork. This piece I did understand, at least I assumed it was a representation of information overload and how it can affect auditory processing leading you to be unable to distinguish anything that people are saying. I did enjoy it, but again feel it would be more impactful with at least a small description.
More Human than Human was very interesting and I particularly enjoyed learning about to process of getting diagnosed in Sweden. The penultimate story was about alexithymia which I related to a lot, same with the final story.
April 1, 2020
To say that I was excited to stumble across London-based crowdfunding publisher Unbound would be an understatement. As an indie writer myself, I'm a huge fan of any project or publisher that gives voice to vital voices and, indeed, that is exactly what unfolds with Unbound.
"Stim: An Autistic Anthology" is the perfect example. Edited by Lizzie Huxley-Jones, an autistic writer/editor from London who can be found editing at indie micropublisher 3 of Cups Press, "Stim: An Autistic Anthology" features stories, essays, and art from autistic authors and artists.
In a world where about us is often without us, "Stim: An Autistic Anthology" expertly delves into the world of autism by giving the literary mic to the vibrant and diverse voices of autism themselves and comes up with what has to be one of the year's most refreshingly honest, enjoyable collections.
"Stim" was inspired by Huxley-Jones's late 20's autism diagnosis that was actually triggered by her own experiences supporting a recently diagnosed friend. Realizing that many of the books she was reading, especially fiction, were written by non-autistics she began to realize that those living with autism deserved, and even needed, to have their voices heard and their own views expressed.
With a title like "Stim," short for stimming, an oft-stigmatized trait of those living with autism that just as often leaves them isolated and on the outside, you can be sure that "Stim: An Autistic Anthology" is bold, opinionated, honest, and filled with hard truths and free-spirited self-expression.
There are so many truly wonderful essays in "Stim: An Autistic Anthology" that it would be nearly impossible to pick out a single favorite.
Rachael Lucas, the Carnegie Medal-nominated author of YA novel "The State of Grace," contributes the thoughtful, poignant "The Lost Mothers," while Helen Carmichael serves up a peaceful, meditative essay about walking in nature called "Bluebells." Ashleigh J. Mills hits an absolute home run with "Handling the Bones," a journey through autism-friendly kink that allows for setting parameters, communicating clear expectations, and relating with concrete boundaries.
Going even further into sexuality is Reese Piper, whose essay "Stripping While Autistic" explores, well, stripping while autistic. It does so with honesty, vulnerability, and a little humor. It's easily one of the collection's true highlights.
Megan Rhiannon's artistic contributions, "It Has Nothing to Do with How I Look," are incredibly well done and meaningful. Grace Au's enlightening "Hungry" reflects on visiting an ill grandfather in China, while c.f. prior's "Escape to the Country" looks at queer spaces and Waverly SM's "Thirteen Ways of Looking at [You]" closes out the collection with the perfect weaving together of thought-provoking words and emotionally resonant imagery.
While "Stim: An Autistic Anthology" is centered within the world of autistic writers and artists, the essays themselves are diverse, thoughtful, incredibly intelligent, and enjoyable to read as they embrace a wide array of subjects including, but certainly not limited to, autism and the autism experience themselves. The writers themselves are of diverse experience and selections by Nell Brown, Kerima Cevik, Kurdish author Agri Ismail, Laura James, actor/playwright Katherine Kingsford, writer/filmmaker Tristan Alice Nieto, Robert Sheperd, gemma williams, and Tjallien de Witte round out this remarkable anthology with expertise and insight that will help illuminate autism and challenge the far too easily embraced media stereotypes.
"Stim: An Autistic Anthology" is being released on April 2nd - World Autism Day - and supporting this remarkable project is a tremendous way to observe this annual day of awareness for those living with autism.
"Stim: An Autistic Anthology" is the perfect example. Edited by Lizzie Huxley-Jones, an autistic writer/editor from London who can be found editing at indie micropublisher 3 of Cups Press, "Stim: An Autistic Anthology" features stories, essays, and art from autistic authors and artists.
In a world where about us is often without us, "Stim: An Autistic Anthology" expertly delves into the world of autism by giving the literary mic to the vibrant and diverse voices of autism themselves and comes up with what has to be one of the year's most refreshingly honest, enjoyable collections.
