The Spectrum Girl’s Survival Guide

by Siena Castellon

"Never be ashamed of being different: it is this difference that makes you extraordinary and unique."

This essential go-to guide gives you all the advice and tools you'll need to help you flourish and achieve what you want in life. From the answers to everyday questions such as 'Am I using appropriate body language?' and 'Did I say the wrong thing?', through to discussing the importance of understanding your emotions, looking after your physical and mental health and coping with anxiety and sensory overloads, award-winning neurodiversity campaigner Siena Castellon uses her own experiences to provide you with the skills to overcome any challenge.

With practical tips on friendships, dating, body image, consent and appearance, as well as how to survive school and bullying, The Spectrum Girl's Survival Guide gives you the power to embrace who you are, reminding you that even during the toughest of teen moments, you are never alone.

Genres: Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Nonfiction, Mental Health, Self Help, Psychology, Disability, Childrens

256 pages, Paperback

First published March 19, 2020

About the author

Siena Castellon is a 17-year old multi-award winning neurodiversity advocate and anti-bullying campaigner. She is autistic, dyslexic and dyspraxic and also has ADHD. When Siena was growing up, she found that there were very few books and resources specifically aimed at supporting autistic girls. Siena has written the type of book she wished had been available when she was navigating through her teenage years. In her book, Siena provides practical advice, information and insights on many of the unique challenges that autistic teen girls face.

Reviews

[Isabelle | Nine Tale Vixen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy from Jessica Kingsley Publishers through Netgalley; all opinions are my own and honest.

I appreciate the intent behind this book, I love that this exists in the world, and in fact I was moved to actual tears because certain passages made me feel so seen and valid and included. Over the years I've grappled with imposter syndrome in relation to my own diagnosis because I'm generally labeled as "high-functioning" — though I agree with Castellon, "high-" and "low-functioning" are labels that really do more harm than good — but there are also a million little things that only another autistic girl would ever notice, let alone understand. (This is why #ownvoices representation matters!)

There are several sections devoted to self-esteem and reminding the reader that they're not alone, even though it can feel that way; at times they border on cheesy, but on the whole they seem genuine. I do have some concerns, though: Castellon often uses phrases like "I'm sure you've had a similar experience," which undermines the acknowledgment that autism is a spectrum condition and individual presentations vary greatly, and (ironically) may make readers feel excluded if they haven't had a similar experience. Additionally, some of the "advice" in the mental health sections are very close to "positive thinking will cure your depression," which is inaccurate and unhelpful.

I think this could have used a lot more editing and input from others (both experts and peers); it tackles an extremely wide range of topics, and the author doesn't seem qualified to give advice on all of them.

While I liked the inclusion of the author's personal anecdotes and preferences — making the tone more akin to a chat between peers than a well-meaning lecture from some kind of authority figure — some of the advice is overly simplistic, is phrased in a borderline patronizing way (considering the target audience is the author's peers: teens and preteens), and/or is presented as the single best way to solve a problem when, again, everyone's experience is different. The comics are cute and I love the diverse characters, but I found the dialogue and advice overly simplistic.

The author's privilege also shows in a lot of the tips: not every reader will be able to get/use a laptop to circumvent handwriting issues, or have access to therapy, or switch schools when the bullying gets really bad but administration won't address it. (Don't get me wrong, I'm happy for Castellon that these things worked for her. But it's naive and oblivious to present them as relatively fast-and-easy one-size-fits-all solutions.)

I appreciated the intersectional intentions in the section about LGBTQ+ identity, but since the author self-identifies as a (straight?) cis girl, honestly I was annoyed by the advice about these topics, such as coming out. While I can appreciate the desire to create a widely inclusive resource, it's not really credible advice. If LGBTQ+ autistic teens were consulted in the writing of this section (which would've been a good place to start), they don't seem to be acknowledged; if they weren't, I honestly think it would've been better to omit this section, or at least replace the advice with better-researched resources for the reader to look into. And the presentation of this section that might alienate some readers, because it's addressed primarily to MTF trans people — although this is marketed for autistic girls, it's hardly a stretch to imagine closeted/questioning/nonbinary young people picking it up (or being gifted a copy); and although the LGBTQ+ community is more widely accepted now than it used to be, being queer and autistic still isn't easy.

As a supplement to other available resources — I second Castellon's recommendation of the Smart Girl's Guide series, which were invaluable during my formative years — this book definitely fills in a specific gap. But I would caution against relying on it as a primary guide.

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CONVERSION : 8.9 / 15 = 3 stars

Prose: 5 / 10
Intellectual Engagement: 4 / 10
Credibility: 5 / 10
Organization / Structure: 7 / 10

Emotional Impact / Interest: 5 / 5
Rereadability: 3 / 5
Memorability: 3 / 5

[Kendra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Written by a British 16 year old, this book has good intentions, offering support for autistic girls and young women. I am an autistic woman, and read this with the question in mind of whether this would have been helpful for me. The answer is complicated. Castellon’s approach is upbeat and encouraging, but is often problematic as well. She repeatedly recommends autistic kids turn to their parents for help, based on what appears to be a positive and supportive relationship with her own parents, but many autistic kids won’t have that kind of parental relationship. Parents—and other adults and authority figures— are often focused on cure, and nowhere does she address how to handle the ongoing issues that stem from that. She also embraces the idea of calling her aspects of autism “superpowers,” which is a compensation narrative many autistic people reject, and rightly so, because it further Others us and makes us seem abnormal. She cites Greta Thunberg as a role model, but seems unaware that much of Greta’s success comes from her privileged parents—something few of us have. The book is full of anecdotes that share Castellon’s experiences with bullying, bad friends, and uneducated educators, but her message that by working with parents and finding mentors you can trust will make everything better is naive and Pollyanna-ish. I’d like to have a book about living with autism that is more realistic and isn’t afraid to tackle the much darker issues and problems of being an autistic girl or woman in our patriarchal, racist, sexist, capitalist society, with real advice for the hard times.

