A kind of spark
(Book)

In McNicoll's debut, Addie's first-person voice effectively portrays the frustrations and passions of an autistic fifth grader. During her local history lesson she learns about a group of "witches" from her area who were persecuted for being different. Identifying with their plight, Addie is determined to get her community to post a plaque in their honor, acknowledging the wrongs done to them. Adding to her challenges is the fact that she's bullied not only by her classmates, but by her teacher. Luckily, she has a staunch new friend, Audrey, whose character is a wonderful foil to those who refuse to understand Addie's alternate ways of perceiving and coping. Audrey is a sympathetic sponge, taking in information about Addie's diversity and giving young readers an opportunity to better understand autism. Addie's determination is an inspiring example to all who fight injustice and seek understanding. McNicoll, who identifies as neurodivergent, is spot-on as she captures the cadence and intensity of Addie's experiences. A well-written representation that will be appreciated for creating bridges of understanding.

In McNicoll's contemporary debut of advocacy and allyship, an autistic 11-year-old seeks to memorialize the women once tried as witches in her Scottish village. School is a mixed bag for Addie: while librarian Mr. Allison supports her interest in sharks, and new girl Audrey represents a promising friendship, teacher Ms. Murphy mocks Addie openly in class, and the tween can "see the stares, hear the whispers and the giggles" among her classmates. At home with her presumed-white family, older sister Keedie, who's also autistic, understands many of Addie's experiences, including the strain of masking in a largely neurotypical world, but faces her own difficulties at university. Keedie's twin Nina, meanwhile, is often irritable and jealous of her sisters' bond. During a school lesson about women who were tried, tortured, and executed for witchcraft, deeply empathic Addie draws parallels between history and her own present-day interactions, and begins to campaign for a memorial, undeterred by the town council's detractors. Though the unvarnished cruelty that Addie experiences can be painful to read, McNicoll, herself neurodivergent, portrays with clarity Addie's neurological reality, interpersonal bonds, and thoughtful reflections. Ages 8--12. (Oct.)

Gr 5 Up--Middle schooler Addie is autistic, and this year will be one of great change. When the teacher she had hoped for gets sick, she is stuck with Ms. Murphy, a bully who doesn't want Addie in her class just because she is different. When Addie learns that her small Scottish village used to try "suspicious" women and execute them as witches, she feels a deep and concerning connection with these outcasts. She realizes that it is up to her to ensure that this piece of history, and these women, are not forgotten. But will Addie be able to pull strength from her family and herself while facing opposition from school and the city council because of her autism? This deeply honest, at times painful story brings a much-needed look at middle school from the perspective of neurodiverse students. Addie's twin older sisters, one of whom is also autistic, provide strong examples of healthy family relationships, and her new friend Audrey loves Addie for who she is. This debut novel from neurodivergent author McNicoll will bring readers to tears and have them cheering for Addie as she learns how much she has to offer the world. Addie and her family are cued as white. VERDICT A first purchase in middle grade collections; a must-read for students and adults alike.--Emily Beasley, Omaha Public Sch., NE

Protagonist Addie is a girl with autism who is on a mission. Learning about her Scottish village's history of witch trials in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, Addie is moved to persuade the civic powers-that-be to create a memorial to the victims of those witch hunts. In parallel with this project Addie deals with her own challenges, from a malevolent teacher to a mean former best friend, and develops a metaphorical bond with historical characters who, like herself, were pilloried for being different. Many readers, on and off the spectrum, will relate to Addie's physical sensitivities, her pleasure in taking a deep dive into a single research subject, and her stress at trying to pass as "normal." As Addie says, "I spend every moment of my life, when I am outside our family home, second-guessing everything that I think and do." The writer (autistic herself) busts some myths about neurodivergency as she presents a flawed, loving, believable family and a convincing, nuanced, and very likable main character with a distinctive voice. Sarah Ellis November/December 2021 p.108(c) Copyright 2021. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

