Reviews with content warning for Sexism - Sensory: Life on the Spectrum

Thank you Netgalley for this e-ARC in exchange for honest feedback.

I have never read a graphic novel/nonfiction comic anthology before, but this was an incredible option to be my first. The spectrum (no pun intended) of perspectives, emotions, advice, and stories that make up all the different life experiences of these 40 Autistic creators was truly remarkable.

Let's talk about the artwork first, I've never seen so many different styles in one collection before. I found some art styles that blew me away and had stunning graphics/coloring, while others weren't my cup of tea but were still accompanied by unique and important stories. I was compelled from start to finish by the bite-sized narratives presented by each artist. I was reassured to know that I was already aware of many things that are significant to the Autistic community, but I was also pleased to learn about more areas with which I was less familiar.

That being said, let's discuss the representation next. All I want to do is send wild applause and hugs (if so desired) to each contributor, but especially Bex Ollerton (or @SCHNUMN). I am not Autistic myself, but I do have ADHD and Trichotillomania. Those disorders will never qualify me to speak on behalf of another community or to assume I fully understand the full scope of what an Autistic person may go through on a daily basis. Even so, there were still several comics throughout this anthology that directly aligned with my own experiences which made me feel both seen and comforted.

I was also pleasantly surprised by the range of emotion and viewpoints represented. There were plenty of comics dedicated to the struggles that come with navigating the social world as an Autistic person, but some of my favorites were ones that highlighted more than just the hard parts. "Tips For Autistic Adult Life" by T Catt and "Autistic Joy" by Taylor Reynolds stood out among the rest for me. The artwork combined with the positivity + practical advice in those two left a strong impact on me.

I would highly recommend this graphic novel, especially to teachers, healthcare workers, mental health practitioners, and anyone who is a member of the Autistic community.

Note: The 2 reasons I didn't rate this the full 5 stars: 1) there were some comics with artwork very much outside of my preference, which is to be expected and not at all shocking with 40 different styles present, and 2) reading this as an e-arc was very difficult due to some font sizes, a physical would've been much better for this medium. I will be looking to add a physical copy to my classroom library when this comes out!

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