ecairns's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
emilyjmasters's review against another edition
3.0
Books about neurodivergent people by neurotypical authors are almost always a miss, and this was no exception. Maybe instead of consulting parents and siblings of autistic kids, Connor could have worked with, idk, autistic kids and adults.
I also don't understand how they live in a technologically advanced enough time to have such a cool search-and-rescue app for everyone to download but no one's thought to get this kid some assistive tech??
I wouldn't say this left a bad taste in my mouth but it's certainly not a good one.
I also don't understand how they live in a technologically advanced enough time to have such a cool search-and-rescue app for everyone to download but no one's thought to get this kid some assistive tech??
I wouldn't say this left a bad taste in my mouth but it's certainly not a good one.
craftymxlibrarian's review against another edition
2.0
This book felt kind of heartwarming but also kind of ick at the same time. I do like the underlying message that nonverbal does not mean non-thinking or not understanding what's happening around you. That was the heartwarming bit. But other than that, it felt ick.
First of all, lots of nonverbal autistics communicate through picture boards, gestures, or even through writing. This book, however, seems to reinforce many misconceptions about autistics even while trying to destigmatize.
I do recognize that there are also many autistics like Frenchie in their communication. But the way Frenchie is portrayed combined with the portrayal of Aurora, it gave the entire book a bad taste of "inspiration porn."
As happens with all of us who live with disabilities, Frenchie is talked *about* rather than getting to tell his own story. It makes it feel like the story is more about how wonderful Aurora is for befriending an autistic kid rather than an authentic portrayal of the autistic experience.
I was unsurprised to find out in the author's note that she consulted parents of autistic kids rather than anyone who is actually autistic. And then says that those parents helped her "understand the complexities of loving an autistic person." This really makes it seem like loving an autistic person is somehow difficult or a burden instead of recognizing the humanity of autistics. She then says she also spoke with one of their NT kids to get "the sibling perspective" and that this and the parents' reflections were given her "full attention." But she begins the note with saying that it was "important to [her] to get things right."
How can she get things right if she doesn't get the autistic perspective? It's yet another instance of autistics being talked about rather than communicated with. It's also a great illustration of why many of us will only read books about autism that are written by people who are #ActuallyAutistic. Neurotypical people cannot be trusted to tell the stories of autistics. I don't doubt that this author meant well, and it's that intention that made me give this 2 stars rather than 1. But good intentions don't change any of the above and the impact those things have on the way NT's view autistics.
With all of this, I simply can't recommend this book at all.
First of all, lots of nonverbal autistics communicate through picture boards, gestures, or even through writing. This book, however, seems to reinforce many misconceptions about autistics even while trying to destigmatize.
I do recognize that there are also many autistics like Frenchie in their communication. But the way Frenchie is portrayed combined with the portrayal of Aurora, it gave the entire book a bad taste of "inspiration porn."
As happens with all of us who live with disabilities, Frenchie is talked *about* rather than getting to tell his own story. It makes it feel like the story is more about how wonderful Aurora is for befriending an autistic kid rather than an authentic portrayal of the autistic experience.
I was unsurprised to find out in the author's note that she consulted parents of autistic kids rather than anyone who is actually autistic. And then says that those parents helped her "understand the complexities of loving an autistic person." This really makes it seem like loving an autistic person is somehow difficult or a burden instead of recognizing the humanity of autistics. She then says she also spoke with one of their NT kids to get "the sibling perspective" and that this and the parents' reflections were given her "full attention." But she begins the note with saying that it was "important to [her] to get things right."
How can she get things right if she doesn't get the autistic perspective? It's yet another instance of autistics being talked about rather than communicated with. It's also a great illustration of why many of us will only read books about autism that are written by people who are #ActuallyAutistic. Neurotypical people cannot be trusted to tell the stories of autistics. I don't doubt that this author meant well, and it's that intention that made me give this 2 stars rather than 1. But good intentions don't change any of the above and the impact those things have on the way NT's view autistics.
With all of this, I simply can't recommend this book at all.
jaimiestarshine's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
ashylibrarian's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
3.5
Do you like books about friendship and determination with a side of mystery? Well, this might just be the book for you!
11-year-olds Frenchie and Aurora enjoy exploring the natural world of their home in coastal Maine, and the two have been almost inseparable until Aurora begins to add some new friends to their group.
One day, Frenchie gets dropped off at school but does not make it into his classroom. Aurora feels like she is the one to blame and helps lead the town in a search, where everyone is wondering, Anybody Here Seen Frenchie?
gschwabauer's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
2.25
So . . . this was a book about neurological differences. And at first it was, in my opinion, better than most. Aurora and Frenchie seem like actual friends. She doesn't perform PERFECT GENEROUS AFFECTION all the time, and he doesn't have a cutesy "I only act neurotypical around this one special friend!" thing going on, which is one of the most ugh traits of books about autistic characters. Aurora struggles with social interaction, and that extends to Frenchie, too. Frenchie clearly cares about Aurora, but that doesn't mean he likes eye contact or hugs. I loved the idea of pairing a nonspeaking child with a child who struggles with blurting things out too much--it's a great way to show that neurodivergence can take many forms, and friendship isn't some favor that the privileged bestow upon the overlooked.