"Stim" was inspired by Huxley-Jones's late 20's autism diagnosis that was actually triggered by her own experiences supporting a recently diagnosed friend. Realizing that many of the books she was reading, especially fiction, were written by non-autistics she began to realize that those living with autism deserved, and even needed, to have their voices heard and their own views expressed.
With a title like "Stim," short for stimming, an oft-stigmatized trait of those living with autism that just as often leaves them isolated and on the outside, you can be sure that "Stim: An Autistic Anthology" is bold, opinionated, honest, and filled with hard truths and free-spirited self-expression.
There are so many truly wonderful essays in "Stim: An Autistic Anthology" that it would be nearly impossible to pick out a single favorite.
Rachael Lucas, the Carnegie Medal-nominated author of YA novel "The State of Grace," contributes the thoughtful, poignant "The Lost Mothers," while Helen Carmichael serves up a peaceful, meditative essay about walking in nature called "Bluebells." Ashleigh J. Mills hits an absolute home run with "Handling the Bones," a journey through autism-friendly kink that allows for setting parameters, communicating clear expectations, and relating with concrete boundaries.
Going even further into sexuality is Reese Piper, whose essay "Stripping While Autistic" explores, well, stripping while autistic. It does so with honesty, vulnerability, and a little humor. It's easily one of the collection's true highlights.
Megan Rhiannon's artistic contributions, "It Has Nothing to Do with How I Look," are incredibly well done and meaningful. Grace Au's enlightening "Hungry" reflects on visiting an ill grandfather in China, while c.f. prior's "Escape to the Country" looks at queer spaces and Waverly SM's "Thirteen Ways of Looking at [You]" closes out the collection with the perfect weaving together of thought-provoking words and emotionally resonant imagery.
While "Stim: An Autistic Anthology" is centered within the world of autistic writers and artists, the essays themselves are diverse, thoughtful, incredibly intelligent, and enjoyable to read as they embrace a wide array of subjects including, but certainly not limited to, autism and the autism experience themselves. The writers themselves are of diverse experience and selections by Nell Brown, Kerima Cevik, Kurdish author Agri Ismail, Laura James, actor/playwright Katherine Kingsford, writer/filmmaker Tristan Alice Nieto, Robert Sheperd, gemma williams, and Tjallien de Witte round out this remarkable anthology with expertise and insight that will help illuminate autism and challenge the far too easily embraced media stereotypes.
"Stim: An Autistic Anthology" is being released on April 2nd - World Autism Day - and supporting this remarkable project is a tremendous way to observe this annual day of awareness for those living with autism.
Read
August 20, 2025A mixed bag but worth picking up on sale or from the library.
Story 1: dnf due to the writing style
Story 2: I really liked this essay on autistic motherhood.
Story 3: I'm already tired of reading about parenthood. These should've been spaced out in the anthology so people not interested in parenthood wouldn't be forced to read more than 1 in a row. Dnf.
Story 4: dnf. I hate reading about drunk people.
Story 5: not a story but in fact 2 drawings. I don't personally get them but then I'm pretty sure I'm not autistic.
Story 6: an excellent examination of two topics I don't understand and can't relate to, autism and fandom, with a dash of gender and misogyny. So good.
Story 7: my favourite selkie story in the world, but also not about selkies at all.
Story 8: dnf due to the writing style.
Story 9: a graphic novel! A little basic, nothing special, but a cute overview.
Story 10: dnf, didn't hold my interest.
Story 11: dnf, didn't hold my interest.
Story 12: an interesting account of the intersections between trauma, autism and kink.
Story 13: so many descriptions of scenery. Dnf.
Story 14: dnf, not for me.
Story 15: a great representation of information overload. Every time I try to explain to someone I couldn't hear them because there was a different noise, a child screaming or music playing, I can sense the lack of understanding.
Story 16: in defense of bureaucracy, kind of. I really liked the mix of scholarly research, pop culture and personal history.
