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moonytoast's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Ableism and Bullying
Moderate: Child abuse
Minor: Forced institutionalization
myarae's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Ableism and Bullying
Moderate: Confinement, Emotional abuse, and Forced institutionalization
Minor: Child abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, and Physical abuse
penofpossibilities's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, and Child abuse
Moderate: Confinement, Torture, and Forced institutionalization
Minor: Genocide, Physical abuse, Violence, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
Meltodowns, shutdown, harmful stimming, ableist slurs, unjust school system & teacher bullyrebeccafarren's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Child abuse, Violence, Forced institutionalization, and Medical trauma
maralrose's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, and Child abuse
There is a use of the r-slur and a vivid description of the main character's older sister being violently restrained as a child.bookswithlauren's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
We follow Addie who is a kind hearted, passionate, eleven year old autistic girl who loves sharks and reading. In school, Addie starts learning about the witch trials that occurred in her town and she is eager to learn everything she can about them but to show her town how wrong the actions of their past were.
'A Kind of Spark' is quite hard hitting as it explores bullying but also how wrongly treated people are for simply being different. One thing that really hit me is when Addie realises she would have been accused of being a witch if she lived during that time period because of her Autism. It is heartbreaking but also unfortunately true. I do not have Autism but I have Epilepsy and would also have been in the same situation as Addie and the entire book really resonates with me.
Everyone in this world is different and it is a wonderful thing but Elle McNicoll really explores how those differences can be viewed, in the past and during the present day. There are many countries and beliefs that would deem my Epilepsy a curse or the work of the devil. There are many countries and beliefs who do not understand different conditions, genders, sexualities and much more and 'A Kind of Spark' really makes you think about that harsh and heartbreaking reality.
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
questingnotcoasting's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, and Child abuse
maeverose's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.5
This is such an important book and I’m so glad it exists. It was infuriating to read how Addie was treated by some of the ignorant and abusive adults in this book and it’s especially infuriating knowing that that’s a very real experience for lots of kids in the real world. I think this book could be really helpful for kids who might be going through something similar. Or for allistic kids to learn more about what having autism can be like.
Bonus quote: ‘Mr Laird rises in her place, eyes slightly wild and mustache aquiver. “The geese on Juniper pond,” he booms, “are demonic.” There are some groans, but a couple of ayes.
Idk why but that made me laugh a lot 😆 I wanna know how these geese got this reputation.
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, and Child abuse
Moderate: Gaslighting
Minor: Death, Fatphobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Torture, and Murder
Talk about the witch trials (torture, murder, hanging, etc. Not graphically described) Theres also a few ableist slurs used (specifically anti-autistic)bdingz's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Bullying
Moderate: Ableism and Child abuse