Did you know there have already been more than 30 books published about PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance)? The first was published in 2011, many more came along in the last seven years, and there's a new one due out in 2026! Most of these books also have a Kindle version alongside the paperback or hardback, and some are available as audiobooks.
From books written by professionals and parents sharing their experiences to the extremely insightful books written by PDAers themselves, short or long books or illustrated guides, there are various styles to choose from. All painting a picture and helping other people to understand various aspects of Pathological Demand Avoidance.
I've reviewed many of these books in detailed posts on my blog over the last few years but I wanted to create one post listing all these PDA books that would be easy to refer to. I'm sharing the title, publication date and short summary of each book, along with a link to my more detailed review post if there is one (there are more reviews on the way). I'm hoping this will help even more people discover and learn more about PDA - please share this post or the book information far and wide.
(The pictures and book titles contain affiliate links; as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases but it won't cost you any extra)
Understanding Pathological Demand Avoidance Syndrome in Children
Publication year: 2011
The earliest PDA book. Written by a team of four - Phil Christie, consultant child psychologist who worked with Professor Elizabeth Newson (British Developmental Psychologist who first proposed the term PDA in the 1980s), Margaret Duncan, GP and parent to a PDA child, Ruth Fidler, Assistant Head Teacher at a school for autistic pupils, and Zara Healy, journalist and parent to a PDA child.
Buy direct from Jessica Kingsley Publishers or from Amazon. (Also available as Audiobook).
Read my full review → here
Can I Tell You About Pathological Demand Avoidance?
Publication year: 2015
Written from the viewpoint of Issy, a fictional 11 year old girl with Pathological Demand Avoidance. A great starting point for discussions with siblings and peers.
Buy direct from Jessica Kingsley Publishers or from Amazon.
Read my review in my PDA books summary → here
My Daughter Is Not Naughty
Publication year: 2015
This book evolved from a blog about one family's experiences of living with PDA. It includes a lot of in-depth detail about the challenges faced, from Early Years through to Adolescence, looking at pre-conceived ideas of what parenting should be like and the use of language such as naughty.
Buy direct from Jessica Kingsley Publishers or from Amazon.
Read my review in my PDA books summary → here
Helping Your Child With PDA Live a Happier Life
Publication year: 2021
Drawing on experience of parenting a PDA child, the author describes how to create the type of environment that will allow children to be authentically themselves, thereby enabling them to flourish and thrive.
Buy direct from Jessica Kingsley Publishers or from Amazon.
Read my full review → here
Low Demand Parenting
Publication year: 2023
'Dropping Demands, Restoring Calm and Finding Connection with your Uniquely Wired Child' is the strapline and this describes precisely the whole ethos of the book - the aim being to help parents learn how to find ways to help the whole family thrive.
Buy direct from Jessica Kingsley Publishers or from Amazon. (Also available as Audiobook).
Read my full review → here
PDA in the Family
Publication year: 2024
An account of family life since the day our younger daughter was diagnosed with autism at the age of two, and the subsequent lightbulb moment when we heard about PDA. Includes experiences of challenges with education and a chapter written by our PDAers Dad.
Buy direct from Jessica Kingsley Publishers or from Amazon. (Also available as Audiobook).
Read more about our book → here
The Family Experience of PDA
Publication year: 2021
A great mixture of illustrations, depicting situations which take place in many PDA households, and text, describing in accessible and non-flowery language what is happening and why, and how best to react to or manage these occasions.
Buy direct from Jessica Kingsley Publishers or from Amazon. (Also available as Audiobook).
Read my full review → here
The Educator's Experience of Pathological Demand Avoidance
Publication year: 2023
Written by a specialist teacher who is now an education and autism consultant, this book is a clear and practical guide for any education professionals who are working with PDA learners.
Buy direct from Jessica Kingsley Publishers or from Amazon. (Also available as Audiobook).
Read my full review → here
Can’t Not Won’t
Publication year: 2023
'A story about a child who couldn’t go to school' - the illustrations in this book follow a family through the early days of school avoidance, the process of accessing support and the challenges of coping in the meantime.
Buy direct from Jessica Kingsley Publishers or from Amazon.
Read my full review → here
The Teen's Guide to PDA
Publication year: 2024
Great for parents and teens, but also wider family members, as a concise intoduction to how PDA feels, and perfect for anyone working with PDA teens and young adults.
Buy direct from Jessica Kingsley Publishers or from Amazon.
Read my full review → here
The Kids' Simple Guide to PDA
Publication year: 2025
A gentle and engaging introduction to Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA), designed especially for children. A safe starting point for children to learn about something that can sometimes feel confusing or difficult to talk about, highlighting different ways children can support their siblings or peers who have PDA.
