The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
amelia_douglas's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
I am normally really hesitant about going into kids books but this on was just incredible. The plot and the message were just so beautifully written and I would recommend to all other autistic people.Â
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism
tea_at_mole_end's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism and Grief
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Medical content
willowtree7's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
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? Yes
4.75
Oh my god wow. I finished A Kind of Spark and was keen on reading more of Elles work and picked this up next. I wasn’t really sure what to expect and I didn’t read into the synopsis to know what I was in for.Â
not sure how much or what will end up being spoiled ahead, but using the tags for safety. At first I loved that the main character in this book was also autistic. I love seeing more autism representation in literature, especially positive.Â
I was not prepared for what happened to Adrien. It wasn’t like a huge out of left field moment, but I still wasn’t expecting it to happen when it did. I’m so glad he made it out okay. Even if he didn’t, Cora grew so much from his accident that I feel like she’d matured enough to better handle his passing if she needed it.Â
This book messed me up just as much as AKOS. Would highly recommend.
I was not prepared for what happened to Adrien. It wasn’t like a huge out of left field moment, but I still wasn’t expecting it to happen when it did. I’m so glad he made it out okay. Even if he didn’t, Cora grew so much from his accident that I feel like she’d matured enough to better handle his passing if she needed it.Â
This book messed me up just as much as AKOS. Would highly recommend.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Gaslighting, Ableism, Cancer, Car accident, Emotional abuse, Grief, and Medical content
Minor: Death of parent
visorforavisor's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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? No
5.0
 Elle McNicoll is a supreme writer. I’m eighteen years old and I cried many many times while reading it.
I’ve never seen such a beautiful exploration of the fact that we are seen as our best when we seem the least autistic.
Cora and Adrien fulfil one of my favourite tropes ever (autistic-and-ADHD friendship), and are so perfectly written. There’s such a joyful celebration of ND kids in this book and it really gave me hope. Cora is what I wish I’d been at that age.
Thoroughly recommend.
I’ve never seen such a beautiful exploration of the fact that we are seen as our best when we seem the least autistic.
Cora and Adrien fulfil one of my favourite tropes ever (autistic-and-ADHD friendship), and are so perfectly written. There’s such a joyful celebration of ND kids in this book and it really gave me hope. Cora is what I wish I’d been at that age.
Thoroughly recommend.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism and Car accident
cole_louise's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
slow-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism
Moderate: Death of parent, Terminal illness, and Death
katiewhocanread's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
fast-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? No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism and Grief
Moderate: Death of parent, Car accident, Medical content, and Bullying
ashylibrarian's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
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? No
4.0
This book has the potential to be something exceptional for readers.Â
I was hesitant about the book in the beginning because it started a bit slow for me, but the themes and values throughout the book hold true to the overarching message: Love who you are, always, no matter what.Â
I adored the characters of Cora and Adrian. Their friendship was special and unique and McNicoll did a great job creating depth and texture. This is one thing, if done right, that I really appreciate about middle-grade stories. The friendships can be so powerful.
I appreciate Adrian's outlook on life and the way he so unapologetically encourages and supports Cora.
Adrian's mother - love her. Â
And Cora, a truly strong, powerful female main character. I enjoyed her development throughout the book and feel that her character has the ability to spark inspiration among young readers.Â
I was hesitant about the book in the beginning because it started a bit slow for me, but the themes and values throughout the book hold true to the overarching message: Love who you are, always, no matter what.Â
I adored the characters of Cora and Adrian. Their friendship was special and unique and McNicoll did a great job creating depth and texture. This is one thing, if done right, that I really appreciate about middle-grade stories. The friendships can be so powerful.
I appreciate Adrian's outlook on life and the way he so unapologetically encourages and supports Cora.
Adrian's mother - love her. Â
And Cora, a truly strong, powerful female main character. I enjoyed her development throughout the book and feel that her character has the ability to spark inspiration among young readers.Â
Content Warnings
Moderate: Chronic illness, Cancer, Death of parent, Ableism, and Gaslighting
Minor: Car accident and Medical content
someonelikeblue's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death, and Ableism
Moderate: Cancer, Car accident, Death of parent, Bullying, Medical content, and Gaslighting
t_higgsreviews's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
5.0
5 Stars
CAWPILE = 9.29
CAWPILE = 9.29
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Car accident, Grief, Medical content, Death, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Misogyny and Terminal illness
femmenova's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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? N/A
5.0
BRILLIANT. Without revealing too much about the book, this was so brilliantly written. This is exactly the kind of book I would want my students, my younger self read and feel absolutely seen. I cannot speak for the representation of the characters as this is not an own voices review, but I find that the exploration of ableism and eugenics in digital AI is very thoroughly unpacked and digestible for a child to understand. It got me genuinely thinking about the way we immortalized people in our life after their passing. How much we sanitized people to shape them to be the way we want them to be to suit a narrative that is.. comfortable.Â
I have so many other things to say about the book but I have yet to properly process it. All I know is that this book had me bawling my eyes out, snot in my mask on a public bus at 4 in the afternoon. I was clutching my chest to calm myself down.Â
Among many favorite powerful lines in the book, "children are not extensions of their parents." Absolutely powerful and empowering to have that read if I was a child, let alone an adult with *tada* parental issues! I don't want to expose on a public site why this book hit me the way it hit, I'm just a neurodivergent person who saw a little of child me in this book and it healed a tiny part of me that grieved the times an adult has made me felt inadequate.Â
I have so many other things to say about the book but I have yet to properly process it. All I know is that this book had me bawling my eyes out, snot in my mask on a public bus at 4 in the afternoon. I was clutching my chest to calm myself down.Â
Among many favorite powerful lines in the book, "children are not extensions of their parents." Absolutely powerful and empowering to have that read if I was a child, let alone an adult with *tada* parental issues! I don't want to expose on a public site why this book hit me the way it hit, I'm just a neurodivergent person who saw a little of child me in this book and it healed a tiny part of me that grieved the times an adult has made me felt inadequate.Â
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident and Ableism