In a world that often mistakes silence for a lack of intelligence, Upward Bound by Woody Brown is a masterclass in proving the skeptics wrong. Walter, the novel’s witty and sarcastic protagonist, is desperate to be heard—and though he cannot speak a single word, his voice is the sharpest one in the room. This is a “must read” in the “Read With Jenna” category.
4/5 stars ★★★★☆
To read the summary of the book
Genre: General fiction
From the publisher: NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A READ WITH JENNA BOOK CLUB PICK AS FEATURED ON TODAY • A wondrous, deeply affecting portrait of the interlocking lives at an adult day care center in Southern California, depicting an often overlooked community with extraordinary wit and grace—a “triumphant”* novel by a major new literary voice hailed as a “groundbreaking debut novelist”**
“[A] revelation that forces you to ask: How much do we overlook in people—how many gifts do we fail to nurture—by making overly hasty judgments?”—Frank Bruni, The New York Times
“Funny and moving and ringing with life.”—The Guardian*
“This captivating work illuminates a world too often ignored.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)**
Published on: March 31, 2026
Pages: 208
My Thoughts About Upward Bound:
The Author:
Woody Brown, the author, is a non-speaking adult who has severe autism. He challenges the system of adult day care centers through his fictional story in Upward Bound. Or as he puts it, it’s a place for the “inmates.” He was the first non-speaking autistic student to graduate from UCLA and go on to earn his MFA from Columbia University. You couldn’t ask for someone with more knowledge about a specific topic than someone who has first-hand experience with a rare perspective.
Different Perspectives:
Through Brown’s humor and personal perspective, I was enthralled to spend time with the different characters in this book. Not only did he share some points of view from people attending the center, he also had some chapters from the staff’s point of view. I enjoyed this different take because it wasn’t one sided. Through most of my teaching career, I worked with teenagers who were also neurodivergent. Brown masterfully captures the neurodivergent experience: the sensory overload, the non-linear thoughts, and the frustration of a brain that moves faster than the body can keep up. At times, I could relate to the feelings of the staff, and at times, I was annoyed with the staff. Because of this, though, you have a well-rounded view of what a day care center might be like.
For example, Jorge, one of the characters, liked to run away. He was referred to as an “eloper.” Jorge saw this as a path to freedom, while the staff saw it as a behavior problem. This is one of the reasons I liked the different points of view.
The Day Care Center:
I was most annoyed with the day care center part of the story. If you have ever worked with neurodivergent individuals, you know that brilliance often hides behind unconventional communication. Yet, at this center, the staff create arts and crafts activities for little kids, take them to the park and Target to use up time, and basically, treats them like children. There were times I had to put the book down because I was fuming. You know a book is well-written when it creates these type of feelings just from reading it.
My One “Con” of Upward Bound:
After watching a video of the author, I started to do my own research. There is a lot of controversy over whether one can say that Woody Brown actually wrote the book since he uses Facilitated Communication to communicate with his mother. By pointing to an alphabet board to “speak” his thoughts, some wonder whether it’s truly Woody’s voice or his mother’s that wrote this book.
That being said, the book is worth reading. In fact, I think most people should read this book to gain a new perspective on neurodiversity. No matter the controversy, Brown’s novel shows a rare and vital look at an important group of people in our society. Regardless of the debate over the method, the literary quality of the text stands on its own.
Where to Buy Upward Bound and More:
Purchase Upward Bound here.
- Read more of my book reviews: Visit my library
- Missed my Top Books of 2025? Check out the full list here
Looking for more book recommendations?
If you enjoyed this book, I highly recommend these other books:
- What Comes Next by Caitlin Forbes | Buy on Amazon
- Read my full review here
- Why it’s similar: It explores the tension between a character’s internal hopes and their external medical reality. It’s “eye-opening” and focuses on family dynamics under pressure.
- As a Last Resort by Kristin Wollett | Buy on Amazon
- Read my full review here
- Why it’s similar: Much like the adult daycare in Upward Bound is a place of “last resort,” this book deals with characters facing unexpected life shifts and finding dignity in places they didn’t choose to be.
- The Academy by Elin Hilderbrand and Shelby Cunningham | Buy on Amazon
- Read my full review here
- Why it’s similar: If the parts of Upward Bound you liked best were the “misfit” community and the way different characters (like the “eloper” Jorge) rebel against the rules, The Academy offers a similar study of people trying to find their place within a rigid institution.
Disclosure: Thank you to NetGalley, Random House, and Woody Brown for my free copy of this book. This is my honest opinion. If I misused any terms, I apologize now. I tried to stay as correct as possible, but terms change constantly of how to address people. Terminology in the disability and neurodiversity community is constantly evolving. I have made every effort to use person-first and identity-first language that respects the dignity of the individuals described in this book.
To learn more about Woody Brown
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I spent half this book fuming and the other half in awe. Have you ever read a book that made you want to jump into the pages and change things for the characters? Tell me which one!