Story 17: the part about the emotions is too relatable. I've been so out of touch with my feelings, I too couls only distinguish between these four ánd I couldn't figure out how my body felt either beyond very painful, very tired, very hungry and okay. It's taken years to be able to tighten my core in workouts, realise I'm satiated/full when eating, and figure out at least the distinctions between many of the emotions falling under the umbrellas "good" and "angry", to a lesser extent "neutral" and I still can't figure out the nuances of "sad" but I'm getting there (without a wheel). I also don't understand romantic attraction at all. I don't personally like the neutral feeling the way the author of this story does though.
I don't have issues expressing my feelings though. I might not have used the correct word in the past but I could always relate it to a scenario, real or imagined.
Noooo it turned into an alexithymia story, my least favourite! They got so popular in East Asian media about a decade or so ago and the field's been oversaturated with it. I still have Almond to read and I dread it with my whole being. Between it, the inability to see images in your head (also a needlessly complicated word) and lucid dreaming, authors got obsessed with the worst, most annoying things and I hate stories with each of these things, even if they're the author's lived experience.
Sadly this was also a dnf.
Story 18: dnf. A case of second person that didn't work for me.
Story 1: dnf due to the writing style
Story 2: I really liked this essay on autistic motherhood.
Story 3: I'm already tired of reading about parenthood. These should've been spaced out in the anthology so people not interested in parenthood wouldn't be forced to read more than 1 in a row. Dnf.
Story 4: dnf. I hate reading about drunk people.
Story 5: not a story but in fact 2 drawings. I don't personally get them but then I'm pretty sure I'm not autistic.
Story 6: an excellent examination of two topics I don't understand and can't relate to, autism and fandom, with a dash of gender and misogyny. So good.
Story 7: my favourite selkie story in the world, but also not about selkies at all.
Story 8: dnf due to the writing style.
Story 9: a graphic novel! A little basic, nothing special, but a cute overview.
Story 10: dnf, didn't hold my interest.
Story 11: dnf, didn't hold my interest.
Story 12: an interesting account of the intersections between trauma, autism and kink.
Story 13: so many descriptions of scenery. Dnf.
Story 14: dnf, not for me.
Story 15: a great representation of information overload. Every time I try to explain to someone I couldn't hear them because there was a different noise, a child screaming or music playing, I can sense the lack of understanding.
Story 16: in defense of bureaucracy, kind of. I really liked the mix of scholarly research, pop culture and personal history.
Story 17: the part about the emotions is too relatable. I've been so out of touch with my feelings, I too couls only distinguish between these four ánd I couldn't figure out how my body felt either beyond very painful, very tired, very hungry and okay. It's taken years to be able to tighten my core in workouts, realise I'm satiated/full when eating, and figure out at least the distinctions between many of the emotions falling under the umbrellas "good" and "angry", to a lesser extent "neutral" and I still can't figure out the nuances of "sad" but I'm getting there (without a wheel). I also don't understand romantic attraction at all. I don't personally like the neutral feeling the way the author of this story does though.
I don't have issues expressing my feelings though. I might not have used the correct word in the past but I could always relate it to a scenario, real or imagined.
Noooo it turned into an alexithymia story, my least favourite! They got so popular in East Asian media about a decade or so ago and the field's been oversaturated with it. I still have Almond to read and I dread it with my whole being. Between it, the inability to see images in your head (also a needlessly complicated word) and lucid dreaming, authors got obsessed with the worst, most annoying things and I hate stories with each of these things, even if they're the author's lived experience.
Sadly this was also a dnf.
Story 18: dnf. A case of second person that didn't work for me.
August 13, 2020
This review was originally posted on my website https://www.destinationbooks.uk/ where you can get 5 diverse book recommendations & reviews for free every month.
I needed to read this book. As a neuro-typical person who has clearly not done enough to make space for people who process in different ways to me, this collection of stories, personal essays, and art from autistic contributors has been really valuable. Stim offered an opportunity to really tune in and listen to the experience, perspectives and feelings of neurodivergent people. This collection successfully raises awareness of the range of autistic experience and offers a space of recognition for readers on the autistic spectrum and has a wonderful, hopeful dedication at the beginning: “for us”.
I’m sure many of us have been guilty of being frustrated and impatient when somebody doesn’t process something in the same way we have, wondering why they can’t see what’s so obvious to us. Regardless of whether we, and the people we interact with, are neurotypical or neurodivergent, it’s naturally difficult to see the world through someone else’s perspective, but this collection gives us that opportunity, putting us in the shoes of 18 autistic contributors. The anthology shines a light on small, quotidian aspects of life and how they might affect autistic people, and also gives space to autistic imagination and inquisition.
