Reviews with content warning for Panic attacks/disorders - A Kind of Spark

A Kind of Spark is a sparkling debut that will serve to make a whole generation of autistic kids feel less lonely, and never worthless. Addie's story is not only informative in the straightforward ways necessary to increase empathy for autistic people, but shows her learning to make sense of the depth of her emotions and why some narratives affect her so deeply, so that she may own her story and tell it for herself. I'll admit that it took me three tries to get through this book, as the bullying Addie experiences from both her teacher and her peers was so upsetting to read. Yet I think describing these expressions of bigotry is important to guide young people to grow into adults who are primed to recognize ableism in all its manifestations, and prepared to fight against it.

In her older sister Keedie, Addie has her own guide of how to recognize and respond to ableism. Keedie, also autistic, is hinted to have endured even more ableism as a young girl, and serves in her early adulthood as the protective figure Addie needs that she never had herself. I found their relationship extremely endearing and relevant, as there are a number of autistic adults who are so interested in improving the treatment of autistic children because we know that while some things are too late for us, these children still have an opportunity to grow up in a kinder world. Yet as Keedie aptly points out, autistic people of all ages have our valuable perspectives regularly dismissed or met with hatred for a number of paradoxical reasons, and some of us end up permanently institutionalized for our inability to mask as neurotypical. These are difficult and upsetting concepts for children to have to make sense of, but I don't think comprehension is beyond them. A Kind of Spark lays out an age appropriate foundation for young people to see the ableist injustices of today for what they are, an unwinnable system as nonsensical and unacceptable as the witch trials of hundreds of years prior.

I highly recommend this book to other readers of all ages, and would love to see it added to school reading lists and utilized in the classroom. Though Addie's story has a rough start, it ends on an empowering note reminding those of us who are persecuted for our differences that we are worth having our stories told and remembered.

Content Warnings

bananacake's review against another edition

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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

4.0

Content Warnings

bronsonmh's review against another edition

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challenging emotional informative reflective sad medium-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? It's complicated

5.0

Thank you to Netgalley and publishers for an ARC for an honest review

I thought this was such a beautiful book. 'A Kind of Spark' is Own Voices and written by a Neurodivergent writer. Elle McNicoll. Addie the main character who is also neurodivergent lives in a small village in Scotland. She is having trouble to get people to understand who she is. When her teacher starts to talk about the women from the village who were burned at the stake because people thought they were witches Addie sees these women like her, misunderstood. She tries to get a memorial put up so they would not forget and to also say we are sorry. I think all children and even adults should read this middle grade. We can all learn from Addie.

Content Warnings

serendipitysbooks's review against another edition

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challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective sad 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

4.25

A Kind of Spark tells the story of Addie who is determined that her village install a memorial to the women tried as witches centuries before. Addie is autistic and this book portrays autism in a very positive way, despite the hurdles Addie and her sister have to overcome. I did find it a little info-dumpy at times, but thought the tie-in between autism and being labelled a witch was clever and well-done. If you want a character to truly despise Addie’s teacher certainly fits the bill. She’s a perfect example of what not to do to any child. Argh.

Content Warnings