Lovely writing, a fascinating approach to language with so much feeling and authenticity. It's so refreshing to see books about neurodiversity written with so much heart.

This book is an interesting memoir by a teacher who works with neurodivergent students that also has poems written by autistic poets. Neurodivergent folks have the ability to hyper focus on certain things and view the world from different points of view than neurotypical folks and they/we have a lot to contribute. Martin approaches his work with the idea that traditional structure of language prevents folks with autism from communicating the full depth of their experiences and encourages them to express themselves through verse.

As someone with sensory processing sensitivity, I’m always looking for more neurodivergent rep, and the author is also hyper sensitive. I enjoyed reading Martin’s experiences and the poetry of his students that he shares here.

May Tomorrow Be Awake is a work of nonfiction and an anthology of poetry. Martin is a poet who has worked with young people to create poetry and highlights some of the students and the works they created in this book. I really liked the premise - a discussion of how poetry can be utilized as a manner of expression for neurodivergent folks. My favorite part of this was the poetry, followed by the stories about their authors. Unfortunately, I found Martin's writing overly flowery and complicated and it made it hard for me to enjoy this as much as I think I would have otherwise. It took me 7 months to finish, which I think speaks to how difficult I found it to get through. A disappointing execution of a fabulous premise.

Thanks so much to Chris Martin and HarperOne for this ARC via NetGalley. May Tomorrow Be Awake is available now.

I've always struggled with poetry in any sort of academic or analytical sense. I think that's why portions of this book were quite challenging for me to follow along and comprehend. However, that did not negatively impact the beautiful message and joyful creativity expressed about Martin's students. Viewing individuals with Autism as not limited by their bodies or cognitions, but enabled to experience life and creativity in a profoundly unique and interesting ways. The reframing of a rather disparaged and misunderstood diagnosis in this way is so uplifting and beneficial.

"... hurriedly following the poetic shapes of gushing lyric that fluidly pour forth..." (101 of 675 on Kindle app).

Despite the quote above, which felt a little overdone, this book was written really well and is a compassionate exploration of teaching poetry to neurodivergent students. I grew so much appreciation for Chris Martin's work and intellectual capacity.

This is a really interesting book! The premise is that the author, Chris Martin, works with autistic students to help them express themselves via poetry. Reading the poetry itself is awesome, and at the end of the book there is an anthology of all the poems, if that's what you're most interested in. Throughout the book, Martin describes the encounters with various students and how the brightened and enjoyed the process of creating poetry art. It is really nice to read a book about working with autistic people that isn't focused on changing them or "overcoming" anything, and is instead focused on the process of the autistic brain and how it expresses itself in each person's instance. Some stories felt a bit repetitive, but I feel like that was true to Martin's experience.

Recommended for you if you enjoy the inner workings of neurodivergent minds, and the art they create, stories with poetry thrown in, or nonfiction about different education systems for differing brains!

Thanks to Netgalley and HarperOne for the e-ARC!

Wow! What a powerful read. Combining poems with the thought process of Neurodivergent artists to make a cerebral experience that really helps expand how to see the world and how important all people are in shaping how society can be more equitable, understanding and awake to what is going on.
I really enjoyed this book my go to genres are not usually poetry but this was moving and the in-depth discussions on how the poems came to be were great.
Thanks to Netgalley and HarperOne for an e ARC of this book.

As someone reconciling a newly-neurodivergent diagnosis, this book was helpful both in discovering who I am and re-learning to love myself.

Very helpful and insightful, especially considering the tools and resources currently present in the school system and what more can be done. Should be a must-read for everyone in the education industry.

I really enjoyed this! I think the author did a great job of being respectful of the students. It is quite dry though and took me a while to get in to.

May Tomorrow Be Awake: On Poetry, Autism, and our Neurodiverse Future by Chris Martin is unlike anything I’ve read before. This compassionate and meaningful exploration of the reciprocity poetry shares with the autistic mind was inspirational. As a bibliotherapist who uses poetry and literature in my work with clients I often hear from critics in the field who make assumptions about the types of people literature can and cannot help.

Autistics are often misunderstood due to their specific challenges with communication and especially for those members of the non-speaking autistic community. People assume that if someone is not verbal then they must not understand language or must not be able to access it. That is a lie that Martin dispels in this book.

Being neurodivergent himself, Martin brings a level of patience, curiousity and flexibility into his work with these young people that really allows them to locate their own expressiveness through their unique sensory profiles and I found it both fascinating and deeply moving. I really enjoyed the collection of poetry provided at the end of the book. This book is a representation of the healing power of poetry therapy.

Thank you to the publisher and author for the E-Arc copy. This is one I look forward to adding to my bookshelf.

Poetry is one of those art forms that I want to love but feel like I just don't "get", and not from lack of trying. So take that into consideration when reading my review. I was initially drawn to this book since I have a nonverbal child on the autism spectrum. I am fascinated by the brain and language, and the ways people can make themselves understood. This book is a wonderful snapshot into the minds of people who may not otherwise feel able to express themselves. Poetry is amazing in that way. Both its structure and fluidity make it the perfect outlet. Do you feel most comfortable with time-tested rules and parameters? Poetry. Do you need the freedom to write free of constraints and expectations? Poetry. Do you want to show others your inner life, even if just a glimpse of it, capture it on a page? Poetry.

Whether you love poetry or not, whether you are interested in neurodiversity or don't even know what that means, please check out this book. It is a joy to hear the voices.

As an educator, this was a beautiful work that I think everyone in the school system should read.Very uplifting and a reminder that everyone is doing what they can with the tools and resources they are given.

This is not a book I would normally pick up, but part of my education is in writing as a form of therapy so I thought I'd give it a go. I'm so glad I did!

May Tomorrow Be Awake challenges the neurotypical understanding of neurodiverse communication and expression. As a neurodiverse child-now-adult, this book made me feel very seen.