User Reviews
Rating: really liked it
"People aren't like books. A familiar book is always the same, always comforting and full of the same words and pictures. A familiar person can be new and challenging, no matter how many times you try to read them."I want to read more OwnVoices books with disability representation so why not start this journey with a middle grade story about a girl with autism? It already had rave reviews so I knew I was in for something good. I finished this book in two hours. Didn't want it to stop. It's set in a town near Edinburgh where centuries ago, countless women were killed because they were falsely accused of being witches. Many (many) years later, Addie, a young, autistic girl, finds out about the witch trials and starts a campaign to set up a monument in their town to honour the women that were killed and tortured simply for being different. Addie feels a close bond to them, because she is picked on and bullied at school by other pupils as well as her teacher. She only ever feels understood when she's with her older sister, who is also autistic, or when she's in the library reading about her favourite animals - sharks.
A Kind of Spark is an incredibly touching and powerful book. The characters are well-drawn and while I would have liked for this book to be longer, it was shown that everyone had their own struggles and flaws. I thought it was wonderful that Addie, despite the abuse she experienced at the hand of classmates and authority figures, stayed strong and blossomed. She is caring, passionate and smart. The writing was beautiful too and there were so many quotable lines that brought tears to my eyes. And I loved being back in Edinburgh for a short while, to hear familiar names of places that I love.
Every classroom library should have this little, powerful book on their shelves. It just goes to show how important OwnVoices books are. Many students might feel seen, others will learn to show kindness and compassion and to not underestimate someone simply because they are different to you.
And simply put, it's just a very good book.
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Rating: really liked it
A stunning, moving and powerful book with a main character a lot of people - children and adults - should look up to.
Addie is a young, autistic girl living in a small village near Edinburgh. When she learns about the innocent women who lost their lives during the witch trials centuries before, she makes it her mission to honour and memorialise them. Unfortunately, in a village where prejudice against anyone who is different is rife, Addie finds her mission to be much harder than she first realised.
Middle grade books with disability representation is very hard to come by, and 'A Kind of Spark' is Own Voices and written by a Neurodivergent writer. Elle McNicoll has done a phenomenal job at portraying the trials that autistic people have to face from neurotypical people. I am neurotypical and I didn't realise just how much I had to learn from Addie. I have come away from my experience reading this with a greater understanding of what it means to be autistic, and not just the differences, but the similarities between us. And as Addie says in the book, "But... while you may be neurotypical and I'm autistic, I promise. We are more alike than we are different."
The power and strength of Addie is inspiration to anyone who reads this. She sympathises with the innocent women who lost their lives centuries before, and demonstrates empathy far more than the adults in this text. Addie does not stop, even with every obstacle that is thrown her way. This book shows the power that children have in making change if we, as adults, give them a chance. Adults don't always know better.
Speaking of the adults, I severely hate Miss Murphy with a passion. She is the kind of person who should have read a book like this as a child so she could learn to not be prejudiced against people who are different. This book should be in every school library. It should be taught in classrooms. Adults should be made to read it so they avoid doing the infuriating things Miss Murphy does in this book.
I loved this book and it taught me so much. I would highly recommend reading it.
Rating: really liked it
Elle McNicoll’s debut book’s a sensitive exploration of what it means to be labelled as different and then treated as an outsider. It centres on 11-year-old Addie who lives in a village community close to Edinburgh, it’s a new school year and she’s suddenly confronted with a relentlessly mocking teacher and targeted by bullies intent on making life miserable. Addie’s being singled out because she’s autistic but then a classroom assignment about local women killed during the Scottish Witch Trials sparks her interest. Among her classmates only Addie fully grasps what life might have been like for women scapegoated and persecuted because they didn’t fit the rigid roles on offer. So, Addie campaigns for a memorial dedicated to them, a project that unexpectedly provides the means for Addie to assert herself and overcome her tormentors. McNicoll’s a neurodivergent author so she’s drawn on her own experiences here and her creation Addie’s an extremely convincing character. McNicoll’s a skilful writer, although there are a few heavy-handed passages here and there, and her ending’s a little rushed – not unusual in a first-time author’s work. But overall, I thought this was a really well-crafted, incredibly compelling piece, as it unfolded, I found myself completely immersed in Addie's story. McNicoll's publisher’s worth mentioning here too, it’s a small, independent “Knights Of” dedicated to diversity, inclusivity and actively supporting authors from under-represented backgrounds, if their other children's books are anywhere near as good as this one it’s definitely a list worth following.
Rating: really liked it
ENGLISH The autistic community sees... so much ableism, and so many people trying to tell our stories and speak for us. So to have a book like this, for children, means so much. I've already read this book twice, because I found it somewhat hard to read at first and wanted to give myself the opportunity to really let it sink in and to form an actual opinion on it. It wasn't hard at first because I didn't like the book, but because it hit a little too close to home and I read it at a time where I couldn't handle that very well. The second time I read it, I found it such an empowering book. Addie is an extremely relatable main character, even for me at 27 years old, and it gave me so much strength to see how she stood up for herself and dealt with her teacher's and classmate's bullying. I would highly recommend this to everyone who's autistic and everyone who wants to understand autistic people better.