The anthology nudges us to think about how we can behave differently to be more accommodating of others and more compassionate. There were many learnings for me in this book that I am determined to take with me going forwards and to be more mindful to other people’s experience and ways of processing, emoting and communicating.
The collection is diverse, with a range of themes and writing styles included. There are experimental and poetic prose pieces, personal essays and fictional stories. I expected to respond to the writing more than the art, because I prefer literature to visual art, but the art pieces were brilliant and meaningful too and suited the collection well. The anthology is considerate, with content warnings for all kinds of potential triggers, not just the “standard” ones that often seem to be included out of obligation rather than genuine care. Voice is given to diverse authors with different backgrounds, sexualities and genders, but Huxley-Jones acknowledges the lack of contributions from people of colour, noting that there are representation and diagnosis issues for autistic people of colour more broadly that likely affected the proportion of submissions from people of colour. Further resources and advice are offered at the end of the collection making this a really great start for your autistic reading list.
I’m so glad this anthology exists; it was truly eye-opening to me as a neuro-typical person and it’s so valuable to hear from neurodivergent people in their own voices and their own modes of expression, be it fiction, essay, art or something in between; this collection makes space for it all as part of its mission to expand the limited representations of what autism is. Highly recommended.
4/5
I needed to read this book. As a neuro-typical person who has clearly not done enough to make space for people who process in different ways to me, this collection of stories, personal essays, and art from autistic contributors has been really valuable. Stim offered an opportunity to really tune in and listen to the experience, perspectives and feelings of neurodivergent people. This collection successfully raises awareness of the range of autistic experience and offers a space of recognition for readers on the autistic spectrum and has a wonderful, hopeful dedication at the beginning: “for us”.
I’m sure many of us have been guilty of being frustrated and impatient when somebody doesn’t process something in the same way we have, wondering why they can’t see what’s so obvious to us. Regardless of whether we, and the people we interact with, are neurotypical or neurodivergent, it’s naturally difficult to see the world through someone else’s perspective, but this collection gives us that opportunity, putting us in the shoes of 18 autistic contributors. The anthology shines a light on small, quotidian aspects of life and how they might affect autistic people, and also gives space to autistic imagination and inquisition.
The anthology nudges us to think about how we can behave differently to be more accommodating of others and more compassionate. There were many learnings for me in this book that I am determined to take with me going forwards and to be more mindful to other people’s experience and ways of processing, emoting and communicating.
The collection is diverse, with a range of themes and writing styles included. There are experimental and poetic prose pieces, personal essays and fictional stories. I expected to respond to the writing more than the art, because I prefer literature to visual art, but the art pieces were brilliant and meaningful too and suited the collection well. The anthology is considerate, with content warnings for all kinds of potential triggers, not just the “standard” ones that often seem to be included out of obligation rather than genuine care. Voice is given to diverse authors with different backgrounds, sexualities and genders, but Huxley-Jones acknowledges the lack of contributions from people of colour, noting that there are representation and diagnosis issues for autistic people of colour more broadly that likely affected the proportion of submissions from people of colour. Further resources and advice are offered at the end of the collection making this a really great start for your autistic reading list.
I’m so glad this anthology exists; it was truly eye-opening to me as a neuro-typical person and it’s so valuable to hear from neurodivergent people in their own voices and their own modes of expression, be it fiction, essay, art or something in between; this collection makes space for it all as part of its mission to expand the limited representations of what autism is. Highly recommended.
4/5
April 27, 2020
“I think back to those representations of autistic people I once reached for, and wonder if they explain why some people tell me that I don’t seem autistic... I don’t want to be penned in by the perceptions of non-autistic people, or by representations that stop at the surface or tell the same story again and again. I want to reclaim space; I want to rest my weight against boundaries set by others and push against them.” (This Love by Nell Brown)
Stim is a perceptive collection of eighteen essays or visual art, each written or made by talented artists or writers who are affected by autism spectrum disorder. Stim presents a space for autistic people to speak about the realities of living with a diverse neurology. To reclaim their identity from the limiting stereotype TV shows and movies have portrayed them as. I received a digital advance copy of #Stim from #NetGalley.
