PDA

I’m Not Upside Down, I’m Downside Up

new

Not a Boring Book About PDA Harry Thompson and Danielle Jata-Hall

Illustrated by Mollie Sherwin

Welcome to my downside up life! My name is Ariana and I have something called Pathological Demand Avoidance which is a form of autism. Most people just think I’m naughty and misbehaved, but I want to show you why that’s not true by telling you about what my life is like from inside my head. Come join me in understanding why I feel like I have to be in control all the time and why it’s just not as simple as doing as I am told.

Apr 2022 | £9.99 | 7–12 yeArs | 64pp | pB | 21 grAyscAle cArtOOn-style illustrAtiOns | isBn-9781839971174

I’m Not Upside Down, I’m Downside Up

CHAPTER 3 Besides, my mornings are never good anyway, and I wish Mummy wasn’t so blind to that. good anyway,

Freedom Is Me

A Trip to the Sewer

A Trip to the Sewer

there it doesn’t feel right – my heart still feels empty. I don’t understand the other children and they don’t understand me. They want the real me to disappear. It’s like when I’m there I’m being forced to be a diff erent person. there it doesn’t feel right – my heart still feels empty. I don’t understand the other children and they don’t understand me. They want the real me to disappear. It’s like when I’m there I’m being forced to be a diff erent person.

Mummy says that it is time for school now and I tell her that I should be free! I don’t move even though I wish I could. I see other children going to school and it looks like fun, but when I get to school and it looks like fun, but when I get 14

Isuddenly could hear Mummy calling Mrs Fowell to say that she couldn’t get me ready for school again today and I could hear Mummy crying. I wanted to go to school but just couldn’t. I hate it when people want me to do something but for some reason I just can’t. The more they try to make me the worse it gets. It’s in those moments that I don’t want to be me any more. Mummy comes back into my bedroom to tell me she has spoken to my school, and she is disappointed in me. I look away to my pet rats and remember the time that I locked Jenny out of the house and waited to see if she would get angry. She didn’t even react and for some reason I didn’t feel the need to do it any more. I don’t get that upset when she is around – she has that ‘thing’ that makes me feel calm – just like my rats. I can see the words coming out of my mummy’s mouth but I can’t hear them, and I don’t want to either. I want to think about my rats, and I always

upset when she is around – she has that ‘thing’ mouth but I can’t hear them, and I don’t want to either. I want to think about my rats, and I always

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Me and My PDA

A Guide to Pathological Demand Avoidance for Young People Glòria Durà-Vilà and Tamar Levi

Illustrated by Tamar Levi

A PDA diagnosis can be confusing for parents and children alike. This beautiful picture book helps children understand their diagnosis, develop self-awareness and implement personalised problem-solving strategies. A clear and gentle guide to complicated issues, complete with interactive exercises and engaging full-colour illustrations.

nOv 2018 | £14.99 | 10–18 yeArs | 144pp | HB | cOlOur illustrAtiOns tHrOugHOut (85 tOtAl) | WOrld All lAnguAges | isBn-9781785924651