Common Sense Media Review
By Joly Herman
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Powerful book about autism propelled by authentic voice.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 9+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
In A KIND OF SPARK, 11-year-old Addie is autistic and a great connection with her older sister, who also has autism, but she struggles to connect with her fellow classmates at her school in a town outside of Edinburgh, Scotland. Her only friend has distanced herself from her -- even more distressing, she's taken up with a new girl who teases Addie and calls her names. Luckily, a new girl named Audrey, who's just moved from London, is interested in having lunch with her in the quiet library. When Addie's teacher begins discussing the historical topic of witches who'd been persecuted in their town hundreds of years ago, Addie feels something stir inside of her. Those women, who were taken out of their homes and tortured, were different too, just like Addie is. Can Addie's passion about the witches' plight transform into a social statement? Or will the authority figures who don't understand her get in the way?
Is It Any Good?
Quick-paced and compelling, this story travels deeply into the point-of-view of a person with autism. This is because the debut author of A Kind of Spark, Elle McNicoll, is autistic and writes from the heart. Though the story wastes no time getting its point across, it's well-written enough to leave readers wishing there were a few more chapters.
The subplot exploring historical witch hunts conveys how high the stakes can be for people who don't fit the norm. Though such violence no longer takes place in the town square, Addie feels the threat of being institutionalized casting a shadow over her every move. Her quest to speak the truth about witch burnings -- a desire to stand up for human rights -- spotlights this fear. The result is a story that can help broaden the understanding of people like Addie (or Greta Thunburg), whose differences can serve as their strengths.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about bullying in A Kind of Spark. Addie discovers that people have trolled a video her sister posted about her on her social media channel. Has trolling or cyberbullying affected you?
There are other books about kids with neurological differences. This one was written by a woman who has autism. How do you think that effects the story?
Addie doesn't give up when she believes in something. What do you see in the news that inspires you to stand up and take action?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Coming of Age
- Topics : Activism , Family Stories ( Siblings ) , School ( Middle School )
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Crown Books for Young Readers
- Publication date : June 4, 2021
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 8 - 12
- Number of pages : 193
- Available on : Paperback, Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Award : ALA Best and Notable Books
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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