Scan barcode
creativeworld's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
4.75
I loved this as much as I loved A Kind of Spark, I'm so glad these books exist. They are what I needed as an autistic child. (I had to knock a little off my rating as my copy had a few typos that bothered me a little but nevertheless wonderfully written) I love Keedie's sense of justice and how she found comfort in helping others
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism and Bullying
teavampyr's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
riverlasol's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
4.0
Much like the original book this is prequel for, I liked a lot but not enough to have as much of an impact as the show adaptation that really got to delve deeper into the issues raised. That being said, I love this book for showing that Keedie is, in fact, queer like I suspected! Yay! And it was a great, complicated look at bullying when you're autistic and an older sibling.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism and Bullying
Minor: Dementia
missindyrose's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism and Bullying
alexcrin's review against another edition
5.0
I don't have the right words for how much this book and A Kind of Spark mean to me. Reading autistic stories feels like being shown that you've been wearing a blindfold your entire life while people have told you to just open your eyes. I adore Keedie and I connect so so deeply with her and her wonderful righteous anger
anniekslibrary's review against another edition
4.0
I was finally able to watch A Kind of Spark, and figured I should read Keedie right after. I've loved Keedie SO much since I read A Kind of Spark, I loved her in the show, and I once again loved her so much here! I also loved seeing Addie at a younger age, with Keedie and her family figuring out she's autistic too.
skylarkblue1's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Representations: https://trello.com/c/4xFdu0RV/114-a-kind-of-spark-0-keedie-by-elle-mcnicoll
This was a very hard read for me, but I couldn't stop reading it for very long. Absolutely a book that everyone must read at least once, especially kids in school.
I loved the characters so much, even the complete assholes. Though while characters like Keedie, Addie, Nina and similar where pretty well rounded out, characters like Bonnie and Angel while feeling important really didn't get much development at all. I know kids books keep on getting larger and larger and it is an issue.. but I do feel like it could have used an extra scene or 2 just spending more time with those 2 instead of us just being told about them.
Of course, not too much about the world and a plot. This is a very character focused book, building on characters and topics explored in A Kind of Spark. Only thing was I'm not too sure about what happened to the forced institutionalisation which was a decent sized topic in A Kind of Spark, but didn't seem to get reached in this book. The history about the town was nice but small, and the bullying storylines was very well explored.
If you're autistic though and faced ableist bullying, restraining, or any other related topics then this will be a hard read for you. It's very frank, very honest and brutal. It's not a happy go lucky read, it might make you happy at some point but this is more a book to find who you are, know you're not alone, and for those who aren't autistic to learn more and learn empathy.
This was a very hard read for me, but I couldn't stop reading it for very long. Absolutely a book that everyone must read at least once, especially kids in school.
I loved the characters so much, even the complete assholes. Though while characters like Keedie, Addie, Nina and similar where pretty well rounded out, characters like Bonnie and Angel while feeling important really didn't get much development at all. I know kids books keep on getting larger and larger and it is an issue.. but I do feel like it could have used an extra scene or 2 just spending more time with those 2 instead of us just being told about them.
Of course, not too much about the world and a plot. This is a very character focused book, building on characters and topics explored in A Kind of Spark. Only thing was I'm not too sure about what happened to the forced institutionalisation which was a decent sized topic in A Kind of Spark, but didn't seem to get reached in this book. The history about the town was nice but small, and the bullying storylines was very well explored.
If you're autistic though and faced ableist bullying, restraining, or any other related topics then this will be a hard read for you. It's very frank, very honest and brutal. It's not a happy go lucky read, it might make you happy at some point but this is more a book to find who you are, know you're not alone, and for those who aren't autistic to learn more and learn empathy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Emotional abuse
Minor: Self harm, Dementia, and War
meg_seekings's review against another edition
5.0
I adored A Kind Of Spark a few years back, and was so happy that it won our Children's Book Prize. I've enjoyed Elle's subsequent books for kids, and enjoyed the TV adaptation of AKOS last year. What a joy to be back in Juniper for Keedie - an AKOS prequel focusing on Addie's older sister (you guessed it) Keedie. While I'm a little over the target demographic for AKOS, it is probably no exaggeration to say that reading it (alongside other things) helped to send me down a path of realising that I see myself in the characters, and think that I am neurodivergent. Reading Keedie now, when I've started on the journey of trying to get myself a diagnosis, feels so special - and I adored the story. There are some tie-ins with AKOS but you by no means need to have read that one, and I can't wait to get introducing new readers to Elle's work through Keedie. It's a lovely book, for all kids (and grown-ups) and I couldn't help thinking about what it might have meant to have stories like this available to me at a young age. Elle's books will genuinely be changing kids lives and that is so so beautiful.
matilda19's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.75
pheebsamelia's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0