Author: Sam Matthews

Illustrator: Shaz Kennington

Category: Picture Book

Publisher: Lilly Pilly Publishing

Publication date: 14 November 2020

Blurb: Some people say I am oppositional, disrespectful and uncooperative. That’s the me you see. What you don’t see is WHY I act the way I do.

Have you ever wondered what autism feels like, on the inside?

This is my story

Review: The Me You Don’t See is written by Sam Matthews, a young autistic person. Sam shares his story of the things we don’t see about why he does the things he does. He explains that kisses feel like snails and his mind is like a fast car. He also explains things like why he doesn’t complete jobs when they are not fully explained, and many more everyday aspects of life.

The thing that makes this book so powerful is that it is Sam’s story told in his own voice, not someone else telling his story. Sam first wrote this when he was 10 and published it when he was 11!

This is a powerful story that acknowledges that this is just one person’s experience of living with autism, and a book that should be in libraries everywhere to give those of us without autism a glimpse of what life is like. It will help with understanding and empathy.

The illustrations by Shez Kennington are bright and fun, and are a wonderful addition to the story.

A book I highly recommend.

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