Each piece of this anthology is so unique to its author. The diversity in each work reinforces that autism is such a broad spectrum. A testament that autism is more than just a neurodevelopmental disorder to “treat”, but also a celebration of unique abilities and talents.
As I read this, I constantly thought about the children and teens I work with who are in the spectrum. I found myself questioning how they view their own identities in a non-autistic world. For those with non-autistic parents, what is their image of people living in the spectrum? Often, society portrays an autistic person as someone who is systematic rather than empathetic. Difficulties identifying emotions can be misunderstood as someone who’s not able to feel at all. There’s also a stigma when someone does not communicate typically. A tendency to discriminate when someone’s behavior is just outwardly different. These stereotypes that society holds on to, to explain different, is toxic. There’s an uncomfortable cognitive dissonance that needs to be replaced with understanding. This anthology helps provide that perspective to understand and be kind. This is a must-read for everyone, especially for those who teach or are mental health professionals.
March 24, 2020
I backed this project and was so thrilled to receive the book a few days ago!
[J'ai écrit un article pour détailler mon appréciation de ce livre sur mon blog, pour les personnes francophones qui seraient intéressées !]
I especially loved Ashleigh J. Mills' submission, touching up on the subjects of trauma, shame relating to sexuality, the practice of BDSM as an autistic-friendly thing codified with scripts and clear negociation of consent.
I'd really liked Rachael Lucas' "The State of Grace" and her essay in this anthology was a very nice read, interesting, relatable and moving, and conjuring lovely images as well.
Kerima Çevik's reflexion on being unable to fully grasp someone else's lived experience of discrimination was great. It does need to be underlined that somehow stepping into someone's role for a few weeks doesn't allow you to understand what it means to living it full time.
Megan Rhiannon's drawings are lovely and eloquent.
I was very pleasantly surprised to find an essay by Reese Piper, an autistic woman working as a stripper. While the subject of sex work is a source of endless polemics, she simply explains how she navigates this working place as an autistic person, and it was thoroughly interesting. I'm glad the editor didn't shy away from including someone who works in such a stigmatised field.
Helen Carmichael delivers a dreamy ode to solitary walks in nature. Truly entrancing.
This was a really enjoyable read. I found it a little uneven, but I reckon it's not surprising that not all submissions are to my taste - and most of it was.
[J'ai écrit un article pour détailler mon appréciation de ce livre sur mon blog, pour les personnes francophones qui seraient intéressées !]
I especially loved Ashleigh J. Mills' submission, touching up on the subjects of trauma, shame relating to sexuality, the practice of BDSM as an autistic-friendly thing codified with scripts and clear negociation of consent.
I'd really liked Rachael Lucas' "The State of Grace" and her essay in this anthology was a very nice read, interesting, relatable and moving, and conjuring lovely images as well.
Kerima Çevik's reflexion on being unable to fully grasp someone else's lived experience of discrimination was great. It does need to be underlined that somehow stepping into someone's role for a few weeks doesn't allow you to understand what it means to living it full time.
Megan Rhiannon's drawings are lovely and eloquent.
I was very pleasantly surprised to find an essay by Reese Piper, an autistic woman working as a stripper. While the subject of sex work is a source of endless polemics, she simply explains how she navigates this working place as an autistic person, and it was thoroughly interesting. I'm glad the editor didn't shy away from including someone who works in such a stigmatised field.
Helen Carmichael delivers a dreamy ode to solitary walks in nature. Truly entrancing.
This was a really enjoyable read. I found it a little uneven, but I reckon it's not surprising that not all submissions are to my taste - and most of it was.
April 3, 2020
“The saying goes that if you’ve met one autistic person, you’ve met one autistic person; our individualities make us just as unique as non-autistic people, beyond the diagnostic criteria that link us”
This was a wonderfully diverse and varied collection. I do love an Unbound collection, and this one cemented that fact for me. The editorial introduction was a fabulous starting point and from there we are introduced to a range of writing pieces from autistic authors. Some of these pieces were autobiographical, while others were fictional. There were also pieces of illustration in the book which I loved.