Buy direct from Jessica Kingsley Publishers or from Amazon. (Also available as Audiobook).
Read my full review → here
The Parents' and Professionals' Simple Guide to PDA
Publication year: 2025
A short yet informative introductory guide written especially for parents, extended family members, and professionals who are supporting a PDA child. Includes the basics of PDA and how it can present in different children and it outlines the unique ways PDA may show itself in daily life, from situations at home to challenges in school or social settings. Also offers practical advice on how best to support PDAers.
Buy direct from Jessica Kingsley Publishers or from Amazon. (Also available as Audiobook).
Read my full review → here
PDA by PDAers
Publication year: 2018
This book brings together many thoughts, viewpoints and real, lived experience from a range of autistic adults who identify with the term Pathological Demand Avoidance.
Buy direct from Jessica Kingsley Publishers or from Amazon.
Read my review in my PDA books summary → here
Pathological Demand Avoidance Explained
Publication year: 2020
Sally Cat shares graphic memes describing PDA on her popular Facebook page. This book uses the same format to communicate the lived experience of the condition in an easy to understand way.
Buy from Amazon.
Being Julia
Publication year: 2021
Co-written with Ruth Fidler, Julia's memoir covers life from a very young age right through adulthood. The book includes many examples of school and social experiences, with some earlier memories being provided by Julia's mum and old school reports.
Buy direct from Jessica Kingsley Publishers or from Amazon.
Read my full review → here
Calendar Girl: The memoirs of a PDA child in a dysfunctional family
Publication year: 2022
Communicates the lived experience of an internalising PDA child to parents seeking to understand their own kids. All royalties are donated directly to PDA Society.
Buy from Amazon.
The PDA Effect
Publication year: 2025
Authentic insight into PDA from an 18-year old PDAer. The author shares his experiences of what PDA feels like internally, how it affects decision-making, relationships, and daily routines, and what support actually helps.
Buy from Amazon.
Read my full review → here
The Insider Guide to PDA
Publication year: 2026
Coming soon: PDAers Sally Cat and Brook Madera explain what PDA is, how it manifests, and how to minimise its impact. This book also considers interaction with other forms of neurodivergence, potential misdiagnosis as a multitude of other conditions and disorders, and also highlights the positives of PDA life.
Available to pre-order from Jessica Kingsley Publishers or from Amazon.
Can You See Me?
Publication year: 2019
One in a set of four novels based on diary entries written by autistic 11-year old Libby Scott (co-author Rebecca Westcott). This book begins with the lead character, 11 year old Tally, preparing to start in Year 7 at a new secondary school. The story explores life at home and at school in equal measures - and shows the impact which one can have on the other.
Buy from Amazon. (Also available as Audiobook).
Read my review of these novels → here
Do You Know Me?
Publication year: 2020
Carries on where Can You See Me left off, with Tally in Year 7. It describes all the activity and emotions around a Year 7 residential trip - an event that many children look forward to, but that not all children find easy.
Buy from Amazon. (Also available as Audiobook).
Read my review of these novels → here
Ways to Be Me
Publication year: 2021
The prequel to Can You See Me?, Ways To Be Me follows Tally through her final year of primary school. Her thoughts and feelings when she receives an autism diagnosis are described in detail and explored from various angles..
Buy from Amazon.
Read my review of these novels → here
All The Pieces of Me
Publication year: 2022
Tally is now 13 years old and in Year 9 at secondary school. She has a friend who is one of the popular girls at school but moves away, leaving Tally to feel on the edge of the group. She finds it difficult to know what to do in order to be accepted and included; she thinks she should feel lucky to still be a part of the group but somehow she still feels lonely.
Buy from Amazon.
Read my review of these novels → here
Saturdays At Noon
Publication year: 2020
The debut novel of Rachel Marks, a primary school teacher who also happens to be the mum of a son with Pathological Demand Avoidance. Told from the point of view of the three main characters, Emily, Jake and Alfie, the story is about life and love, and understanding.
Buy from Amazon. (Also available as Audiobook).
Read my full review → here
Black Rainbow
Publication year: 2024
Written by Danielle Jata-Hall, blogger at PDA Parenting. This story is told from the view point of Sarah, a married mum of two young children. A fiction book which mirrors real life for many families who have PDA children.
Buy from Amazon.
Read my full review → here
Collaborative Approaches to Learning for Pupils with PDA
Publication year: 2018
A follow up to Understanding Pathological Demand Avoidance Syndrome in Children, written for people working with children with Pathological Demand Avoidance. As a parent I still found it helpful; the book is littered with many examples of strategies which could also work well in the home.
