Jenna Bush Hager has named her April 2026 pick for her Read With Jenna Book Club. A stunning debut novel readers call “explosive,” the book is written by Woody Brown, the first nonspeaking autistic student to graduate from UCLA. In honor of Autism Awareness Month, Jenna’s pick is a fiction novel that tells the story of a nonspeaking autistic man inside an adult day care facility in Los Angeles. Pre-readers are giving a round of applause to Jenna’s April book club pick.
Jenna Announces April 2026 Book Club Pick
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On the April 1 episode of the Today Show, Jenna announced Upward Bound by Woody Brown as her book club pick for the month. In a social media post sharing the announcement, the Today Show shared:
“The April 2026 Read with Jenna selection is “Upward Bound” by Woody Brown! Brown, who is autistic and nonspeaking, wrote his debut novel about Upward Bound, a fictional adult day care in Southern California for individuals with disabilities.
“Upward Bound is available now at your local indie bookstore or wherever you get your books. Grab your copy today and read along with us!”
Early Praise and Reception
Published on March 31, 2026, Upward Bound is already earning accolades from readers and other authors alike.
“Implosive and wonderfully inspirational,” shared Booker Prize winner Paul Beatty.
Good Housekeeping calls the book, “A moving, illuminating glimpse into a world we rarely have access to.”
What Upward Bound Is About
Upward Bound is a fiction novel told through interconnected stories set inside an adult day care facility in Los Angeles. At the heart of the story is Walter, a nonspeaking autistic man whose experiences shape the narrative.
About Author Woody Brown
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Much like his main character, Woody Brown is nonspeaking and autistic. Brown uses a letter board to communicate, and in order to write Upward Bound, his debut novel, he dictated the book using a letter board while his mother transcribed it.
Related: 2008 Dystopian Novel Was Just Voted the ‘Best Book Ever’ by Goodreads
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