Book Review: Camouflage - The Hidden Lives of Autistic Women by Sarah Bargiela

Camouflage: The Hidden Lives of Autistic Women
by Dr. Sarah Bargiela [j618.928 Bar]

Camouflage is a very short, nonfiction book in graphic novel format that introduces what it means to be on the Autism spectrum, then focuses on recent research into why so many fewer women have been diagnosed with Autism than men. The overall answer given is that Autism tends to present partly the same but partly differently in women. One of those differences is that Autistic women tend to be be better at passing as neurotypical in their social interactions. Another is that when Autistic women have intense special interests, those interests are often more mainstream (less ‘odd’ sounding) to people who hear about them.

The latter half of the book asks questions of a multi-racial group of three real life Autistic women from age 19 to 30. You find out what social situations are like for them, how their diagnosis was denied early on, what it’s like “masking” their Autism, and how they’ve learned to become more assertive in their relationships, including intimate relationships.

I would say this book is most directly fitting for girls and women in middle school through college. The book itself has “11+” listed on it. I also strongly recommend it to parents and educators of young women.

Camouflage mentions the increased risk of sexual assault and suicide for Autistic women, which is a topic that can’t wait until after their teens. There are some book and Internet resources spelled out, and others mentioned in a way that Internet searching will get young women to places they can find help.

You’ll find this book in the children’s nonfiction section here, which includes young adult materials when in hardcover format.

[If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try Thinking in Pictures: My Life with Autism, by Temple Grandin, or All Cats Have Asperger Syndrome, by Cathy Hoopmann.]

[ official Camouflage page on the official Dr. Sarah Bargiela web site ]

Recommended by Garren H.
Bennett Martin Public Library

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