[Jen Tidman · Rating 4 out of 5]

All I can say is I wish that this book had existed about 25 years ago! I wasn't diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder until I was 36, but if I'd read this when I was at school it would have been a massive help.

Siena Castellon is a young autism advocate and neurodiversity campaigner, who in this #ownvoices guide gives other autistic girls advice and tips for dealing with their feelings and emotions, their phsyical and mental health, dealing with friendships and relationships, coping with school, managing sensory overload, and so on.

I particularly loved the way she addressed overlapping conditions like dyslexia, dyspraxia, ADHD, and even more so that she included a section on LGBTQ+ identities

As I'm out of the target age range I skimmed over some parts (e.g. on periods and dating) but there was even some new and helpful information in here for me. Highly recommended for any ASD teens in your life, particularly if they are newly diagnosed.

[Rebecca B · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book as a parent of an autistic tween girl to check for suitability. It is overall a good book full of helpful advice for managing things like anxiety, sensory sensitivities and hygiene, as well as really sound guidance around online conduct and information about other conditions. Like other reviewers I did feel that a lot of the content was based on the author's experience - she clearly had an awful time at her first high school and I really felt for her, whilst hoping that her experience is not fully representative of how high schools usually handle autistic students and bullying. On that note I did find it worrying that she talks about changing schools and being home educated as if these are decisions the young person can make by themselves, rather than very complicated decisions that should be discussed fully with parents. There was also a big assumption that all autistic girls mask whereas this is not the case, and not being able to mask brings it's own challenges. Like another reviewer I thought the book could have done with more editorial input and perhaps insight from other autistic girls and women to broaden the perspective. I will be holding off from giving this to my daughter for now as I think it will heighten her anxiety around moving to high school, but I do think it'll be useful to her in future.

[Anya · Rating 5 out of 5]

as an autistic female teenager I loved this book!! it's such an interesting read and ill definitely be turning back to it for advice in the future.
as an autistic female its so hard to find material that's made for you and when it is, usually it's by someone who isn't autistic themselves.
this book is written by an autistic female who is 17 and so it's a great way to understand why you may feel certain ways abiut something and also have someone help you and explain some things in ways no one else would understand to do.

[Echo · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have many things to say about this book, most of which are things I disliked about the book.

To summarise the point of the book, The Spectrum Girl's Survival Guide is meant to help autistic teenage girls to cope in society. Siena Castellon gives readers advice on topics such as making friends, managing sensory overloads, shaving, etiquette around menstruation, clothing, and being safe online. The audience is autistic tweens and teenagers, particularly middle schoolers and high schoolers. Castellon is an autistic 17-year-old from London.

This book didn't work for me in really any way. While I'm glad it exists for more privileged autistic girls in particular, I think we need a more realistic book of advice for autistic girls or autistic people who were assigned female at birth, as most will probably not be in a position to put in place all of the advice she gave.

Overly Positive
The advice was too positive and happy. Perhaps Castellon has just been insanely privileged in her life, wonderfully accommodated in school and blessed with wonderful mental health. I, on the other hand, grew up female - in other words, have the experience of girlhood that affects autism (and ADHD) presentation, as Castellon had - but have struggled with a variety of mental and physical health issues, including depression, PTSD, anxiety, and chronic pain. These make it extremely difficult to take her advice seriously; she doesn't really have a full understanding of the psychology behind these conditions (at least that comes through in this book), so her mental health advice ends up being relatively meaningless.

For example, Castellon suggests that, instead of committing suicide, just focus your attention on reasons to live. Now, while it might not seem to be a harmful or unhelpful thing to tell someone who is suicidal, this isn't good advice for a couple reasons. Just "finding reasons to be alive" isn't really going to help someone who's suicidal, if they're expected to only find reasons within themselves to be alive. The first piece of advice should be to tell someone else that you're feeling this way, and the next bit can be to work with someone to find reasons to be alive or even to go to the hospital for a time if you're having a really hard time. When someone becomes suicidal - and I speak from experience - they feel like they should die, like no one wants them to be alive, and like they have lost every single reason to be alive. Because of this, it won't help to mainly tell people who are depressed and suicidal that they should:
Write a list of all the things you're looking forward to - I hope not to be alive soon. That's what I'm "looking forward to": Not having to look forward at all.
Make plans to do something you really enjoy in the near future - I don't enjoy anything anymore. I don't have anything I care about enough to want to stay here. That's what it means to be suicidal. Nothing matters, and I matter least of all. Making plans is overwhelming, not helpful.
Remember to be kind to yourself - I don't have any kindness to give to myself. I hate myself, and that is, again, part of what being suicidal means for many people.

Something else related to this is that I disliked how much Castellon tells readers to always think happy thoughts whenever they're struggling. While some might argue that toxic positivity does not exist, it is not healthy to always be happy. It's dangerous to stifle one's emotions to try to only be happy. It is healthy to be sad sometimes and to let the emotions in and then let them pass. I felt that Castellon oversimplified what it takes to make it through adversity by constantly encouraging positivity in all situations.

