Upward Bound by Woody Brown

Upward Bound is a daycare center for non-verbal autistic young adults who have timed out of public education. Walter's parents have enabled him to “speak” using facilitated communication, and not only can he communicate, but he earned a community college degree with straight A’s. Unfortunately, his circumstances have changed, and he isn’t able to continue his education. Written in his inner voice, the reader learns about the repetitive daily routine of boring activities that are offered to the clients and how they feel about them. The facility is better than some others that only exist to park people and occasionally, there is an exemplary staff counselor who understands that the residents are capable of communication, if not in the normal sense.

Walter brings the reader into the “inmate’s” world of frustration, where outward signs of echolalia, random sounds, and inert behavior mask a rational and intellectually starved human being that can’t emerge without the aid and compassion of another person. Told in vignettes, Walter writes of the symbiotic relationship between Carlos, a caring staff member, and Jorge, an “eloper” who leaves the building whenever he can. He tells the story of Ann, the lifeguard, who takes a summer job at the facility and inspires a resident with cerebral palsy to use eye blinks to answer questions. Drew is verbal but has exchanged his words for any real thought, and so is just as locked in as the rest of them. We meet the competent, those that only consider the job a paycheck, and the well-meaning volunteers who pity the residents without attempting to understand them.

The author does a masterful job of bringing the reader into Walter’s world. It is more amazing when you know that the author, Woody Brown himself, is a non-verbal autistic young man who has used his experiences to create background for his novel. He was the first autistic non-speaking graduate at UCLA, and he achieved an MFA at Columbia with top honors. The novel is a rare insight into a population that is underserved, but has much to say, if only there was a better attempt at facilitating communication.

Reviewed by Donna Ballard

March 31, 2026

Reserve a physical copy - Coming soon