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coraleva1993's review against another edition
5.0
I picked up “A Kind of Spark” by Elle McNicoll yesterday and I couldn't put it down. It is honestly one of the best stories I have ever read. McNicoll's debut novel yells the story of 11-year-old Addie, who is campaigning for a memorial in memory of the witch trials that took place in her Scottish hometown.
She can see the parallels of their stories and how her own, and wants to change the way her classmates, neighbours and people in her village see her and other autistic people.
Innocent, heartbreaking and wholesome, Addie is a hugely likeable and convincing heroine.
Born from the author’s own experiences, this story challenges myths surrounding autism, and the more we see this represented in fiction, the better. A short, gentle but powerful read. So add it to your list, because it is so worth it.
She can see the parallels of their stories and how her own, and wants to change the way her classmates, neighbours and people in her village see her and other autistic people.
Innocent, heartbreaking and wholesome, Addie is a hugely likeable and convincing heroine.
Born from the author’s own experiences, this story challenges myths surrounding autism, and the more we see this represented in fiction, the better. A short, gentle but powerful read. So add it to your list, because it is so worth it.
emilyromanallama's review against another edition
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
csgmoore's review
emotional
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? No
5.0
lipsillen's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
thecandiegirl's review
emotional
informative
inspiring
medium-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? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gaslighting and Bullying
Minor: Forced institutionalization and Violence
hewlettelaine's review against another edition
5.0
Devoured this in 2 days - absolutely spectacular book!
Set in Scotland, Addie is an 11yr old with autism trying to get by in a world that can feel impossible to navigate. When she learns about her town's history of witch trials, she sets out to acknowledge the suffering of people who were punished for being different.
I loved this so much. Addie is such a wonderful character and the descriptions of how she experiences her autism and what she has to do to manage it are really well done. The hard parts of her life are not sugar-coated at all and there are episodes that were genuinely difficult to read, but overall this was such an emotional and heartwarming story.
Best suited to older children but a must read!
Set in Scotland, Addie is an 11yr old with autism trying to get by in a world that can feel impossible to navigate. When she learns about her town's history of witch trials, she sets out to acknowledge the suffering of people who were punished for being different.
I loved this so much. Addie is such a wonderful character and the descriptions of how she experiences her autism and what she has to do to manage it are really well done. The hard parts of her life are not sugar-coated at all and there are episodes that were genuinely difficult to read, but overall this was such an emotional and heartwarming story.
Best suited to older children but a must read!
willow_axolotl376's review against another edition
5.0
I absolutely loved this book, I like that the author is autistic, I like that I feel represented, I like how that character is likeable and autism is explained in a positive way. ♡