I had complete respect for the use of content warnings, and this was noted again in the launch party as something which the whole contributory team was conscious of. Total respect for that. It is something I hope to see more of in the publishing world.
As with any collection, there are some pieces you love and feel more affinity to than others.
My favourite pieces were Becoming Less by Robert Shepherd and The Lost Mothers by Rachael Lucas.
I drew hearts next to the titles of seven other pieces in the anthology - all of which I felt were beautifully written and captured something unique and special.
What a wonderful collection. I’m delighted to have been gifted it via Netgalley by Unbound. I hope my review has done justice to Stim: An Autistic Anthology.
This was a wonderfully diverse and varied collection. I do love an Unbound collection, and this one cemented that fact for me. The editorial introduction was a fabulous starting point and from there we are introduced to a range of writing pieces from autistic authors. Some of these pieces were autobiographical, while others were fictional. There were also pieces of illustration in the book which I loved.
I had complete respect for the use of content warnings, and this was noted again in the launch party as something which the whole contributory team was conscious of. Total respect for that. It is something I hope to see more of in the publishing world.
As with any collection, there are some pieces you love and feel more affinity to than others.
My favourite pieces were Becoming Less by Robert Shepherd and The Lost Mothers by Rachael Lucas.
I drew hearts next to the titles of seven other pieces in the anthology - all of which I felt were beautifully written and captured something unique and special.
What a wonderful collection. I’m delighted to have been gifted it via Netgalley by Unbound. I hope my review has done justice to Stim: An Autistic Anthology.
April 5, 2020
I wish to thank the editor Lizzie Huxley-Jones, Unbound and NetGalley for the advanced copy of Stim An Autistic Anthology in exchange for an honest review.
I still have two works to read in this excellent collection, given the recent publishing date on World Autism Awareness Day; I’d like to offer my review.
Hux has edited an important anthology of submissions from talented people on the spectrum which includes fiction, personal experiences, and wonderful works of art. This is the first literature I’ve read which gives voice to people with autism.
I have two good friends who live with autism and live as a couple, a gorgeous couple, generous with their kindness and love for each other. Both have endured stigma and discrimination throughout their lives, their mental health has suffered as a result. In a world where neurotypical people often lack empathy and misconceptions abound, Hux’s anthology will enlighten. I’d love to see this on school reading lists.
Megan Rhiannon’s It Has Nothing to Do with How I Look describes her experiences with beautiful illustrations.
Helen Carmichael’s Bluebells uses beautiful descriptive writing; high on nature, synaethesia, flowers.
Grace Au’s account of her journey to see and the death of her grandfather is lyrical, superb writing.
This is just a few. I look forward to the coming days when I’ll read the remaining submissions.
I still have two works to read in this excellent collection, given the recent publishing date on World Autism Awareness Day; I’d like to offer my review.
Hux has edited an important anthology of submissions from talented people on the spectrum which includes fiction, personal experiences, and wonderful works of art. This is the first literature I’ve read which gives voice to people with autism.
I have two good friends who live with autism and live as a couple, a gorgeous couple, generous with their kindness and love for each other. Both have endured stigma and discrimination throughout their lives, their mental health has suffered as a result. In a world where neurotypical people often lack empathy and misconceptions abound, Hux’s anthology will enlighten. I’d love to see this on school reading lists.
Megan Rhiannon’s It Has Nothing to Do with How I Look describes her experiences with beautiful illustrations.
Helen Carmichael’s Bluebells uses beautiful descriptive writing; high on nature, synaethesia, flowers.
Grace Au’s account of her journey to see and the death of her grandfather is lyrical, superb writing.
This is just a few. I look forward to the coming days when I’ll read the remaining submissions.
October 7, 2020
This one of the first books I backed on Unbound—the very first being Larry Bundy Jr's Fact Hunt—and Stim: An Autistic Anthology was worth every penny.
Lizzie Huxley-Jones does a wonderful job in curating these stories and memoirs from autistic individuals who all have different experiences on the spectrum. Many, if not all of these narratives and accounts, are well written and seamlessly allow the reader a glimpse into what having autism is like. There's a section at the end of the book where Huxley-Jones summarizes what autism, quoting the saying, "If you've met one Autistic person, you've met one autistic person," which is another way of saying that not all autistic people are the same. In should go without saying that every story here, much like a short story in a creative writing anthology, is the experience and narrative of one person out of many. The more clever thing is the placement of said section at the end, solidifying this point in an eloquent fashion.
