Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

A Kind of Spark by Elle McNicoll

3 reviews

myarae's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

I can’t explain how much this book meant to me, reading it as an adult who is months into realizing they’ve been autistic their entire life. This was so deeply healing and cathartic to read; I see so much of my inner child and my younger self in the main character Addie, and my current self who just finished university and was destroyed by autistic burnout in the character of her older sister Keedie. I wish I had this book when I was younger and I’m so happy it exists <3
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penofpossibilities's review against another edition

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emotional informative inspiring fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

Cried a couple of times. Its the first kids book ive read with such explicit autistic rep. I felt very jealous at the mc for having so many words to explain her autism to others. I could relate alot to her experiences but not the way she could express herself and stand up for herself. I did not have those words as a kid. Im glad some kids do and that this book could be meaningful for them. I did not like the whiteness of the autism rep though, it talked about how its more  difficult for high support needs autistics but not about intersectionality of ableism and racism and that was a pity. There was not enough intersectionality in the advocacy of this book in general and I also did not like the language policing; two times the mc says that autism is not something you have but autistic is something you are and the mc says it like that is a fact. But not all autistics feel that way so it felt a bit exclusive :/ also at the end the mc says everyone in the town is good now bcs they recognised one wrong thing in history but that is very simplified and again I feel like thats such a white perspective that largely ignores how dangerous it still is to be poc and autistic or having intersecting disabilities etc. I still rate it 4 stars despite these issues bcs its a really special book and I wish I had it as a child. It made me feel closer to my self and it made me feel validated.
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someonelikeblue's review

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emotional funny informative inspiring sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Loveable characters? Yes
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