A Girl Like Tilly: Growing Up with Autism

Gr 3–6—Bates follows a young girl with autism through her childhood. The adults in Tilly's life notice that something is different about her but brush these observations off and attribute them to things such as daydreaming and shyness. Meanwhile, Tilly grows increasingly frustrated and confused, often overwhelmed by new situations and social settings. Things get harder as she ages. Tilly struggles with boundaries, communication, and her gender identity until a psychologist connects the dots and realizes that Tilly has autism. Small details throughout, including discussions of Tilly's interests and strengths, humanize her and make her a highly empathetic character. Li's soft but detailed illustrations effectively convey Tilly's sense of the world. Blush tones are contrasted with a bright blue line that represents Tilly's journey. The book is a powerful tool for those with autism to see that they are not alone and for families to gain empathy or a new perspective. The ending imparts the valuable message that not all girls with autism are the same and that differences can lead to new possibilities. A helpful list of resources relating to autism is provided in the back matter.