There also some artwork and mini-graphic novels that add to an already excellent anthology, reinforcing the above. Unfortunately, but understandably, they are few are far in-between.
Either way, this book should be a must-read for those interested in neurodiversity advocacy and its associated inclusion initiatives.
Personal favorite piece: "More Human Than Human" by Agri Ismaïl
Lizzie Huxley-Jones does a wonderful job in curating these stories and memoirs from autistic individuals who all have different experiences on the spectrum. Many, if not all of these narratives and accounts, are well written and seamlessly allow the reader a glimpse into what having autism is like. There's a section at the end of the book where Huxley-Jones summarizes what autism, quoting the saying, "If you've met one Autistic person, you've met one autistic person," which is another way of saying that not all autistic people are the same. In should go without saying that every story here, much like a short story in a creative writing anthology, is the experience and narrative of one person out of many. The more clever thing is the placement of said section at the end, solidifying this point in an eloquent fashion.
There also some artwork and mini-graphic novels that add to an already excellent anthology, reinforcing the above. Unfortunately, but understandably, they are few are far in-between.
Either way, this book should be a must-read for those interested in neurodiversity advocacy and its associated inclusion initiatives.
Personal favorite piece: "More Human Than Human" by Agri Ismaïl
April 4, 2020
Stim is an anthology of essays, short stories, and other artwork created by people with autism, all of whom come from very different backgrounds and experiences. The pieces don't all directly refer to the author's autism, and they cover a diverse array of topics and viewpoints. I found most of them to be really beautiful, but some of the more abstract short stories were jarring and didn't quite fit in the collection. I also wouldn't necessarily recommend it as an ebook, at least if you only have a very basic e-reader, because the art can be harder to appreciate in that format. All that said, however, I can't stop thinking of Waverly SM's words in their contribution: "Nobody speaks your language. It would crucify you to ask anyone to learn."
This anthology is worth it, and has me eager to see more work from some of the contributors, whom I wouldn't have heard of without Huxley-Jones's push for representation.
This anthology is worth it, and has me eager to see more work from some of the contributors, whom I wouldn't have heard of without Huxley-Jones's push for representation.
September 23, 2021
Maraca by Gemma Williams - 2.5
The lost mothers by Rachael Lucas - 5
Intersected like me by Mrs Kerima Çevik - 4.5
Shapes in dream by Amelia wells - 2
Untitled and tension by Tjallien de Witte - NR
This love by Nell Brown - 4
Becoming less by Robert Shepherd - 3.5
Escape to the country by C.F.Prior - 3.5
It has nothing to do with how I look by Megan Rhiannon - 5
Hungry by Grace Au - 3
Stripping while autistic by Reese Piper - 4
Handling the bones by Ashleigh J. Mills - 4.5
Bluebells by Helen Carmichael - 3
The strangers by Katherine Kingsford - 3.5
Information superhighway by Tristan Alice Nieto - NR
More human than human by Agri Ismaïl - 4
Once more with feeling by La ura James - 5
Thirteen ways of looking at (you) by Waverley SM - 4
The lost mothers by Rachael Lucas - 5
Intersected like me by Mrs Kerima Çevik - 4.5
Shapes in dream by Amelia wells - 2
Untitled and tension by Tjallien de Witte - NR
This love by Nell Brown - 4
Becoming less by Robert Shepherd - 3.5
Escape to the country by C.F.Prior - 3.5
It has nothing to do with how I look by Megan Rhiannon - 5
Hungry by Grace Au - 3
Stripping while autistic by Reese Piper - 4
Handling the bones by Ashleigh J. Mills - 4.5
Bluebells by Helen Carmichael - 3
The strangers by Katherine Kingsford - 3.5
Information superhighway by Tristan Alice Nieto - NR
More human than human by Agri Ismaïl - 4
Once more with feeling by La ura James - 5
Thirteen ways of looking at (you) by Waverley SM - 4
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