An autistic girl campaigns to memorialize women branded as witches. Eleven-year-old Addie knows what it's like to be different. Her acute hearing makes loud sounds painful. Hugs, eye contact, and certain textures are hard to tolerate, and she can't always understand people's expressions. Her prickly older sister Nina is hard to read. Addie's mean-spirited teacher publicly scorns her work, dismisses her capability, and even joins her classmates' taunts. Only Addie's other older sister, outspoken Keedie, who's also autistic, really understands her fascination with sharks or the fatigue of "masking" her natural behavior to appease neurotypical people. So when Addie learns that her Scottish village once killed nonconforming women accused of witchcraft, her keen empathy compels her to petition for a memorial. But how can she convince a committee that doesn't believe she can think for herself? Though exposition is occasionally heavy-handed and secondary characters somewhat one-dimensional, the author, herself neurodivergent, imbues Addie's unapologetically autistic perspective with compassion and insight. Addie's accounts of constantly second-guessing herself ring painfully true, and her observations are diamond sharp; she scrutinizes people's faces to ensure they're "never confused or offended" but wonders, "Are any of them ever doing the same for me?" The bullying Addie endures will leave readers' stomachs in sympathetic knots, but Addie's nuanced relationships with her sisters and a new friend, Audrey, infuse humor and heart. Most characters default to White. Earnest and perceptive. (Fiction. 9-12) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

In McNicoll's debut, Addie's first-person voice effectively portrays the frustrations and passions of an autistic fifth grader. During her local history lesson she learns about a group of "witches" from her area who were persecuted for being different. Identifying with their plight, Addie is determined to get her community to post a plaque in their honor, acknowledging the wrongs done to them. Adding to her challenges is the fact that she's bullied not only by her classmates, but by her teacher. Luckily, she has a staunch new friend, Audrey, whose character is a wonderful foil to those who refuse to understand Addie's alternate ways of perceiving and coping. Audrey is a sympathetic sponge, taking in information about Addie's diversity and giving young readers an opportunity to better understand autism. Addie's determination is an inspiring example to all who fight injustice and seek understanding. McNicoll, who identifies as neurodivergent, is spot-on as she captures the cadence and intensity of Addie's experiences. A well-written representation that will be appreciated for creating bridges of understanding. Grades 4-7. Copyright 2021 Booklist Reviews.

In McNicoll's contemporary debut of advocacy and allyship, an autistic 11-year-old seeks to memorialize the women once tried as witches in her Scottish village. School is a mixed bag for Addie: while librarian Mr. Allison supports her interest in sharks, and new girl Audrey represents a promising friendship, teacher Ms. Murphy mocks Addie openly in class, and the tween can "see the stares, hear the whispers and the giggles" among her classmates. At home with her presumed-white family, older sister Keedie, who's also autistic, understands many of Addie's experiences, including the strain of masking in a largely neurotypical world, but faces her own difficulties at university. Keedie's twin Nina, meanwhile, is often irritable and jealous of her sisters' bond. During a school lesson about women who were tried, tortured, and executed for witchcraft, deeply empathic Addie draws parallels between history and her own present-day interactions, and begins to campaign for a memorial, undeterred by the town council's detractors. Though the unvarnished cruelty that Addie experiences can be painful to read, McNicoll, herself neurodivergent, portrays with clarity Addie's neurological reality, interpersonal bonds, and thoughtful reflections. Ages 8–12. (Oct.)

Gr 5 Up—Middle schooler Addie is autistic, and this year will be one of great change. When the teacher she had hoped for gets sick, she is stuck with Ms. Murphy, a bully who doesn't want Addie in her class just because she is different. When Addie learns that her small Scottish village used to try "suspicious" women and execute them as witches, she feels a deep and concerning connection with these outcasts. She realizes that it is up to her to ensure that this piece of history, and these women, are not forgotten. But will Addie be able to pull strength from her family and herself while facing opposition from school and the city council because of her autism? This deeply honest, at times painful story brings a much-needed look at middle school from the perspective of neurodiverse students. Addie's twin older sisters, one of whom is also autistic, provide strong examples of healthy family relationships, and her new friend Audrey loves Addie for who she is. This debut novel from neurodivergent author McNicoll will bring readers to tears and have them cheering for Addie as she learns how much she has to offer the world. Addie and her family are cued as white. VERDICT A first purchase in middle grade collections; a must-read for students and adults alike.—Emily Beasley, Omaha Public Sch., NE