Slug Days

Lauren, a girl on the autism spectrum, takes readers through a week full of ups and downs in this sensitively told story. The book’s title refers to how Lauren thinks of days that aren’t going well, when she feels “slow and slimy” and friendless. And with classmates, teachers, and other adults who find her frustrating at times, Lauren has a few of those days as the week unfolds. The first-person narration lets readers understand Lauren’s motivations and reasoning in a way that others in her life often do not (including her focus on tactile sensations, especially stickiness). Bender’s pencil drawings readily reflect characters’ frustrations and other emotions—feelings that Lauren acknowledges she has trouble recognizing. Leach’s empathetic novel should both open eyes and encourage greater patience and understanding. Ages 7–10. (Oct.)