Kelly Becomes a Superhero: Young Adult Edition

Kelly Becomes a Superhero is a graphic novel designed for young adults 18 - 25 years old with Asperger's Syndrome, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Anxiety, or Attention Deficit Disorder. The book tells four stories about a girl named Kelly Washington who faces stressful or confusing situations at home, school, and at her job. Kelly gains "superhero" powers in dealing with her dilemmas when she learns to use a set of tools that help her make sense of confusing situations and also help her better understand why other people act the way they do and how she can get along better with them. After each story, there is a "Think About It" section that gives the reader the opportunity to apply these "superhero" tools to his or her own life to stay calm when worried or confused and to figure out the best thing to do in difficult situations. Many young adults have said they don't understand what other people (like their parents, teachers, friends, neighbors, teammates, or coaches) expect them to do or why they expect it. When these young adults learn to use the "superhero" tools, they say it becomes easier to get along with others and they enjoy themselves in new ways.