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kait_lost_in_books's review against another edition
5.0
My daughter’s current favourite book. I really shouldn’t pick them up when I’m already struggling to sleep though because I end up staying awake to finish Elle’s amazing stories with neurodiverse central characters.
Much like ‘A Kind of Spark’ (Small’s all time favourite book), this book tackles some big themes (grief, death, disabilities, eugenics)for a kids book and does so wonderfully, and without fuss or heavy euphemism. The best thing is there is nothing patronising about it. Just open and honest conversation about important issues.
Cora and Adrien meet at Adrien’s birthday party when she is taken along by her older brother Gregor who works for Adrien’s Dad at Pomegranate Technologies.
Cora and Adrien’s friendship grows as they realise they are both different from the other kids they know and understand each other in a way other kids never have. (Cora is autistic, Adrien has ADHD - both neurodiverse). There’s some really affirming conversations with between the two of them about the differences and similarities of their brain wiring and some really necessary discussions of neurotypical perceptions of people who ‘aren’t normal’.
When tragedy strikes, Cora gets to see what actually goes on at Pomegranate’s holo labs where the dead can speak and oh what tales they tell!
Much like ‘A Kind of Spark’ (Small’s all time favourite book), this book tackles some big themes (grief, death, disabilities, eugenics)for a kids book and does so wonderfully, and without fuss or heavy euphemism. The best thing is there is nothing patronising about it. Just open and honest conversation about important issues.
Cora and Adrien meet at Adrien’s birthday party when she is taken along by her older brother Gregor who works for Adrien’s Dad at Pomegranate Technologies.
Cora and Adrien’s friendship grows as they realise they are both different from the other kids they know and understand each other in a way other kids never have. (Cora is autistic, Adrien has ADHD - both neurodiverse). There’s some really affirming conversations with between the two of them about the differences and similarities of their brain wiring and some really necessary discussions of neurotypical perceptions of people who ‘aren’t normal’.
When tragedy strikes, Cora gets to see what actually goes on at Pomegranate’s holo labs where the dead can speak and oh what tales they tell!
ruthmaloney's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
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.
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
antoniak's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
dani_reviews's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
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? It's complicated
4.75
noahreadsbooks's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
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? It's complicated
4.5
missoliviareadsbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Having interviewed Elle McNicoll for World Book Day, my respect and adoration for her and the message behind her work grew to the highest of heights. And in this new book, McNicoll's second lockdown release, she knocks it out of the park AGAIN! The celebration of love, friendship and acceptance is so important in our world today and in our protagonist Cora, we have another strong neurodiverse female lead who stands up to those who try to change her.