According to the National Autism Association's website, autism now affects 1 in 88 children. Autism is a spectrum disorder, meaning that symptoms very widely from child to child. Some children are diagnosed with Asberger's syndrome, which is a milder form of autism and may not be diagnosed until mid to late childhood, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.

Luckily, awarness of autism spectrum disorders is rapidly growing in the public mindset, and there are many wonderful examples of children's books addressing this issue in one way or another. I've picked out three of my favorite chapter books featuring kids who deal with autism in some way. Reading any of them is a great way to catch a glimpse of life on the spectrum.

Rules by Cynthia Lord is the first of this type of story I've read, and I couldn't have picked a better place to start. Published in 2006, it earned a well-deserved Newbery Honor in 2007. The story centers around a 12-year-old girl named Catherine who has a younger brother with autism. At the beginning of the story, a new family with a girl Catherine's age moves into a house down the street from Catherine and David. Though Catherine wants to make friends, she's apprehensive. What if David forgets one of the rules Catherine taught him, like "If the bathroom door is closed, KNOCK"? Kids might smile at Catherine's rules, but they will also gain a better understanding of the autistic mind as they read. They'll also get a glimpse of what the effects of autism might be on a family as a whole.

Another award-winning book on this subject is Anything but Typical by Nora Raleigh Baskin. It won the Schneider Family Book Award in 2010, which honors an author for "the artistic expression of the disability experience for child and adolescent audiences." In contrast to Rules, Anything but Typical is actually told from the perspective of a person with autism. Jason, the main character, loves to write stories and post them on a website called Storyboard. The online medium allows him to express himself without feeling scrutinized or exposed. He even makes a friend named Rebecca on Storyboard. Everything is going great, up until Jason's parents offer to take him to the Storyboard conference, where he will have to meet Rebecca in person. Will she see him, or his autism? Any kids who have dealt with insecurity or any kind of social anxiety will relate to Jason instantly, making this a worthwhile read for "neurotypicals" (Jason's word).

Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine is another great read with a different approach. The main character, Caitlin, is a girl with Asberger's. This is important because, according to the National Autism Association, boys are four times more likely to have autism than girls, and girls may be underrepresented in the literature. This is a really heartbreaking story in which Caitlin and her father are trying to recover from the sudden, violent loss of Caitlin's brother during a school shooting. The plot centers around Caitlin's search for closure, in addition to her more everyday efforts to interact successfully with the people around her. Caitlin's troubles (and her father's, as well) made this book emotionally very difficult to read, but very rewarding.

There are lots of other great books for kids about autism spectrum disorders. Have you read any recently? Write about them in the comments!