The core of the book is their friendship, which I believed in and enjoyed. The main character's POV was engrossing and both Aurora and Frenchie felt like developed human beings. I loved all the scenes of their families intertwining over time and sharing traditions. The shopping scene made me laugh out loud. And it was so good to see a girl be "too loud" and have to simultaneously work on listening skills while also accepting that her personality is okay, and not everybody has to like her.
Where this book falls flat is the random side characters. Way too many short POV chapters from the rest of the town as the search for Frenchie takes place. Normally that'd just be a matter of personal taste, but in a book about an autistic child, it smacked of "awww, look: this sweet silent boy has captured the hearts of many!" There were several throwaway scenes where people feeling sympathy for Frenchie or doing him favors without even knowing him were portrayed as gestures of genuine kindness and not as patronizing and bizarre. The thrift store owner who sells him a purse at half price even when his mom is willing and able to pay full price, clearly just because he appears to have a disability. The OTHER store owner who gives him a bird print for free (which, okay, at least that one he wouldn't have had otherwise) but then later tells Aurora she felt "a special connection" to Frenchie?????? Like no, you're not entitled to project any kind of intimacy onto this child just because you told yourself a little story about how heroic you are for giving an autistic child an image of a bird. But no, we have to validate her and make sure she knows that yes, they do have a connection! A bond! Because she decided they do!
Aurora keeps noting how kids at school and adults in town suddenly seem to care about him when they ignored him or talked down to him before he went missing. A great point, but never truly addressed, because the narrative keeps contradicting itself. Felt like Aurora had to realize that actually, the bless-his-heart sudden concern WAS worthwhile and she needed to be less judgy, because all middle-grade books about disabilities or neurodivergence have to reassure able-bodied and neurotypical people at all times. It's telling that the author's note talks so much about all her research, but only ever mentions interviewing parents and siblings of autistic people, nothing about autistic input. Hmm.
(Also, didn't love the vastly oversimplified adoption stuff that got tossed in.)
There were some really clever and touching moments, particularly with the barn-poem. And thank God, it at least didn't end like Wonder. I wish this story had been a little more complex. But I will say: Frenchie felt like someone who would make an enjoyable friend. He felt like someone whose company I would seek out. He did not feel, to me, like a project for demonstrating one's commitment to inclusivity. So props for that, at least.
The core of the book is their friendship, which I believed in and enjoyed. The main character's POV was engrossing and both Aurora and Frenchie felt like developed human beings. I loved all the scenes of their families intertwining over time and sharing traditions. The shopping scene made me laugh out loud. And it was so good to see a girl be "too loud" and have to simultaneously work on listening skills while also accepting that her personality is okay, and not everybody has to like her.
Where this book falls flat is the random side characters. Way too many short POV chapters from the rest of the town as the search for Frenchie takes place. Normally that'd just be a matter of personal taste, but in a book about an autistic child, it smacked of "awww, look: this sweet silent boy has captured the hearts of many!" There were several throwaway scenes where people feeling sympathy for Frenchie or doing him favors without even knowing him were portrayed as gestures of genuine kindness and not as patronizing and bizarre. The thrift store owner who sells him a purse at half price even when his mom is willing and able to pay full price, clearly just because he appears to have a disability. The OTHER store owner who gives him a bird print for free (which, okay, at least that one he wouldn't have had otherwise) but then later tells Aurora she felt "a special connection" to Frenchie?????? Like no, you're not entitled to project any kind of intimacy onto this child just because you told yourself a little story about how heroic you are for giving an autistic child an image of a bird. But no, we have to validate her and make sure she knows that yes, they do have a connection! A bond! Because she decided they do!
Aurora keeps noting how kids at school and adults in town suddenly seem to care about him when they ignored him or talked down to him before he went missing. A great point, but never truly addressed, because the narrative keeps contradicting itself. Felt like Aurora had to realize that actually, the bless-his-heart sudden concern WAS worthwhile and she needed to be less judgy, because all middle-grade books about disabilities or neurodivergence have to reassure able-bodied and neurotypical people at all times. It's telling that the author's note talks so much about all her research, but only ever mentions interviewing parents and siblings of autistic people, nothing about autistic input. Hmm.
(Also, didn't love the vastly oversimplified adoption stuff that got tossed in.)
There were some really clever and touching moments, particularly with the barn-poem. And thank God, it at least didn't end like Wonder. I wish this story had been a little more complex. But I will say: Frenchie felt like someone who would make an enjoyable friend. He felt like someone whose company I would seek out. He did not feel, to me, like a project for demonstrating one's commitment to inclusivity. So props for that, at least.
wombat_88's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
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
zotisk's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
tense
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
4.5
laurenpedersen's review against another edition
5.0
What a beautiful story! Leslie Connor presents a heart warming tale of middle grade friendship between a neurodiverse nonverbal boy and a high energy, loud little girl. The two form an unlikely friendship when Frenchie moves in next door to Aurora. Together they face challenges of 6th grade and explore the local woods. Aurora says Frenchie “gets ignored a lot. He is the kid nobody is sure what to do with.” It’s also significant to me because my narrator accountability partner, Diane, and classmate, Andres, performed characters in the audiobook production!
You should definitely check it out.
You should definitely check it out.