At just eight years old, Jomo Jesus Thomas Suriel is already a bestselling author with a mission that punches far above his age — to end the stereotypes that have long followed children and people on the autism spectrum, and to give every neurodivergent child the emotional tools they need to thrive.
“It’s time to end the stereotypes of success and kids and people with autism are slow, not smart or maybe less successful in life,” says Jomo. “Elon Musk, multi-billionaire, entrepreneur, and one of the most successful and richest people in the world, admitted to being on the autism spectrum as he has Asperger.” The young author’s message is clear: neurodivergence is not a limitation — and the right environment, the right stories, and the right emotional tools can make all the difference.
A Mission Born From Personal Experience
Jomo began writing books about anger management at the age of four, driven by a desire to help himself and other children learn to manage their emotions. Encouraged by his father, Jomo Gamal Thomas, who helped him illustrate his books and develop educational software games, Jomo turned a personal journey into a full-fledged literary mission.
His books center on two superhero characters — Sid the Super Happy Kid and Laura the Emotions Explorer — whose adventures take young readers through emotionally charged situations that mirror real challenges children face. The stories are designed to build emotional literacy, self-awareness, and coping skills, particularly for neurodivergent learners who are often over-medicated rather than taught the emotional intelligence skills that can transform their lives.
Award-Winning Stories That Resonate
In The Emotions Volcano, Sid and Laura embark on space adventures to Planet Moodswing, helping other children who are overwhelmed by the stress of an upcoming math test. In the sequel, The Angry Vacuum, they must contend with an out-of-control AI robot whose emotions — and the emotions of the children around it — spiral out of control when a teacher forgets to set a timer. The lesson: emotional regulation is a learnable skill, and even technology needs to learn it.
Both books have won the prestigious Literary Titan Gold Award, making Jomo one of the youngest recipients in the award’s history. His books consistently earn five-star ratings on Goodreads and have claimed multiple spots on Amazon’s bestseller list for children’s picture books.
Expanding the Series — and the Impact
Jomo has now expanded his emotional intelligence children’s book series to four titles, with a fifth on the way — The Critical Critters — which will tackle managing self-doubt and building positive self-talk and self-awareness in young children.
Beyond writing, Jomo is homeschooled at the Clifton Academy, takes college courses, and is fluent in English and Spanish while also studying Hebrew and Mandarin. His reach extends globally, with parents and educators across the world responding warmly to stories that treat children — including neurodivergent children — as capable, resilient, and full of potential.
For more information, visit thesmartbraintrainacademy.com. Books are available on Amazon.
