Finding Phoebe

 By: Gavin Extence

Location: FIC EXT

Genre:  ASD, Youth Fiction, Mental Health, Autism

This is an adventure tale about resilience and agency—building one and realizing the other—and a survival story that will empower young people   ‘We’ll be on the ground shortly, Spence,’ he said into his headset. ‘Thanks for coming up with me. Can’t imagine a better flight companion.’ Spencer grinned at him. ‘Don’t lose it now, Dad. Get this thing back on the ground safe and sound, okay?’   Spencer Gray is 12 and finally old enough to join dad in his glider. His friends are going to be so jealous! Going up is awesome, but when disaster strikes, Spencer will need to be nothing short of amazing.

Extence writes with such genuine heart and thoughtfulness. We follow Phoebe, a teenager with ASD as she navigates her journey into adulthood. I particularly enjoyed that Phoebe knew of her neurodivergence and the strengths she offered, especially to her friendship with secondary character Bethany. I’ve read a few books where the mc is neurodivergent, but I often find them to have an uncomfortable blur between writing for awareness and writing for reader’s entertainment through a cheap laugh. However, in the author’s note Extence tells us that his daughter has ASD and the book is for her; making for a beautiful and educational read into neurodivergence that’s full of love, kindness and warmth. ELLIE

REVIEW:  Kristel- Phoebe has autism, prefers a comforting routine, and dislikes change. Her days are content when she can walk her dog, immerse herself in a fantasy novel or delve into the imaginary worlds she is writing. She is out of her depth in most social arenas and feels she barely keeps up with the ever-changing worlds of school and teenage life. Up until now, she has managed by avoidance, but she is about to be faced with situations she hadn’t planned for.


Her best and only friend Bethany, daughter of the local vicar, decides to break some of her father’s rules and gets a secret boyfriend. This starts as a daily annoyance to Phoebe at school but leads to her becoming their alibi when they meet up. Phoebe is not comfortable with deception but goes along with it. Things become complicated and though Phoebe is not used to handling unknown situations, she uncovers hidden abilities that allow her to work through what’s happening. However, by lying for her friend, and dealing with new school activities and upcoming exams, Phoebe is tested past her limits and may not cope with the fallout of a betrayal and a deep personal discovery.


🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟I loved this book and its emotional rollercoaster plot. I adored Phoebe and her incredible personal journey. The topics of autism, sexuality, growing up and religious beliefs are explored through Phoebe’s letters to her deceased mother. She chronicles her life as she tries to grapple with everyday societal situations and how they affect her mentally and physically. I have noticed that characters with autism or other developmental conditions don’t feature frequently in stories, therefore I feel this is an important book for teens and adults alike as autistic people are part of society and need to have better representation and understanding through fiction. There were a few teary moments as I felt for Phoebe as she faced her problems both unique to her circumstances and those that everyone can relate to. Overall, an additive yet intriguingly sentimental read, and I highly recommend it to all.