DUTCH De autistische gemeenschap heeft te maken met zoveel validisme en stigma, en veel mensen proberen ons verhaal te vertellen en voor ons te praten. Dus een boek als dit, voor kinderen, betekent heel veel. Ik heb dit boek al twee keer gelezen, omdat ik het de eerste keer wat lastig vond om te lezen en ik mezelf de kans wilde geven om het boek te laten bezinken en er daadwerkelijk een mening over te vormen. De eerste keer was het niet lastig omdat ik het een slecht boek vond, maar omdat het iets te dichtbij kwam allemaal en ik het las op een moment waarop ik daar niet zo goed mee om kon gaan. De tweede keer dat ik het las vond ik het zo empowering. Addie is een enorm herkenbare hoofdpersoon, zelfs voor mij als 27-jarige, en het gaf me zoveel kracht om te zien hoe ze voor zichzelf opkwam en omging met het pesten van haar docent en klasgenoten. Ik zou dit enorm aanraden aan iedereen die autistisch is en aan iedereen die autistische mensen graag beter wil begrijpen.
CW for ableism and bullying
Rating: really liked it
Since the early nineties, autism was something that was rarely discussed and certainly never understood. Knowledge of and a window into what it means to be autistic in the world of children’s literature has been even scanter. The literature that I have encountered such as The London Eye Mystery and I Am Bat or My Brother Sammy have all been written by people who may have worked with or lived with children who are autistic but A Kind of Spark is, uniquely, a book which has been written who identifies as neurodivergent.
The story revolves around eleven year-old Addie who, having just begun a new year in school, finds herself subjected to bullying not only by a former-friend but also by her class teacher. Fortunately the school’s librarian is there to support her and a new girl, Audrey is also drawn to her character. Together, they become interested in a deep-rooted hidden story around there little, Scottish town of Juniper which tells of a group of witches who were murdered not for their recorded crimes but for their difference. With the help and guidance of her older sister Keedie, who is also autistic, Addie works tirelessly to have a plaque erected in order to honour those women who spent their lives being misunderstood and mistreated.
A Kind of Spark may have a story about acceptance and understanding as its central thread but this takes nothing away from the fact that the story itself is engaging and finely plotted. I enjoyed finding out about why it was Addie’s elder twin sisters were so at odds with each other, or why Keedie desperately struggled with University Life. All the characters felt real and there was a well-woven and steady pace throughout the whole story. The cherry on the top of this already very well-written story though was being gifted with a glimpse into the world through the eyes of someone who is autistic.
For a debut, McNicoll has achieved something remarkable here. Not only does she present us with a much-needed, authentic insight into what it is to think and be autistic but A Kind of Spark is also an impassioned plea to allow others who are autistic to no longer feel that they must hide who they are in order to ‘fit in’. As a community of readers, it invites us to understand, acknowledge and accept the way autistic people see and live in the world – their joys and their constant struggles. Yes, there is humour here and tension too but there is also a refreshingly unique and beautiful voice that defies boxing in and invites all non-neuro-divergent readers to re-examine everything that they thought before. Perhaps most importantly though, McNicoll presents other autistic readers with something they may never have known they wanted or perhaps had given up searching for: a mirror (as Professor Rudine Sims Bishop would say) and that is a very special gift indeed.
Rating: really liked it
I was contacted by Knights Of and the PR team behind A Kind Of Spark through Instagram if I would be interested as an #actuallyautistic reviewer in giving Elle's debut book a try. My review is from the proof copy I was sent!
Wow. Holy hell. A Kind of Spark was such a relatable and gut-wrenching book that at times, I found myself blinking back tears. There were some hardships that the main character Addie had that I've had as well in my life such as being bullied by a teacher. Addie herself lives with her parents and twin older sisters in a village in Scotland and is struggling to get her voice heard. After learning about witches during a class, she decides to campaign for a memorial to those women who were wrongly accused of witchcraft and died in her village. Along the way, she struggles with bullying, trying to find a sense of purpose and belonging in the community and the determination to accomplish a dream. Short, quick read but really impactful with strong messages!
T/W- Bullying, Ableism
Rating: really liked it
It takes a lot for a book to make me cry.
Even though I feel stories deeply, and my heart lives and dies with the characters, I don’t usually cry.
But then most books don’t represent me.
This book made me cry, not because it is sad, but because it is everything I needed this book to be.
Had I this book when I was a child maybe, maybe I’d have realised sooner that not only is not being normal ok, it can actually be a superpower. Maybe I’d have felt less out of place. Maybe it would of hurt less.
And maybe, if others read it too, they’ll understand. Maybe they’ll be a bit kinder to those of us who are different. Maybe they’ll realise that being autistic isn’t something to be shamed, it is something to be admired.
Elle McNicoll debut novel is a must read. It is perfect for all genders and all ages. Set in a blustery Scotland with a project of the witch trials at it’s centre, this is the perfect book to snuggle down with on a rainy autumn day.
