A review by bigfriendlygeek
Show Us Who You Are by Elle McNicoll
5.0
This book was gifted to me by my wonderful friend Lucy Knott - something I've gratefully written before - and whose books you absolutely have to check out - something else that I've also written before and that I will keep writing! Now that I've plugged my awesome friend, I have to say she's even more awesome for getting "Show us who you are" for me!
The story revolves around a neurodivergent young girl with autism named Cora, who struggles to form friendships at school due to other children either not understanding or, worse, mocking her due to her being autistic. However, everything changes when she meets another neurodivergent child by the name of Adrien - the son of Cora's brother's boss - whom has ADHD and is also isolated due to being homeschooled. Forming a fast connection with Adrien is not the only thing that sends Cora's world changing - as Adrien's CEO father's company - Pomegranate Technologies has an interest in Cora which is not quite as virtuous as it first seems.
It was actually serendipitous timing because I received a diagnosis for ADHD not long after receiving this book from Lucy, so it took on a completely different tone for me than it might've done had I read it last year. I've always felt that there's been something not "neutotypical" about me, but I've never been able to pinpoint what it is until now. For so long I thought there was something wrong with me, but there's not. I'm just wired differently. Not wrongly. Just differently. And this is the case with Cora and Adrien in "Show us who you are" - it showcases how those with neurodivergent conditions are often made to try and "fit in" with society, rather than have society work to make us feel part of it. Our conditions give us our own gifts - as well as struggles - and we contribute more to society as we are than when we're trying to be molded into something we're not. The more I got into the book, the more I connected with Cora and Adrien and the more I came to absolutely love both them, the writing and the story. I also love there's a bit of a sci-fi element brought into the story too which made for a very interesting and exciting twist.
I don't know whether it was the connection I had with the book, the wonderful story and characters the message it gives or a combination of them all, but I finished "Show us who you are" with tears in my eyes - not of sadness, but of joy and empathy. I'm very early in my ADHD diagnosis journey, but being seen like this for the first time really struck a chord with me. But I don't think you need to be neurodivergent to absolutely love this amazing book. Thank you Elle McNicol for writing it and thank you Lucy, again, for sharing it with me and for always seeing me, encouraging me and for caring for me as I am and have always been.
The story revolves around a neurodivergent young girl with autism named Cora, who struggles to form friendships at school due to other children either not understanding or, worse, mocking her due to her being autistic. However, everything changes when she meets another neurodivergent child by the name of Adrien - the son of Cora's brother's boss - whom has ADHD and is also isolated due to being homeschooled. Forming a fast connection with Adrien is not the only thing that sends Cora's world changing - as Adrien's CEO father's company - Pomegranate Technologies has an interest in Cora which is not quite as virtuous as it first seems.
It was actually serendipitous timing because I received a diagnosis for ADHD not long after receiving this book from Lucy, so it took on a completely different tone for me than it might've done had I read it last year. I've always felt that there's been something not "neutotypical" about me, but I've never been able to pinpoint what it is until now. For so long I thought there was something wrong with me, but there's not. I'm just wired differently. Not wrongly. Just differently. And this is the case with Cora and Adrien in "Show us who you are" - it showcases how those with neurodivergent conditions are often made to try and "fit in" with society, rather than have society work to make us feel part of it. Our conditions give us our own gifts - as well as struggles - and we contribute more to society as we are than when we're trying to be molded into something we're not. The more I got into the book, the more I connected with Cora and Adrien and the more I came to absolutely love both them, the writing and the story. I also love there's a bit of a sci-fi element brought into the story too which made for a very interesting and exciting twist.
I don't know whether it was the connection I had with the book, the wonderful story and characters the message it gives or a combination of them all, but I finished "Show us who you are" with tears in my eyes - not of sadness, but of joy and empathy. I'm very early in my ADHD diagnosis journey, but being seen like this for the first time really struck a chord with me. But I don't think you need to be neurodivergent to absolutely love this amazing book. Thank you Elle McNicol for writing it and thank you Lucy, again, for sharing it with me and for always seeing me, encouraging me and for caring for me as I am and have always been.