Assimilation/Encouraging Masking
Even as she mentions how exhausting and overwhelming it is to mask all day, Castellon consistently encourages autistic readers to mirror neurotypical people and their behaviours. In other words, she tells readers that they shouldn't choose things that just make them happy. Rather, they ought to try to pass as neurotypical (i.e. mask) in every day situations and in every interaction so that neurotypical people don't become uncomfortable. How does she do that? There are many examples, but I'll describes the two most notable and specific here.

A notable section where Castellon encourages assimilation or blending in with neurotypical people or societal expectations is in the chapter "Finding Your Own Fashion Style" where she has a section on pages 110-113 called "Developing Your Own Personal Fashion Style". She says at the top of page 111 that "since some people will judge you on your appearance", people should try to dress in more fashionable or trendy clothing so that the way you dress doesn't "give people a negative impression". I would say that this is unnecessary advice. There should be more conversation about how society should change to not judge based off clothing than about how autistic people should "dress in a way that helps [them] to blend in".

Another section in this style chapter that I found really unnecessary or even harmful was the section about "The Importance of Wearing a Bra". The fact is that, according to medical professionals, bras aren't actually necessary for health. It is 100% a personal preference. One main reason Castellon says bras are necessary is for, in essence, nipple coverage; but you can cover your body and be modest by wearing an extra shirt (i.e. an undershirt) or a jacket to cover up everything. Bras aren't the only way to get coverage of the chest. There isn't any other actual reason that bras are necessary unless not having one causes pain, especially back page if a person has large breasts.

Romantic/Dating Advice
I would say that this section was - at best - only semi-helpful. The somewhat helpful part was the description of how a neurotypical person might show their crush (though I'm certain I'd miss the signs because social cues of any kind are not my strong suit) and how to ask someone on a date (although I'm not sure whether I'm even allowed to date at the moment). There were two large things that were noticeably absent, which I'll describe below.

How autistic people might show a crush. Of course, autistic people can show their crushes in many ways, but if we're generalising about how neurotypical people show crushes we can also generalise about how autistic people show crushes. In the book, Castellon only described the signs of a neurotypical person having a crush, but autistic people can like autistic people too. Not only neurotypical people can have crushes on autistic people, so I think it's important to talk about autistic-autistic relationships as well as autistic-neurotypical ones.

How to actually identify whether you yourself have a crush. Many autistic people - probably around 49% but possibly up to 85% - struggle with alexithymia, a mental disorder which makes it very difficult to understand, process, and express one's own emotions, as well as making it difficult to understand other people's emotions. While this book might help to pick up on cues about others' emotions, this section about crushes could definitely be helped by describing what a crush might feel like. According to Google, not being able to recognise romantic feelings might cause anxiety, confusion, and avoidance of romantic things in people with alexithymia, making it extra important that it's addressed in a section about romantic feelings in a book for a population with a large percentage of people with alexithymia.

I actually mostly liked this section, not because it actually helped me much but because it gave a very positive picture of what a relationship should look like, and shone a positive light on remaining single. A lot of people put emphasis on getting into a romantic relationship as a teenager to try things out, but I liked that Castellon made sure to point out that remaining single is perfectly okay at the end of the chapter, even after describing all the important parts of a healthy relationship, including how to tell if you're in a toxic relationship and about consent. If you want to remain single, that is fully your choice, and you should do that if that's what you prefer.

Acknowledging Privilege
Honestly, I didn't really see Castellon acknowledge how privileged she has been. She mainly addressed the things she's struggled with but doesn't really admit how privileged she has been throughout her life. For example, she was able to afford to go to two "prestigious" physics programmes. She has been able to receive accommodations in school; these same accommodations might not have been available to other autistic people, ADHDers, anxious people, dyslexic people, people with dyspraxia, or people with hypermobility disorders - I'll address this more below in the section about accommodations. She doesn't mention how privileged she was to be able to use a computer at school or how privileged she is to have teachers who respect her and her learning needs. She doesn't discuss how privileged she is to be able to obtain a diagnosis (or rather, all these diagnoses) in the first place.

The acknowledgement of her privilege is severely lacking.

Accommodations Suggestions
First, this ties back to the privilege thing. A lot of accommodations might not be an option, especially in schools that are in poorer areas or for students who are not white or who are undiagnosed. Second, many accommodations suggested are not actually helpful or assume that people have the exact same experience to her. She doesn't take or, at least, acknowledge other people's input on any of her suggestions of accommodations. Onto specific accommodations that should have caveats or should recognise that not everyone will be able to get these:

A computer in place of writing - Given as a suggestion for a school accommodation if you have hypermobility or dyspraxia. Castellon doesn't mention where she went to school, so we can't be 100% certain but we can assume she went to at the very least a middle-class neighbourhood school, considering she was able to have a computer. Additionally, she has privileges of being a white person, as she isn't really considered lazy as much as she might be if she were a person of colour, when racism might make schools less understanding. Lastly, she says that many students with dyspraxia are encouraged to learn touch typing so they can switch to a computer instead of handwriting; but this is only her experience, and she doesn't mention how that isn't true for all, or even most, schools necessarily.

