Bluebird Odd Girl Out: An Autistic Woman in a Neurotypical World

A compelling and honest account giving the reader an especially personal view of what it is like to be an autistic woman in a very modern, often scary and triggering world. Laura James has shown commendable courage in allowing so much insight into her private thoughts and struggles so that other autistic people, especially women, need not feel so alone. She candidly describes times when things have gone painfully wrong, acknowledging her responsibilities and lessons learned while also demonstrating hope and ways forward. Family life, processing current affairs, coping with change, medical crises and treatment, mental health and working are just some of the issues explored in this book; it is not always easy or comfortable reading as it does not shy away from raw and intense personal history but this aspect makes it all the more valuable in terms of sharing and improving understanding and positive acceptance of autism. I have donated a copy to a drop-in service for autistic adults in my area and would recommend it to anyone seeking to better understand and support an autistic person in their life, whether that person is the reader him/herself or someone else.

As someone who has just been diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder, I was actually recommended this book by the team that diagnosed me and I am so grateful they did. Although Laura James and I lead quite different lives, her experiences and explanations really helped me to start to accept my diagnosis. I would highly recommend this to anyone who is getting a diagnosis, and their families, to help them understand.

As books go, it's no page turner. I doubt it would be of interest to anyone who doesn't have any autism connections.I recognised my own traits in many ways and as a female of a similar age to the author, I felt I could very much relate to her life experiences.I agree with other reviewers who feel she attributes a few too many things to "her autism" that appear to be just personality traits and qualities. Who knows for sure though as we are a so different anyway?It just meant that on a couple of occasions I found myself thinking "get over yourself woman, it's not ALL about the autism" and her self indulgence and whining made it a bit boring.In the whole though, it's the topic itself that struck a chord for me, not the writer, or whether the book is engrossing. I'm very pleased that i read it and now I'll seek out further reading material on the same subject. I'd recommend it for any lady who has been successfully masking autism for decades (especially those who never realised that's what they've been doing). It's really quite a relief to recognise how exhausting that is, and that you don't actually have to!

Literally unputdownable. She's an engaging and honest writer and her book spoke directly to fellow female autistics. I went from despair to hope. Thank you Laura.

As a young woman with autism I have often felt alone and ignored . Due to being classed as 'high functioning' my needs have often been ignored by those unable to understand the duality of someone who can be academically intelligent, yet who struggles socially. For the first time reading this book, I felt like someone else was stating feelings I had been screaming out for years. In writing this review I find myself in the same state I was when first reading the book- overwhelmed to the state of tears. The healing I have got from reading about someone like me is unmeasurable.I can not emphasise the importance of this book. Late diagnosed girls and women, read this. Parents of autistic children, read this. Family members, loved ones, anyone who wishes to connect to someone with autism, please read this. I myself have brought several copies of the book to give to people in my family in hopes that they can see into my world through the words of someone better able to express themselves.