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gracecooper's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism and Bullying
ns44's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I love this book , it's so beautiful and I still cry every time I read it . I don't think it's my favourite Elle Mcnicoll book but it was my first and it's very special to me .
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism and Bullying
Moderate: Forced institutionalization
Minor: Toxic friendship
juliette_95's review
fast-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying and Ableism
kvree801's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism
bethancy's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Hate crime, Forced institutionalization, and Ableism
mathildemroy's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism
queenoffirestone's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
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? It's complicated
5.0
I've read this and also seen the show (which you can stream for free without an account on byu TV by the way) and as usual the book is better. Shows can't get nearly as in depth as books can. Especially with an autistic main character who is masking hard and whose words and appearance do not usually match her thoughts and feelings. Also the show didn't have Bonnie.
Bonnie's story was very painful to read for me. She wasn't involved in the present timeline, we never actually meet her, but she's Keedie's friend who was institutionalized. She's an inspiration for a lot of Addie's fear and indignance about the witches. I'm autistic too and I've spent about a year in residential treatment and the psych hospital- 7 months, 3 months at a time. I've had an ambulance called on me for having a meltdown in public. I can't speak. Addie's fears are real, Bonnie is proof, and Bonnie is me.
Addie is a cute but formidable young student and I'm wary of discussing good/bad autism representation because the lower support needs autistic community usually dismisses people on a different part of the spectrum when praising characters like them for being good representation but Addie is both like them and good representation.
This story has good messages about standing up for yourself, enforcing boundaries, and how to handle situations. It does get dark but in a way that I think only stands out to people who already understand that darkness so I think this is a great book for adults and any struggling preteen neurodivergent people you might know alike. I can almost guarantee you they already know about anxiety and trying to fit in.
Addie is a cute but formidable young student and I'm wary of discussing good/bad autism representation because the lower support needs autistic community usually dismisses people on a different part of the spectrum when praising characters like them for being good representation but Addie is both like them and good representation.
This story has good messages about standing up for yourself, enforcing boundaries, and how to handle situations. It does get dark but in a way that I think only stands out to people who already understand that darkness so I think this is a great book for adults and any struggling preteen neurodivergent people you might know alike. I can almost guarantee you they already know about anxiety and trying to fit in.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying and Ableism
Moderate: Forced institutionalization and Toxic friendship
Minor: Torture and Panic attacks/disorders
skylarkblue1's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Representations: https://trello.com/c/VAfrX6An/77-a-kind-of-spark-by-elle-mcnicoll
Love that kids have books like these nowadays, and despite the fact I've not watched it yet it's so delightful to know the BBC have seemingly also given it so much support!
The story is quite simple and to-the-point. Addie - who's autistic - learns about witch trials that happened in her town and it effects her a lot more than anyone realised. She sees herself in the so-called "witches" and the bigotry she faces in the modern day just for being autistic. So, she fights for a memorial plaque to apologise to the women who lost their lives and to never let them be forgotten.
Naturally, absolutely wonderful representation. The contrast between adult autism and child autism and showing absolutely for sure that it is not something you grow out of and the harm behind that misconception is critically important.
This book tackles masking, burnouts and meltdowns, ableism of multiple forms and even forced institutionalisation of autistic people. It does get heavy, but it gets very real and all the problems are very real problems us autistic people face.
It's also about joy and family, finding good friends and standing up for yourself and what you really believe in. It's a happy story overall I would say, the negativity doesn't define Addie or her sister Keedie.
Just a note about something mentioned in the ending though, not all neurodiverse people are autistic!!! The opposite of autistic is allistic! Neurodiversity isn't a direct substitute for autistic, autism is just under the neurodiverse umbrella!!!
Also as a note for " Are the flaws of the main character(s) a main focus of the book? " and people saying yes to it, autism is not a flaw. The flaws are from the other characters around her and their bigoted beliefs. Autism is a part of Addie and always will be - it is not a choice, nor something that can be changed - it is not a flaw.
Love that kids have books like these nowadays, and despite the fact I've not watched it yet it's so delightful to know the BBC have seemingly also given it so much support!
The story is quite simple and to-the-point. Addie - who's autistic - learns about witch trials that happened in her town and it effects her a lot more than anyone realised. She sees herself in the so-called "witches" and the bigotry she faces in the modern day just for being autistic. So, she fights for a memorial plaque to apologise to the women who lost their lives and to never let them be forgotten.
Naturally, absolutely wonderful representation. The contrast between adult autism and child autism and showing absolutely for sure that it is not something you grow out of and the harm behind that misconception is critically important.
This book tackles masking, burnouts and meltdowns, ableism of multiple forms and even forced institutionalisation of autistic people. It does get heavy, but it gets very real and all the problems are very real problems us autistic people face.
It's also about joy and family, finding good friends and standing up for yourself and what you really believe in. It's a happy story overall I would say, the negativity doesn't define Addie or her sister Keedie.
Just a note about something mentioned in the ending though, not all neurodiverse people are autistic!!! The opposite of autistic is allistic! Neurodiversity isn't a direct substitute for autistic, autism is just under the neurodiverse umbrella!!!
Also as a note for " Are the flaws of the main character(s) a main focus of the book? " and people saying yes to it, autism is not a flaw. The flaws are from the other characters around her and their bigoted beliefs. Autism is a part of Addie and always will be - it is not a choice, nor something that can be changed - it is not a flaw.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism and Bullying
Moderate: Forced institutionalization
Ableist Slurs, Autistic Meltdowns & Burnout.nica_chan's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Misogyny and Sexism
_p0ssum_'s review against another edition
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism and Bullying