Not having to present in front of the class - Given as a suggestion for a school accommodation if you have anxiety or dyslexia. This, again, isn't going to be available at all schools or to all students who could strongly benefit from this accommodation. As with using a computer, students who are, for example, Black in the United States might find that they are called lazy for not wanting to present in front of the class for their anxiety or dyslexia. Many people with anxiety, for example, who ask for this might be called dramatic. Castellon was very lucky to be able to have this accommodation as an option, as with the previous accommodation. She demonstrates her privilege by even suggesting this, but again - it isn't address anywhere in the book how much privilege she has or how these aren't available to many people.

I'm not going to list everything here. The fact is that Castellon presents her suggestions as logical for all school situations or for many school situations when schools might just not be that accommodating to students with these invisible disabilities. She doesn't mention how accommodations might be held back from certain students because of racism or sexism (just two possibilities). She doesn't mention how poorer schools might not have the resources to provide for certain accommodations, and not every person can afford to have a computer, for example, to go to school with them.

Queer Autistic People
I didn't really like the section Castellon gives about being autistic and queer. She admits at the very beginning that she is a cisgender girl, and from all she talks about in the book, I assume that she's also heterosexual. Because of this, she clearly does not have any kind of "qualification" to be talking about coming out. This inexperience with coming out shows in her section "Coming Out", where she first describes "coming out to yourself"; basically, she says to explore your gender. Then you decide to come out. I would say that this is where things go completely off track of where they should be.

In advice about how to come out, a major point should be to plan ahead. Choose when you're going to come out, decide if you want to do it public or more privately (may depend on how you think the person to whom you're coming out will react), plan who you're going to come out to first, and so on. Rarely is coming out so simple as one day just telling your family (without any planning beforehand) that you're trans. In case of a bad reaction, it's good to have a backup plan as well, so that you have a safe place and person to go to, especially if you're a minor. However, Castellon simply says that you should tell your family and friends first before you come out publicly (also not always true), without even addressing a planning process.

She says too that if they don't understand, it means you will have to educate the person to whom you come out. While I would say it's good to talk to them about what it means for you to be trans, she should not say it like it's an obligation to teach people about what it means to be trans if they don't understand. They're able to look it up and see; it's not the person's responsibility to educate people every time.

Also, I don't love how she describes trans autistic girls as "some autistic boys [who] feel they should have been born a girl". Something she could and probably should have said instead is that "There are some autistic people who are assigned male but realise they are actually girls", if she wants to make it more accurate to how people in the trans community often say it.

I don't like how Castellon says that the best way to prepare for transition as a trans girl is to observe other teenage girls, and to choose a particular girl with a similar physique to copy or imitate her mannerisms, ways of wearing her hair, her clothes, and the way she speaks. The reason I don't like this is because (1) there isn't a best way of transitioning or preparing to do so - it's all personal likes, dislikes, and preferences - and (2) she doesn't have experience with transitioning, so she shouldn't be telling people how it's best to transition as a trans person. While I like the advice to choose clothes that complement one's body type, I think it's ridiculous to tell people exactly how to do that in terms of transitioning as a trans girl because it's a very different experience from a cis girl trying to complement her body. It's going to look different, probably, and it's best to at least ask trans girls what their advice would be to other trans girls - not fabricating a "best" method as a cis girl for a trans girl to transition.

In Conclusion
To conclude, this book wasn't really what I hoped for. Maybe it would have been somewhat better if I were actually a girl rather than a trans guy, but so many important discussions were not present in this book. If you read this book, I would recommend also reading books about autism by marginalised authors, such as Black autistic women or autistic trans people or any other identity than a cis white middle- or upper-class white man or woman. I'd suggest at least supplementing this book with another book from a different author who has a better understanding of psychology, LGBTQ issues, and privilege or lack of privilege.

I can't recommend this book because the author doesn't really have the maturity that would have made this book more worthwhile to read. I've been recommended to read Unmasking Autism: Discovering the New Faces of Neurodiversity and Unmasking for Life: The Autistic Person's Guide to Connecting, Loving, and Living Authentically by Devon Price.
- Echo (they/he/it)

[Sacha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. I’ll post a review upon publication.

UPDATED 3/22/20:

Four stars

Castellon provides a step-by-step, as the title suggests, survival guide for girls on the Autism Spectrum. I love how organized, detailed, and reader-friendly this manual is. In addition to an initial clear presentation, I kept thinking that the format would make it so easy for a reader to return to specific sections for refreshers as needed.

Though I am not part of the target audience, I wanted to read this work because I thought it might help give me insight into some of my students. I teach college and regularly come across students who self-identify in this way. Along with gaining insight into the varied ways in which a person on the spectrum might experience the world, I was pleasantly surprised to find so much more here.

There are helpful descriptions of a number of potential co-occurring options. These come with suggested accommodations sections. While I am fortunate to work at a school that does a great job with accommodations (and in a geographic location where we focus on this more than many places), I am always interested to know what I can do better as an individual instructor to support my students' successes. I found this book so helpful on that front.

Because I feel so removed from the intended audience, I'm struggling a bit to rate this book. That noted, as a member of the unintended audience, I found it extremely effective. I'll be recommending this to my students and colleagues to help build understanding of themselves and of our respective communities.

Thanks to the author for writing with so much candor and being willing to provide much-needed insight!

