“I have been Black all my life, but until recently, autism has been my whole reality. I never paid attention to how my Blackness made autism much more dangerous until now. And now I see it. I see it, and Marcia, I cannot unsee it.” -Aiden, All the Noise at Once
There aren’t enough published books about autism by autistic people, let alone by autistic people of color. I was so excited to hear the announcement for the young adult contemporary novel All the Noise at Once by DeAndra Davis, and have been eagerly anticipating it—and wow, it does not disappoint!
The story centers on Aiden, who is Black and autistic and loves football. Like many of us autistic folks, he can get overwhelmed in everyday sensory situations, like going down the hall at school—but delights in the sensory overstimulation of something he loves, like the roar of the football stadium. He’s funny and insightful.
Aiden also loves his older brother Brandon, who has a very promising football career—until one post-game conflict escalates into a fight with police called on the scene, who only make things worse. As his brother is unfairly arrested, Aiden has to decide how he’ll respond to the unfair systems he’s been surrounded by, and how he’ll rise above others’ limited expectations of him.
While Aiden has been aware of how his autism can be interpreted by others, he becomes more aware of how his Blackness can be interpreted as well, and how the intersection of both traits makes him treated differently—and judged—by others. The book brilliantly shows the reader how aggressions are built against Black people in the narrative background, but this dynamic is not explicitly pointed out until later. But as readers, we feel that tension, that buildup, that unacceptableness, even though Aiden has to learn to name it. With this name, Aiden speaks out against injustice.
Aiden also begins to rethink his perception of his own autism. He realizes that he has been predominantly passive, allowing others to decide what he is and isn’t capable of. But through his journey, he learns the nuance of not just accepting the challenges his autism brings, but also taking responsibility for his autonomy and choices and behavior. He realizes that people have treated him as incapable of full responsibility because of his autism, thinking that he needs protection and isn’t able to make mature, autonomous decisions.
But as he becomes aware of this treatment, he chooses to take accountability for his choices and accept the consequences when he messes up. This is such an important nuance and complexity rarely talked about in relation to neurodivergence, and I really appreciated how this book modeled an autistic person taking responsibility while simultaneously respecting personal accommodation needs and disability limitations.
This book tackles so many issues with such care and thought. Some of those topics include racism, classism and class segregation, the stress of excellence and being a “model citizen,” family expectations, ableism and neurodivergent treatment in a neurotypical world, police brutality and power imbalances—but the book never feels bloated or didactic. These topics are all so organically woven into the narrative that the reader is compelled to engage and think about the systems of the world we live in. Every character is imperfect, but we see why they do what they do—and that invites empathy and a deeper understanding for them and their journeys.
There is incredible thoughtfulness and nuance in this story as it tackles such critical and necessary conversations on continued injustice in this country and world, never limiting them to black-and-white categories. Aiden’s story can serve as a fantastic conversation starter for teen and adult readers alike and should be required reading. It never talks down to its readers, but expects that they are capable of engaging with these complex ideas and nuanced perspectives on these issues.
All the Noise at Once is realistic in the difficult, but also the hopeful. Aiden and Brandon and their friends and family go through so many hard things, but there is also light at the end of the tunnel. There is also joy and humor and a promising future. Especially in these times, a dose of realistic hope is more important than ever.
I really hope this book receives a Schneider Family Book Award, an award for books on the disability experience, and that you will give it a read, even if you don’t typically read YA books. If you do, I hope you will then pass it on to the young readers in your life.
