“People aren’t like books. A familiar book is always the same, always comforting and full of the same words and pictures. A familiar person can be new and challenging, no matter how many times you try to read them.”

A Kind Of Spark is a book William and I have both recently read and loved. I could see William in the main character, Addie, and William recognised himself in her.

The book has been brilliant for William and he is now keen to learn all about sharks, inspired by Addie.

The book has been brilliant for me in helping me begin to understand what life can be like as an autistic child. It has also helped me recognise some of my own actions, reactions and feelings as someone with anxiety. The book quote above particularly resonated with me.

A Kind Of Spark by Elle McNicoll tells the story of 11-year-old Addie as she campaigns for a memorial in memory of the witch trials that took place in her Scottish hometown. Addie knows there’s more to the story of these ‘witches’, just like there is more to hers. Can Addie challenge how the people in her town see her, and her autism, and make her voice heard?

This is a wonderful story of sibling love and a brilliant illustration of how siblings so often understand and support each other. It also shows that sometimes they get things wrong, as we all do and that it is okay to do that and learn from it, together.

I love the relationship between Addie and Keedie. It reminds me of Esther and William. How they complement each other. How Esther’s creative problem solving and big picture thinking eases William’s path through the world and how William’s gentle guiding of Esther helps her to read, write and understand more than she could on her own. William and Esther share the unconditional love and trust, understanding and empathy that Addie and Keedie share. It is a very special bond.

A Kind of Spark offers an invitation to see the world through someone else’s eyes and serves as a reminder to everyone that it is okay to be different. Difference should be more than accepted, it should be celebrated. The Own Voices author acknowledges and highlights that this is not at all easy.

Through the eyes of Addie and Keedie, through the eyes of Elle, we are given a window into life as an autistic child. This vision is powerful and emotive and one that I would urge all parents and teachers to read.

My heart ached for Addie at several points throughout the story as I saw William in her and worried for them both. But then there were moments when I felt fiercely proud of Addie and Keedie and their brilliant big minds and my heart sang because I could see my William in them.

A Kind of Spark shows families that it is okay to find things hard, it is quite normal to find situations challenging but important to work together to see the world in a different way when needed.

It is also a story about what it means to be different and having the courage to be who you are and accept others for who they are.

As a mother of two neurodivergent children this was an incredibly emotional read for me.

The story deals with bullying in school and in the community. I found this really hard to read. It was incredibly well written. The whole story is brilliant. I loved Addie and Keedie and their sister, Nina.

I loved Addie’s friend, Audrey and the school librarian who took the time to know Addie and supported her when she needed it most.

I am so grateful to Elle McNicoll for writing a book that has opened up a dialogue between William and I about how he sees and experiences the world in a very different way from me, and why he does the things he does to help him.

A brilliant book that has started the process of William truly understanding himself and knowing that he is awesome.

A book that has helped me better understand the brilliant mind of my beautiful boy and my own so often anxious brain.

A Kind Of Spark is a middle grade fiction. It is a must read for so many reasons not least that the story is fascinating, fast paced and the writing is brilliant.

This book should, in my opinion, be in every home and classroom and should be read by all parents and teachers. I wish I had been able to read Addie’s story when I was teaching.