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buttermellow's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Bullying, Panic attacks/disorders, and Ableism
emtees's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
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? It's complicated
4.0
This is a great middle-grade book for kids looking to learn more about autism from an autistic perspective. One of the authors is an autistic girl and the story draws heavily on her own experiences. It manages the balance between depicting one person’s specific experience of autism while still providing a lot of general information.
Tally is an eleven-year old girl going through a lot of typical childhood situations - a new school year, trouble with friends, arguments with her parents and sister - but with the added complication of the way her autism impacts her life. One of Tally’s greatest frustrations is that the people around her, including her own family, think they know what autism is and aren’t always interested in her experiences; instead, they are quick to judge her behavior from their own limited understanding. Tally keeps a diary that is half reflection on her daily life, half explanations of autism written at her own level, which she dreams of someday showing to the world so that they will understand autism as an experience, not just a clinical diagnosis. The diary is a great tool within the book, since it provides a way to explain different aspects of Tally’s autism which are then depicted in the narrative part of the story, keeping the whole thing from feeling too preachy.
Tally is a great character; she is complex, flawed and endearing in ways that are both related to her autism and also just specific to her as a person. Probably because of how much she is based on a real person, she feels very much like a real eleven-year old. The story itself is pretty straightforward but enlivened by the intense emotions brought out in Tally.
Tally is an eleven-year old girl going through a lot of typical childhood situations - a new school year, trouble with friends, arguments with her parents and sister - but with the added complication of the way her autism impacts her life. One of Tally’s greatest frustrations is that the people around her, including her own family, think they know what autism is and aren’t always interested in her experiences; instead, they are quick to judge her behavior from their own limited understanding. Tally keeps a diary that is half reflection on her daily life, half explanations of autism written at her own level, which she dreams of someday showing to the world so that they will understand autism as an experience, not just a clinical diagnosis. The diary is a great tool within the book, since it provides a way to explain different aspects of Tally’s autism which are then depicted in the narrative part of the story, keeping the whole thing from feeling too preachy.
Tally is a great character; she is complex, flawed and endearing in ways that are both related to her autism and also just specific to her as a person. Probably because of how much she is based on a real person, she feels very much like a real eleven-year old. The story itself is pretty straightforward but enlivened by the intense emotions brought out in Tally.
Moderate: Bullying and Ableism
The main character is autistic and experiences ableism and bullying. The narrative condemns these but not every situation is resolved in a way that feels fair.jesse_5's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
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? Yes
5.0
This is the second time I have read this book . The first was well before i had even considered I was autistic (myself many other people had mentioned it) and then nearly a year after being diagnosed. This book is truly incredible it made me learn about myself so much initially and has helped me learn to unmask.
Graphic: Ableism and Bullying
Moderate: Toxic friendship
Minor: Vomit
No one does vomit in the book but Tally briefly mentions she feels like she is going tomirte21's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.0
Graphic: Bullying and Ableism
lindseyisreading's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Minor: Ableism and Bullying
13megreads's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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
5.0
Graphic: Ableism and Bullying
Be mindful if you have some unpleasant memories from when you started secondary school (or whatever the equivalent is), because it is very realistic to what that is like.flordemaga's review
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
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
4.0
Moderate: Bullying and Ableism
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