JKP to publish autistic teen activist's 'inspiring guide to life'

Jessica Kingsley Publishers (JKP) has commissioned "an inspiring guide to life" from Siena Castellon, an autistic teen activist who won the BBC Radio 1 Teen Hero Award for her advocacy work and anti-bullying campaigning.

In The Autistic Teenage Girl’s Survival Guide, 16-year-old Castellon will provide information and advice across a range of areas, including appearance, hygiene, sexuality, gender identity, mental health, social and romantic relationships, school life, safety, self-esteem and advocacy.

Billed as "accessible and positive", Castellon's writing draws on her own experiences and the knowledge she has gained through mentoring others, having set up her own online mentoring and support service for young people with special educational needs when she was 13. JKP acquired world rights and will publish the debut in autumn 2020.

Senior commissioning editor Andrew James said: “Siena is the perfect fit for JKP, and her passionate campaigning reflects our own continuing mission to raise awareness of autism, especially in girls and women who are so often left out of the picture. She is an inspiration not just to autistic girls, but to everyone, and we’re honoured to be working with her.”

JKP became an imprint of John Murray Press after it was bought by Hachette UK in November 2017. Sanphy Thomas, formerly of SAGE, took the reins as JKP m.d. in July of last year.