Buy direct from Jessica Kingsley Publishers or from Amazon.
Read my review in my PDA books summary → here
Me and My PDA
Publication year: 2018
Aimed at young PDA individuals, this begins with a letter directly to the child/young adult, explaining that the book is for them and that they are in control of what they would like to do with it, and when they would like to read it. It explains that they know themselves better than anyone and so should decide for themselves how they'd like to use it.
Buy direct from Jessica Kingsley Publishers or from Amazon.
Read my review in my PDA books summary → here
PDA in the Therapy Room
Publication year: 2021
Written by an educational and developmental psychologist with a range of experience of working with children with developmental disabilities as well as typically developing children. This book is a guide to effective strategies or ways of helping PDA children, adapting conventional modes of therapy to suit their needs.
Buy direct from Jessica Kingsley Publishers or from Amazon.
Read my full review → here
The Teacher's Introduction to Pathological Demand Avoidance
Publication year: 2021
Written by a teacher in special needs schools and alternative provisions who specialised in autism for over ten years. Her experience of working with PDA students, both in a classroom and in a more flexible environment, is invaluable and the book shares much of her learning and ideas for strategies that could work in a classroom.
Buy direct from Jessica Kingsley Publishers or from Amazon. (Also available as Audiobook).
Read my full review → here
I'm Not Upside Down, I'm Downside Up
Publication year: 2022
A children's book telling the story of a PDA autistic girl, with awesome illustrations by PDAer Mollie Sherwin.
Buy direct from Jessica Kingsley Publishers or from Amazon.
Read my full review → here
Born Naughty
Publication year: 2025
Written by Speech and Language Therapist Libby Hill. Experiences from her years of assessing and supporting families and children with Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA).
Buy from Amazon.
Read my full review → here
Super Shamlal
Publication year: 2019
A simple, illustrated storybook to help PDA children aged 7-11 to recognise PDA features, and develop tools to support them. A helpful introduction for parents and carers explaining how it feels to live with the panic attacks and general anxiety that are caused by living with PDA.
Buy direct from Jessica Kingsley Publishers or from Amazon.
Pretty Darn Awesome
Publication year: 2020
A story about a little boy with Pathological Demand Avoidance, looking at his daily struggles and amazing strengths. A useful introduction to PDA and a way to explain it positively to children, siblings, family members, teachers and classmates.
Buy from Amazon.
The Panda on PDA
Publication year: 2022
A positive, gentle and PDA-friendly guide for young children. From the viewpoint of a playful Panda who has PDA and is full of talents and strengths, but finds it very hard to do what others want.
Buy direct from Jessica Kingsley Publishers or from Amazon.
Understanding PDA: For Kids & Grown Ups
Publication year: 2023
The story is written from the viewpoint of a young boy who has been diagnosed with Pathological Demand Avoidance. He wants to try to explain what that means, and how it affects his ability to handle demands and expectations, although he acknowledges it can be difficult to put into words.
Buy from Amazon.
Read my full review → here
All About PDA
Publication year: 2024
From the author of All Cats Are On The Autism Spectrum, All Dogs Have ADHD, All Birds Have Anxiety and All About Dyspraxia. 65 glossy and beautiful pages that help to bring PDA to life, by using short informative statements that reflect the thoughts and feelings of PDAers.
Buy direct from Jessica Kingsley Publishers or from Amazon.
Read my full review → here
Olive's Day: Understanding and Navigating PDA
Publication year: 2025
The book follows a day in a young PDA girl’s life - from the moment she wakes up, through a school day and then back to home, showing some of the demands that PDAers encounter.
Buy from Amazon.
Read my full review → here
Navigating PDA in America
Publication year: 2024
An up-to-date source of all the information about PDA that is currently available, created for people in America. Written by Ruth Fidler and Diane Gould, a clinical social worker based in Illinois and founder of the PDA North America group.
Buy direct from Jessica Kingsley Publishers or from Amazon. (Also available as Audiobook).
Read my full review → here
The Explosive Child
Publication year: 1998
Not PDA specific but has proved helpful to many in the community. The author, Dr. Greene, is a clinical psychiatrist who has spent many years working with children and adolescents.
Buy from Amazon.
Read my review in my PDA books summary → here
Declarative Language Handbook
Publication year: 2020
Written by a speech and language pathologist, this book was intended to help everyone learn how to use everyday moments to teach and guide a child's social development. The strapline is 'Using a thoughtful language style to help kids with social learning challenges feel competent, connected and understood'. Not PDA specific but contains many example of phrases to use that will help PDA families.
Buy from Amazon. (Also available as Audiobook).
Read my full review → here
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