[The Resistance Bookclub · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a bit older than the target audience (hitting 21 in a couple of days) but even I could definitely still learn new things. This is exactly the kind of book I would have needed as the confused, bullied outsider I was in middle and high school. I am certain that this book will help many young girls and pave the way for a new generation of autism acceptance.
There are many awesome details about this novel and I can't count all of them but here is a selection:
* an introduction by Temple Grandin, maybe the most famous autistic woman and scholar, an absolute role model for every young girl reading this
* a teenage survival guide written by an autistic teen for autistic teens because nothing about us without us. Most autism books are written by allistic people and most books for teens are written by adults who are completely removed from the teenage experience, especially bullying, so this is the most accurate guide you can get
*it is transgender and queer inclusive
*discusses functioning labels and why they are problematic
*names both the real and painful struggles about growing up autistic and being bullied but also focuses on self-love, seeing autism as a superpower
*pro and con lists in several chapters so the readers can figure out what works for them and highlights choice and living your authentic life and, for example, mentions that you do not have to come out to anyone, perform traditional femininity etc

[Xan Rooyen · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's really tricky to rate something like this as I think how helpful the information might be is extremely personal and highly individual.

That said, it was refreshing to read a book by a teen specifically for teens on how to deal with the various perils of navigating being an autistic teenager, specifically a girl. A range of topics were covered in a daily how-to format as promised by the 'survival guide' title.

As a teacher, I found so much of what Siena shared extremely enlightening, helpful, educating, and darn right disappointing. I cannot believe there are teachers out there who toe the line of child abuse while in a profession where our first priority should be child safe-guarding! Safe-guarding of ALL children regardless of gender, race, socio-economic background, or ability. I found myself equal parts infuriated and ashamed that there are teachers out there who are so lacking in basic empathy and understanding of neurodivergence, and can only hope to do better both in my own classroom and in educating my colleagues to change a system that often does more harm than good.

I'm glad this book included a chapter on gender identity and sexuality but despite acknowledging trans and non-binary, even agender, identities, the book continued to use gender binary language throughout - this was a little jarring and alienating and something that could've been easily corrected to make this a resource more non-binary/agender friendly.

There is a good list of additional resources at the back of the book.

While imperfect and likely to quickly become dated, I think this book and books like it are so important. It's something I wish I'd had growing up and is a book I think every educator should read!

[Sarah Moore · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is written well for the young girl (teen) who is trying to understand her diagnosis or how to navigate that through the teen years. It’s personable and readable but informative on a variety of topics at an entry level while offering a lot of practical advice. It reads like an older sister sharing her wisdom.
*I did skim more than read parts of it, which was easy to do since it’s such a straightforward read.

It deals with bullying and internet safety - in ways that would be good for any young person to read and learn, but especially for ways that autists can be vulnerable.

It does address relationship & sexuality topics in a general advice way, including consent, abuse, etc. Most of it is knowledge I would want a teenager to glean, even if I’d advise much further and more conservatively.

Heads up: It also has a chapter on gender identity/trans, and assumes on gender fluidity and advises thusly.

[Shelly Paulson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read to ensure I was prepared for any questions before my daughter read it. Seems like a perfect place to start to address some of those preteen/teen concerns.

[Lucsbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading this book the first thing I want to say is that I loved Sienna Castellon and I wish her everything good and pure in this world!

I absolutely loved reading this book and here are some of the reasons:

- #Ownvoices - Sienna is both a teenage girl and autistic.

-Makes it clear that being neurotypical is just one way of being, not the only and certainly not the “right” way

- every term (medical, LGBTQ,...) with which some people might not be familiar with was immediately explained in a simple and straightforward way.

- It’s an extremely broad guide going through everything from clothes, puberty (I particularly enjoyed this), friendships, relationships (a big emphasis was put on explaining consent and every teacher in the world should read if not the entire book (they really should!!!) then just those paragraphs because Sienna did a better job of it than any teacher I ever had or heard of), family, society, school, bullying, discrimination...

- The illustrations are a great way of educating people about not only what being autistic is and feels like but also to contradict the misconception that all autistic people are white boys. (Disability rep. is also present.)

- Autism is a spectrum, not something that is unchanging and completely invalidates the “high” and “low” functioning labels.

This entire book is written in such a kind and measured way, sharing experiences and tips that work for the author as well as several others that might work for others.

I felt like Sienna was talking to me as a friend and I felt so thankful for what she was sharing with me. I know that this book seems to be aimed at other autistic girls but I honestly think that if neurotypicals read it, even if you think that you don’t know anyone that is autistic, you could learn to be a better and more understanding human being and isn't that what we all want?

Thank you to Jessica Kingsley Publishers and NetGalley for this DRC.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Castellon writes from her own experience and gives a lot of advice to navigating both typical teen problems that autistic girls face and also the extra challenges they face as part of their neurodiversity. It's an easy read with good organization but it feels a bit specific; more of a memoir than a general guide. Castellon tries hard to be more general; the engaging cartoons show a variety of girls in different body shapes, colors, and presentation and there's no assumption about who will be reading, but since the book is written from a particular viewpoint the solutions and examples are all from a single life. And kids (and adults) don't always have the distance to see what is going on in their own lives; especially in the chapter on bullying I would have like to see a less personal approach.

That said, I would comfortably hand it to any kid looking for help navigating either life as an autistic teen or life with one. I bet my son would have skimmed it; I think being autistic helped him not be as hung up on reading across the gender line so he would have mined it for stuff that fit and left the rest without complaining.

[Valentine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was quite useful, although I feel like it didn't go in depth enough on some things. Also, as this is based on pretty much only the author's experiences, the advice isn't necessarily good for everyone.
Despite this, I do wish I had read this when I was a bit younger.

