Non Verbal — Molly Zenk

14-year-old severely autistic middle schooler Emerson Rayne's words disappeared when she was fifteen months old, but that didn't mean she had no voice. By three, doctors labelled her with autism spectrum disorder, functionally non-verbal, sensory processing disorder, and intellectual disability.What Emerson can't say is that there is a fire inside her waiting to ignite and a wolf stuck in her throat ready to howl. Emerson can't control her behavior. It controls her. Emerson's difficult but manageable frustrations turn to self-injurious behaviors, and mental and emotional instability. She navigates friendships, bullies, and overly stressed parents, who fight to find her support and treatment in health and education systems that have little options for teens with intensive needs. Inspired by the author's own experiences, and called moving, amazing, and thought provoking, NON VERBAL could change the way people see autism and its effect on families.