Child Psychology Book Lady

This simple story, written from the perspective of ‘Lizzie’ who is on the spectrum, gives an honest account of what it’s like to have Aspergers Syndrome (now Autism Spectrum Disorder). The story talks about strengths and special interests, as well as common difficulties such as sensory sensitivity, worry about making mistakes, emotion reading difficulties, feeling overwhelmed, confusion in social settings, and trouble adjusting when rules in games change or aren’t as they expected.

It touches on the idea that many girls on the spectrum become adept at ‘masking’ their symptoms early on. This ‘masking’ means they can look just like their neurotypical peers in social settings, but not without considerable effort, meaning they may be left feeling exhausted and prone to emotional overload and meltdown afterwards. Girls on the spectrum often have a special bond with animals, who provide company and comfort without the added confusion of interpersonal or group dynamics. I found this book a nice introduction for girls who are neurodiverse, which validates and normalises a range of unique Spectrum experiences. Suitable for girls aged 5 to 12 years.