When I give a book a one-star rating it's because I find something structurally wrong with it. It's not because it is poorly written or because the plot makes no sense. When I give a book a one-star rating it's because I feel that the existence itself of the book as it is will negatively impact people's lives. I think this is what NonVerbal can do even though I understand the author's purpose was not that all. I also understand, however, that no matter how good our intentions can be, we can still harm others with our actions.

Now, I cannot speak in terms of the representation in this book because I have not been diagnosed with ASD and that means that I cannot relate to the reality that the main character in the book, Em, experiences. The issue is that neither can the author because she herself doesn't have the diagnosis Em has, so she doesn't struggle the way Em does. Based on the dedication, I would assume that someone close to the author (I am guessing her child, but again, this is an assumption) might have the condition that the main character in her novel has, in which case I think it would have been so much valuable and less problematic to speak from that experience, the experience of a parent or a caretaker because that would've probably been her own experience.

Zenk decided, however, to take another route. She wrote from the perspective of Em, a teenager diagnosed with (I'm quoting from the synopsis) "autism spectrum disorder, functionally non-verbal, sensory processing disorder, and intellectual disability." Even if the author had been diagnosed with ASD it doesn't mean that the way she represented Em and her various conditions and struggles was accurate or respectful. This situation reminds me of something that YouTuber Reads with Rachel mentioned in a video, and it's that even if you are representing your own identity, you could be misrepresenting others. I think what NonVerbal did was misrepresent many people and it breaks my heart to see that from the few reviews I saw on Amazon and NetGalley, readers are seeing it almost as a staple when it comes to books about people with ASD.

In the past, I would've said something along the lines of "this book shouldn't exist," but I believe Molly Zenk came from a place of love when she wrote NonVerbal and I'm coming from a place of love when reviewing it. I think it should not exist as it is now, but I think if it were written from the perspective of the adults in Em's life it would be way less problematic.

I'll be honest - I feel like I don't really have the right to review this one because I'm not autistic and it's definitely straight from the "autism is a tragedy" narrative.

There are some good things in here like Emerson's view of IEPs and how she doesn't understand why she needs to do things over and over to "meet a goal" and the IEP meetings themselves with her parents. I thought these gave a realistic view of how IEP meetings go and the frustrating feelings and issues that may arise.

I knew I was taking a chance by trying a book with a cover chock full of puzzle pieces (often seen as a hate symbol by the autistic community because it stands for people wanting to change or even eradicate them), but it sounded interesting enough that I wanted to give it the benefit of a doubt. I do like that Emerson's meltdowns were depicted as something that were *not* her choice, but it broke my heart a little every time she referred to herself as "Bad Emerson."

Honestly, this isn't a book that portrays autism in a good light. I think it's more for parents, family members, and teachers than it is for autistic people. I'm just gonna leave it there.

Inspired by a true story, Nonverbal by Molly Zenk pulled at my heartstrings. I felt all of the feelings. This book was thoughtful, eye-opening, and thought-provoking. As someone whose parents both worked with students on the spectrum, I feel like the representation this book will bring is incredible. I cannot recommend this book enough.

Meet Emerson. She is 14 years old and trying to navigate middle school. She lost the ability to speak at 15 months, so middle school is not her favourite. She deals with bullies, friendships, and the general stress that comes with being a teenager. You could not pay me to be a teenager again. Will Emerson be able to find her voice, and finally be heard?

This was a moving story told from the point-of-view of someone who has Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). ASD is an intellectual disability and a sensory processing disorder. Readers witness life through Emerson's eyes and see the struggles and challenges she faces every day, as she cannot always control how she reacts to certain stimuli in her environment. It was an amazing read from start to finish, and I could not put it down because she became my friend. I had to stick with Emerson until the end.

Thank you to Netgalley and Xpresso Book Tours for an eARC in exchange for my honest review!

I loved that this was written in first-person. It really showed Emerson’s internal turmoil. The story showed just enough of the parents side of things without beating you over the head with it—their frustrations were real and valid.

I also liked the small moments of dark humor thrown in! Love to see that with such a heavy topic.

The only thing I would have changed is that I wish it was longer because I enjoyed it so much!

Drawing from personal experiences, Emerson's journey begins with a sudden cessation of speech at the tender age of 15 months, ultimately leading to a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder by the age of three. Throughout her development, medication becomes a source of temporary respite, alleviating some of her discomfort. However, adhering to societal expectations of being a well-behaved individual poses its own challenges for Emerson. The constant onslaught of sensory stimuli such as sounds, smells, and lights often obstructs her ability to concentrate and focus. Emerson yearns to refrain from causing harm to herself, but at times, her body's movements seem beyond her control. There are instances when her body feels engulfed in an unrelenting fire, compelling Emerson to scratch herself. The fear of succumbing to the overpowering pressure and anguish looms over her existence. Emerson discovers a glimmer of hope in the form of newly prescribed medication, which effectively diminishes the fiery sensations. As a result, she experiences a greater sense of tranquility and contentment.

Told from the point of view of Emerson, a middle school girl with Autism, NonVerbal is an amazing exploration of the mind of someone who can't express themselves the way most can. This book gave an interesting perspective of not just the internal conflict of Emerson, but the external as well. The frustration of parents who are doing everything they can, and teachers in a school system who are never given the support or funding that is truly needed for special needs programs.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. Maybe I resonate a lot as both a sibling of a special needs child (my sister has Down Syndrome) and an educator myself, but I loved seeing this perspective of a child with autism. The story was engaging, as the struggles grew more and more difficult for everyone involved.

I really wanted to like this one. I'm a special education teacher in a self-contained setting, and it was exciting to find a story about a world that isn't talked about enough. I rarely find novels that work to educate others about special education and all of its acronyms and intricacies. However, I felt like the author projected onto Emerson too much. I can usually suspend my belief, but I have trouble believing Emerson would hold all of the viewpoints she did. There would be entire pages of prose that seemed like the viewpoints of Emerson's mother, not Emerson herself. When the novel explored Emerson's school and home routines, the prose truly shone and shed light on the difficulties teens with autism can face However, it was extremely obvious when the author was pushing her own agenda. With editing, this novel could be truly great; it just needs more work.

From the prologue, I could tell Non Verbal was going to be one of those books that sticks with you. Powerful, important and full of impact.

As someone who has worked as a Teacher Assistant, primary with students with Autism, several non-verbal, I felt like I needed to read this book.

Well written, an a powerful insight into the world of ASD, of meetings and plans and support. Of the world from Emersons POV, how sounds and lights and vibrations feel to her.

This is a fantastic book, one that I think will make younger readers understand what the world looks like for those among us with ASD.

As a special education teacher, this book appealed to me. I often wonder what it would be like to be inside the heads of nonverbal individuals.This offers a very interesting perspective that I loved delving into. This was a very engaging, interesting read that I thoroughly enjoyed! I cannot recommend this book enough!

Inspired by the author’s own experiences, Emerson stops talking at 15 months old and by three is labeled with autism spectrum disorder. As Emerson, gets older her medications help her feel better for a while. Being a Good Girl is hard sometimes because sounds, smells, and lights get in the way and make focusing hard. Emerson doesn’t want to hurt herself, but she finds she’s not always in control of her body’s movements. Sometimes her body feels like it’s on fire and Emerson scratches herself. Emerson lives in fear of letting the pressure and pain win. She finds “it’s hard and exhausting to continue to be different in a world that expects you to be the same.” When Emerson is given new pills, she finds they help keep the fire feeling away; she’s calmer and happier.