[Your Books Are Calling · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as an eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book is great. That’s a good way to start a review, right?

No, seriously. Written by an Autistic Girl for Autistic Girls, the author writes eloquently and with intelligence, but with enough oversight to make it very easily readable, as well as easily able to be digested (unlike that last sentence...ugh.). It doesn’t read as too childish, which can happen when an adult writes for children. There is some repetitiveness at the beginning of the chapters, but this is something that is common in Non-Fiction, so is not an issue.

I love love love the different cartoons (which, reading via the Kindle app on my phone, were small and hard to see), they were cute without being babyish, and I was so happy to see a variety of races, abilities, appearances etc. Being an eARC I can’t comment on how it will look in the final publication, but it was laid out and simple to follow in my copy.

The author was wonderful about showing suggestions. When she spoke of the varying sensory issues she herself faced, such as clothing tags or uncomfortable clothing that she was required to wear, she also gave many suggestions on how she does and how the reader could potentially mitigate these. There was a definite understanding on the part of the reader that although she had given you a half page of suggestions, there were more out there and you should try until you find a way that works for you. She also made it seem like a normal, run of the mill issue, so that was nice.

Som subjects I felt could have been expanded on somewhat, such as sex and sexuality, but I do undertand that this is seen as a private topic for many and can understand why it was left open. I did like that every single topic was left open and given suggestions on how to find out more information. The links at the back of the book were numerous, and also the referencing of books that the author used was well done, allowing parents or girls to read more if they chose to.

I was glad to see m-to-f trans kids included as “Girls”, after all, if that’s how they identify, then that;s what they are. I do wish there had been a little about f-to-m, but as it is a guide for girls I kind of understand it.
Speaking of trans and lgbt+, I loved that the author acknowledged that “coming out to yourself” is an important and often difficult step, and how some people would never go further than that, and that that was their decision and totally ok. Also all relationships someone may get into were treated as the same, regardless of the gender/sexual orientation!

Bullying was a recurrent theme, and I liked that the author gave ways to stand up to bullies, as well as genuine examples from her own life, but also that she acknowledged that teachers can be complicite in the bullying, or even be the bully themselves. I think the biggest thing I took away from this was that despite the fact that many Autistic people struggle with communication, it is important to have people you can communicate well with, and to lean on them and keep them in the loop if things are not going well.

The author gives so much information in this book I could talk all day. Honestly, if you are Autistic, if you have social skills that leave you struggling with communication with your peers, if you have an Autistic child/niece/nephew/grandchild/godchild - read this book.

Content Warning: Discussions of: bullying, self harm, menstruation
Overall Rating: 4.5 stars.

[Heidi Lynn’s BookReviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, I want to thank Siena Castellon and The Nonfiction Book Awards for providing me with this book so I may bring you this review.

Siena Casellon is an incredible teenage girl who opens up and shares her amazing advice The Spectrum Girl’s Survival Guide: How To Grow Up Awesome and Autistic. Every teenage girl who has autism must read this book. Siena talks right to you girl to girl. You are not alone in this journey.

The cover graphic on this book is very powerful and positive in nature! The graphic designers did a great job catching the concept of the book. Kudos to them.

Siena wants to dedicate this book to all the awesome autistic girls around the world who dance to a different beat.

This book starts out with a foreword from Dr. Temple Grandin, author of Thinking in Pictures and The Autistic Brain.

I have read many acknowledgements in my book reviewing career. However, this one I could tell came straight from Siena’s heart and was very genuine. It made me smile knowing how proud she is of this book and all that helped her along the way.

If I have learned anything from this book is not to let your disability stop you from living your best life. Siena truly impressed me with all her accomplishments she achieved at only 16!

Siena is an incredible teenage girl who enjoys many typical things that teenage girls do (then again who doesn’t love watching Netflix, Chocolate, and Makeup?!) However, she is unique as she has autism, is dyslexic, has ADHD, and is dypraxic. Being a teenager with Autism there was not a book written that addressed the issues she addresses in this book. So, she decided to write a book specifically for her teens living with this. I commend her for writing this.

One thing I loved about Siena was how positive and upbeat she is! It was infectious!

Rebecca Burgess incorporates well drawn cartoons with captions that are meaningful to what Siena is talking about. I liked how the two of them worked together on this.

For someone who does not have autism (like me) but have met some people with this-this too is a great book for them. It opens your eyes to what they are feeling inside and how they react differently to things. For example they are sensitive to bright lights and smells. As am I but that is because I am a chronic migraine. But, I could totally understand their reaction to this. I have tried the orange tinted glasses and they do work.

I agreed with Siena when she stated it is sad we live in a world where they make little attempt to understand and accept autistic individuals. Having had friends with Autism in high school and baby sat for some kids that had it I found they are very sweet, smart, and extremely intelligent. Just like Siena seems like.

Siena brings up some very important topics in this book that relate to most teenage girls. Such as dating, crushes, bullying, etc. I was pleasantly surprised to see a section on transgender, gender identity and coming out. Someone her age to write such a grown up topic that many authors my age even talk about was impressive.

In the back of the book Siena gives you a list of important websites for you to look up. She also gives a list of recommended reading.

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is probably the best book of this type that I've come across so far, for a variety of reasons. Though I haven't read 100% of the topics, as an autistic librarian I feel I can say this with confidence.

