Neurodiversity Book Club — "Underdogs"

We all need books with characters like us, as well as ones who are not like us. Characters like us help us feel less alone, and characters who are different help us understand other lives and experiences. The first time I read a book with a character who felt like me, who had the same hangups I did, who problem-solved in the same way, and got into the same difficulties, I finally felt normal. Because that character was autistic. And so was the author. And so am I.

In this class we will read Underdogs, a YA dystopian story about a group of neurodiverse teens fighting overwhelming odds to save their country and each other.

Learners will read the book on their own before class. When we meet, I’ll ask an opening question about the book to start the discussion, and guide students through a socratic seminar style discussion. I have done this extensively with teens, tweens, and young adults, and have had amazing experiences of seeing the world differently and relating to my discussion partners differently as we discuss a book and explore important topics together. I hope you will join me.

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Learners of ALL neurotypes are welcome!

What is neurodiversity? The term describes people who process information differently than what is typical. This includes autism spectrum, ADHD, Tourette, OCD, dyslexia, anxiety, and more.

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What will this class be like? 

There won't be any book reports, or quizzes, or character analysis, or writing summaries, or any of the types of assignments you're probably used to in school. We're going to discuss the book. But this isn't just talking about what you liked and didn't. This is a different kind of discussion called a socratic seminar. 

This kind of discussion is a deep dive into what's important in a book (or any topic), and it is a skill that takes practice. Don't worry, I'll help you get started and we'll practice together (I've been doing this for more than 20 years and I'm still practicing!). Socratic seminars are a way to thoughtfully explore a text with another person so that everyone gets much more out of it than reading the book on your own. 

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Publisher's description of "Underdogs" by Chris Bonnello:

One million cloned soldiers. A nation imprisoned. A group of neurodiverse rebels fighting back. Britain as we know it lies destroyed. In the aftermath of the most daring military coup in history, the surviving population is crammed inside giant Citadels, watched over by an army of cloned soldiers. The hope of a nation lies in a tiny number of freedom fighters hidden in the abandoned countryside - most of whom are teenagers who escaped the attack on their special school. 

Seen by many as no more than misfits and `problem children', this band of fighters could never have imagined the responsibility that now rests on their shoulders. But perhaps this war needs a different kind of hero. After a lifetime of being defined by their weaknesses, the teenagers must learn how to play to their strengths, and become the best they can be in a world that has never been on their side.

About the author:

Chris Bonnello is an autistic author, speaker and special needs tutor, formerly a primary school teacher. In 2015 he launched Autistic Not Weird to share his insights from both a personal and professional perspective, a venture which has seen him attract over 100,000 Facebook followers and over two million page hits on his website (autisticnotweird.com). Based in Nottingham, UK, he has delivered speaking engagements as far away as India and Sydney Opera House.

His first publication, “What We Love Most About Life”, was an uplifting book designed to help autistic young people feel less alone. The “Underdogs” series, which began in 2019, is a series of dystopia novels featuring neurodiverse heroes who escaped an attack on their special school.

Bonnello was a nominee for the 2017 National Diversity Awards (Positive Role Model for Disability), two-time winner at the Autism Hero Awards (Top Journalist 2017, Online Social Community 2018) and won the National Autistic Society Professionals Award for Outstanding Achievement by an Individual on the Autism Spectrum in 2019. 

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A few other notes:

This class is a welcoming place for diverse learning and communication styles. Students are welcome to participate with camera on or off, via chat or voice or listening quietly, and to request accommodations as needed.

This group is a welcoming place for LGBTQIA+ teens, cis, trans, nonbinary, and gender expansive teens welcome.