Rating: really liked it
When Addie starts to learn about the witch trials in her hometown, she understand that there's more to them than just their story. Just as she knows there's more to her. Addie is autistic. She sees the world through different eyes, with a different mind. But can she challenge the way other people see her, when she fights for a memorial plaque for the witches of the past?
I'm struggling with how to write my review of this because I feel it's such an important book to read, and I can't quite express how much I want everyone to read it. I've given it 4 stars, but this, I cannot stress enough, is purely due to my own personal taste plot wise. I'm not a massive fan of contemporary or witches. This takes nothing away from how amazing this book is. Written by an own voices, neurodivergent author, you can really feel Addie's emotions and struggles because you know just how real they are. Every injustice, every act of unfairness, stands out and hits the reader in the gut. So many times I wanted to cry when an unkind word is thrown Addie's way, and when an adult dismisses her feelings and opinions.
I'm neurotypical, and I can never fully understand what it feels like to traverse a world that isn't designed with me in mind. To have lights that physically hurt me, and to feel so overpowered by my surroundings that I can't cope. To mask who I really am every single day, just to fit in. But I can educate myself. I can read stories like this, I can put stories like this into my children's hands (one of whom is neurodivergent) and I can try to gain an insight into their world.
Be kind. Be open. Be different.
Rating: really liked it
A beautiful, heartfelt, lyrical and warm book about speaking up and being proud of who you are. For anyone 8+, but readers of all ages will take something special from this book. An incredibly assured debut.
*Please note: this review is meant as a recommendation only. Please do not use it in any marketing material, online or in print, without asking permission from me first. Thank you!*
Rating: really liked it
There is a lot of story in this juvenile fiction novel! The main character, Addie, is 11-years-old, autistic, and struggling with her new classroom teacher and a new student who has joined their class this year. Addie has a lot of depth and readers are able to get "into her head" and realize the extent to which she has to mask her autism at times, the passion she has for causes that are important to her, and the complicated family dynamics between Addie and her older sisters - twins, one of which is also autistic. (Through this reading, I also learned that Addie prefers to be referred to as autistic, not as "having autism". Addie says, "It's something you are, not something you have.") Although she is grossly misunderstood, and mistreated, by her homeroom teacher, Addie finds comfort in the school library and support from the school librarian, as well as her family.
A Kind of Spark was written by a neurodivergent author, Elle McNicoll, who is also autistic like the main character. This amazing book should be read by everyone - especially upper elementary, middle, and high school students AND their teachers. – Diana F.
Rating: really liked it
If you had to read one book about autism, let it be this one.
(Full review to come)
Rating: really liked it
'For all children with happy, flapping hands.'Geweldig boek! Goed in veel opzichten, er zat een hoop in!
'People aren't like books. A familiar book is always the same, always comforting and full of the same words and pictures. A familiar person can be new and challenging, no matter how many times you try to read them.'
'It's better to be open about who you really are, what you're really like, and be disliked by a few than it is to hide who you are and be tolerated by many.
[...]
Be like you.'
'That's what bullies do. They try to make you feel bad about the good things that you have. The things that they want.
Rating: really liked it
a tender and impactful story that’s equally heart warming and heartbreaking. a wonderful book for children and adults alike.
Rating: really liked it
Wow.
In the beginning, this book may read like a children's book. I'm not a fan of protagonists that are children, since I am not a child anymore. But this book hit different. I got immersed in the story right away.
I've read a fair share of books that tackle autism and autistic people's lives. They were all so different and good in their own way, but A Kind of Spark is truly accessible for everyone.
It deals with ableism in a painful way. Addie has to endure so much verbal abuse that it physically hurt me. It hurts that there's still people in the world like the ableist characters in this book. That is not okay. But what's so beautiful about this book is that it speaks about autism myths and debunks them right away. This story could teach so many people about autism, about how to respect people in general, about simply living your own life in your own way. That you are enough. That's so important.
Rating: really liked it
A Kind of Spark tells the story of 11-year-old Addie as she campaigns for a memorial in memory of the witch trials that took place in her Scottish hometown. Addie knows there's more to the story of these 'witches', just like there is more to hers. Can Addie challenge how the people in her town see her, and her autism, and make her voice heard?
This debut novel from a neurodivergent writer offers an utterly convincing and hugely likeable narrative voice. Challenging many myths and a stereotypes, for example autism equals no emotions/empathy. With Addie’s twin sister also on the spectrum, we are reminded that there are ‘many different ways to be autistic’. This story gives a great insight into what it's like to be autistic, but the points are never forced or laboured.
A school history project about witch trials turns into a bit of a crusade for Addie as she identifies with the women who were unjustly targeted for being different. We see some ignorance and unpleasantness in the present time and that even adults can be bullies. We are also reminded what a phoney place the world of social media can be. But above all, we revel in joining Addie in her fight for equality and truth.
Overall A Kind of Spark is a lovely story about difference and about acceptance. It's a short, sweet and accessible read, but with a lot to say. A wonderful book no matter your age, neurodivergence, or gender. I think this is a book that could inspire important conversations.