1) This book contains a complete lack of judgement.
2) It covers an extreme variety of topics, from hygiene, to mental health, to gender.
3) It's matter-of-fact without being clinical or overly scientific. Additionally, it's not sentimental. There are personal anecdotes, and little comics, but it's not a memoir (a big difference compared to the "adult" books like this that I've read)
4) It's targeted TO teens, and NOT their parents. This is a huge one. It covers topics teens of all ages might need to know, including puberty problems. Incredibly basic, square-one info presented in a non-condescending way that doesn't shame the reader for not already knowing. (I'm 26 and I picked up a TON of tips that I hadn't thought about before)
5) On that note, though it's a book for teens, any autistic young adult/adult will probably find value in a lot of the sections, even if the stuff about puberty, sex ed, and school aren't relevant to you. You can always skim those!

Siena Castellon is/was only 17 at the time the book was published, which is AMAZING, and I hope to follow her career if she publishes more in the future. If you read this, Siena, I wish I had had a book like this when I was growing up, because it would have saved me a lot of trouble.

[Adrijana · Rating 2 out of 5]

As a more seasoned reader and advocate, I couldn't help but notice some limitations:

- tone of conformity - While the book discusses masking and its harm, much of the advice still leans toward adapting to neurotypical norms rather than fully challenging them. The strategies for surviving school or fitting in often feel like instructions for how to hide - even when acknowledging that masking is exhausting. The radical message of "You don't have to change to be acceptable" gets somewhat diluted.

- insufficient nuance – Castellon’s definition of autism and discussion of "superpowers" can feel a little too feel-good. While strengths-based language is important, it may inadvertently gloss over the real systemic barriers, trauma, and support needs of those with higher support needs or co-occurring disabilities. There’s little engagement with broader issues like ableism, intersectionality, or how class, race, or gender identity further complicate access and identity.

- narrative centered on individual resilience – The emphasis is on personal coping and survival strategies. That’s valuable - but what’s missing is a critique of the systems that demand this constant survival. Readers hoping for more social or political insight into autism acceptance might find it lacking.

In short: a valuable resource but one that should be paired with other voices - particularly those of multiply marginalized autistic people - to round out the picture.

[Bea Turvey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is written for females with autism, specifically teens, which I am not. However, it is a really good insight into the troubles they face and a great look at the general world of the autistic teen, so would be helpful for parents and carers, too and ought to be in every school and public library.
From the very beginning, Siena draws a crucial line between the term autistic teen and a teen suffering from autism, and this difference is paramount in how she handles the problems: these are all normal teen problems with a twist.
Reading through, I came across lots of advice that will resonate with any adult bringing up a teen: 'what you wear doesn't define who you are. There are things that are so much more important, such as being kind, generous, thoughtful, accepting and forgiving.'
Segemented into neat sections so the user can easily find their specific area of difficulty, there are loads of very straightforward tips. After first sympathetically acknowledging the drawbacks teens with autism face in that particular scenario, and without sugar-coating any of the possible pitfalls, Siena swiftly offers positive encouragement and advice without dwelling too long on the problem.

If you, or someone you know, finds life challenging, it's worth reading this book as some elements may well resonate with you.

[joyce w. laudon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book's audience is teen girls who identify as autistic.  It begins with a foreword by Temple Grandin, a very successful and smart professor who is well known for her work on animal welfare.  She is also autistic.  Being endorsed by Ms. Grandin is an impressive beginning to this excellent resource by Siena Castellon.  Siena, herself, is on the spectrum and is a teenager;  as a result she is a good guide to the issues that her audience may face.  Siena is also a role model as she is quite accomplished, open and honest as she talks to (not down) her readers.

The book itself is so comprehensive.  It can be read as written or can be browsed through.  The table of contents is clear and a good guide to what can be found where in the text.  Another plus in this title is the addition of cartoon illustrations that further enhance the text.

I highly recommend this book not only as a resource for the teenage girls who are its audience but also for anyone who wants/needs to better understand those who have autism.  It can help family members, friends, teachers and others to interact better with those who have been diagnosed.  It could also be used as a tool for mental health professionals who want to better understand their clients who are on the spectrum.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this practical and informative title.  All opinions are my own.

[Lissy · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars!

*quick disclaimer: I am not the intended audience for this book. This book is meant to be a guide for teenage girls with autism and that is not me. I do have a family member who is an autistic teenage girl and I used what I have seen her go through to help me while reading this book. *

TW: There were "triggers" mentioned in this book but, they were laid out factually and professionally.

This book was very insightful. I learned a lot. I had no idea how much autism can really affect someone despite living with an autistic person. Siena Castellon gave many personal stories and instances from her life to help make this book easier to understand and personal to her readers. I am impressed by the maturity of the writing and I see this being very helpful for many girls. I have multiple people I am buying this book for because it really did go in detail on many aspects of living with autism in a way that will be beneficial to the girls and their families who read this. Well done!

I would recommend that anyone with someone close to them that is an autistic teenage girl consider reading this book because it can give you insight that they might not yet be able to communicate to you themselves.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks netgalley for an ebook copy in advance of publication date.

5 stars - non fiction, fact based with personal relatable experiences in different situations, for an intended reader audience being females on the autism spectrum.

This survival guide was interesting to see the authors personal perspective of her situations at school and social situations - as although I don't define as a teen on the spectrum ( way too many years since I was a teen in the 90's), as a disability education support employee this book has given me fresh understanding from a teens perspective and has helped me to pick up strategies to relate to several teens I work with.

