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A review by lawbooks600
Finding My Voice by Aoife Dooley
lighthearted
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
4.0
Representation: Main and side characters with autism, a physical disability and dyslexia, Black characters
Trigger warnings: Bullying, divorce
Score: Seven points out of ten.
I wanted to read this for a while and after a long period later I finally picked it up and read it. When I finished it I had so many thoughts about this book, for one I haven't seen a main character with this attribute in ages, specifically months ago and for another this was another enjoyable novel though it doesn't hold up to other ones I've enjoyed more. Did I mention this was the second book in a series yet the library didn't bother to get the first one yet? I get that this can be read as a standalone but I'm a little dissatisfied at my library. It starts with the main character Frankie (wait, I've heard of that name before) who has autism at least according to the book. She transferred to a new school and already there are some points I want to talk about, Frankie said almost none of her friends from her old school came here and there are some as far as I know, reasonable rules; Frankie thinks otherwise. A critical plot point is the Battle of the Bands at school and since Frankie likes music she decides to join in. However at that point the antagonist arrives whose name I forgot who knows Frankie has autism (it's complicated how she knows but she is the daughter of Frankie's biological mother who left) and she's still a bully if she was one in the first book. That character would even go as far as to frame Frankie which I found disgusting and the solution? Crash her party which when I think about it doesn't make much sense but there's some footage now of that character talking about Frankie, that's understandable. The ending was wholesome as the antagonist during the band competition didn't receive much praise (From this point on everyone knows Frankie has autism.) Frankie's band did. Wow. I'm wondering if there could be a third book in the series, and in that case I'd be happy to read it.
Trigger warnings: Bullying, divorce
Score: Seven points out of ten.
I wanted to read this for a while and after a long period later I finally picked it up and read it. When I finished it I had so many thoughts about this book, for one I haven't seen a main character with this attribute in ages, specifically months ago and for another this was another enjoyable novel though it doesn't hold up to other ones I've enjoyed more. Did I mention this was the second book in a series yet the library didn't bother to get the first one yet? I get that this can be read as a standalone but I'm a little dissatisfied at my library. It starts with the main character Frankie (wait, I've heard of that name before) who has autism at least according to the book. She transferred to a new school and already there are some points I want to talk about, Frankie said almost none of her friends from her old school came here and there are some as far as I know, reasonable rules; Frankie thinks otherwise. A critical plot point is the Battle of the Bands at school and since Frankie likes music she decides to join in. However at that point the antagonist arrives whose name I forgot who knows Frankie has autism (it's complicated how she knows but she is the daughter of Frankie's biological mother who left) and she's still a bully if she was one in the first book. That character would even go as far as to frame Frankie which I found disgusting and the solution? Crash her party which when I think about it doesn't make much sense but there's some footage now of that character talking about Frankie, that's understandable. The ending was wholesome as the antagonist during the band competition didn't receive much praise (From this point on everyone knows Frankie has autism.) Frankie's band did. Wow. I'm wondering if there could be a third book in the series, and in that case I'd be happy to read it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying