Girl, Misunderstood: One Girl's Journey to Understanding Her Asperger's as a Gift
Bryony Gilbert
(Independently published, March 29, 2020)
As a young child, Bryony always knew she was different to the other girls at school. Every year, her teachers remarked how âquiet, shy and reservedâ she was, while her parents observed how she had difficulty approaching other girls to be friends with them. Although she was familiar with Aspergerâs, the lack of understanding of autism in women meant that she didnât realise she had it until she was 21, in her second year of university. Now she was faced with reforming her identity in young adulthood, a difficult task for anyone. Girl, Misunderstood is a book for any autistic woman, or indeed any woman who feels that they are different, to reshape their beliefs about being on the autism spectrum in a more positive, and even spiritual, way. Bryony reflects on her life as a shy young child growing up relying on her closest friends to help her navigate the world, through to becoming a more confident, yet still reserved, young adult leaving university and entering the daunting âreal worldâ. In her attempt to help others, she gives advice based on her own experiences, particularly on relationships with family, friends and romantic partners. Most importantly and central to the book, she discusses her special interest in spirituality and how her interest in this through a dark period in her life helped her to see Aspergerâs in a novel new light, and how people with Aspergerâs may be different for a reason. This book is designed to make readers question the negative perception of autism in society and to empower autistic women to think positively about being different and recognise their strengths. The main message in this book that Bryony expresses is that having Aspergerâs can be seen as a spiritual gift.