I first skimmed the contents - a forward by the illustrious Temple Grandin and subheadings I was interested in were titled "masking to fit in" (Side note: I cannot believe in over 10 years of employment in the sector I had not heard of the term masking). I also dived into the section titled "how to survive school". After reading these I then went back to the start and read the book from cover to cover.
Many of the resources listed are UK based.

[Elle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thankfully I read this book as an adult, and not when I was younger and trying to figure out what’s wrong with me. This book would have actively harmed me as a child/teen. Autistic girls can and do have all the same struggles as autistic boys, and saying something else is harmful.

The author boasting about being a perfect autist with none of the outacting behaviour that affects other people and generally being extremely successful is not helpful at all, it would have made me as a teen doubt and hate myself even more. Autistic people, especially young ones, tend to interpret things very literally and black and white. So I for example would have taken the boasting as a blueprint for how I should be, and then be extremely ashamed that I was nothing like that, I had real issues and did not have a success path lined up. I suspect this is the experience for most autistic people, girls and boys alike.

The book had some good advice here and there, but I would not recommend this book to young girls. The idea to write a book especially aimed at autistic girls is great and certainly needed, but unfortunately this book is not the one.

[Danica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whether you're an educator, a parent, a teenager with Autism or have a friend who is, this book is an insightful guide into making middle/high school just that much smoother.

Siena Castellon is a 16 year old with Autism who has run the gamut of experiences, from surviving bullying to learning all about her mental and physical health to starting her own website and offering services to other students with Autism. Her book is a detailed guide, written for teens by teens, of how to live in a neurotypical world when Autism and any other disorders that come with it (like ADHD, dyslexia or dyspraxia). She touches on every subject one could think of, including sexual assault, how to communicate with others and teachers, and how to be your own best advocate.

I definitely have some students who would benefit from a book like this, and I'm excited to share this with them. I hope whatever life brings you, you find a book like this that can make your ride through the teen years smooth and fulfilling!

[Janneke · Rating 5 out of 5]

It feels a bit strange to give a non-fiction and advice book a rating, but I absolutely loved this book. I'm no longer in the targeted age demographic and would have appreciated this book even more as a teenager, but it was still an amazing read. There were still some new things I learned about myself as well as some things this book gave me the vocabulary to describe and understand. It was also incredibly validating to read that others have the same struggles I either still experience or experienced in high school. I'm sure I'll write this about every autism related book I ever read, but it was just so nice to not feel alone in my struggles.
The book also puts a focus on seeing positive aspects to your autism. I always struggle with that personally, as the negative aspects affect my life so heavily. I think it's good that books, especially books aimed at teenagers, do keep a focus on that though.

[Katie Wright]

I chose not to give a star rating as I am not the intended reader of the book and would not like to speak to the benefit of the book to the intended audience as I have no lived experience of having autism.

That being said, I found the book to be very insightful. I am a 30 year old teacher, neurotypical, with experience of poor mental health manifesting in anxiety/depression/ocd. I wanted to understand more about how autism can affect the lives of young people, particularly girls, and the book certainly helped me in that respect. Some of it seemed very basic stuff, but then again I am reading it through the eyes of an adult.

It definitely helped me to understand how I might be able to better support my students that have autism and other co-occurring conditions and to understand more about autism in general.

[Nelle Findlay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish I had had this book a few years ago. As a 21 year old autistic girl, I think this gives good general advice and I would recommend this to autistic girls and parents of autistic girls. I like that it gives autonomy to autistic young people as so many books about autistic children are definitely not designed for the subjects of said book.

However one of the book's strongest points is also one of it's weak points. While I love that it was written by a young autistic girl and not edited beyond all recognition, the writing does feel rather amateurish and some areas seem to ramble and are not very clear.

Overall I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who wants a better understanding of what it's like to be an autistic girl.

[Erika · Rating 5 out of 5]

This survival guide for autistic teen girls leaves no stone unturned and is exceptional considering it's written by a 17-year old. A very helpful read for anyone wanting to understand what it's like to be in the shoes of a girl on the autism spectrum. The tips are practical and useful and the negative experiences are, unfortunately, relatable. This book also puts forth very strongly that being diagnosed with autism and/or other neurodivergent conditions, is not a hopeless life sentence. Being "wired differently" than the majority presents challenges for sure, but it also highlights unique qualities and abilities in autistic individuals that many neurotypicals will not enjoy in life, which is really too bad for us. Super thankful for this book.

[Kristy Geffen · Rating 5 out of 5]

My daughter has found this book to be a lifeline of validation that she reads and rereads. I would add that it’s most helpful for ASD teens who have supportive parents that don’t push their kids to mask/assimilate—there isn’t support around unsupportive parents. Also be aware that the United Kingdom and Australia are generally leaps and bounds ahead of the U.S. in attitudes toward autism, so some services may not be available in other countries (the author is British). That said, the book goes into many aspects of autism that are usually glossed over or pathologized in a very supportive, positive tone. My daughter says it’s like having an older autistic friend around to give advice.

[Laura Merryweather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet, affirming and nice to have a mention of home ed in there.
Wonderful to read a book by an autistic young person for autistic young people.
Author kinda seems to assume all autistic teen girls are like her sometimes (could do with mentioning that there is a wide spectrum of autistic traits sometimes when she is focusing on the ones she, and many others, have) and makes it sound as if it's easy to do the things that may well help eg: explain to your teachers X y or z, ask for X y z needs to be met. Not everyone can do that or finds it easy to do that and it's okay to have a grown up advocate for you if you can't.