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Parents' Guide to

A Kind of Spark

By Joly Herman, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 9+

Powerful book about autism propelled by authentic voice.

Book Elle McNicoll Coming of Age 2021
A Kind of Spark Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Community Reviews

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age 8+

Based on 1 parent review

Kelly K.
Kelly K. Parent of 9, 10 and 11-year-old
July 10, 2023
age 8+

A great book!

I got this book from the library in attempt to get my daughter to read it. She didn't want to so I decided to do so. I thought it was an amazing book. It's about a girl who is autistic. She describes how she can feel and see things more then others. She learns about the witch trials and greatly felt for all the women who were killed. She is bullied at school even by a teacher. I think the author really brings to light of the struggles that can be felt for those on the spectrum or even just different then neurotypical people. Yes their is the bit of her punching a child when she was bullied or when she talks about the time she bites the babysitter. Theirs also a part that she mentions a girl being put in an institution for being different but i don't feel these things are bad for a child to read. All in all I feel this book is suppose to bring to light that just because a person is different or "weird" that it doesn't mean they shouldnt be heard by others. Their thoughts and opinions count just as much as anyone else. I highly recommend the read. It brought me moments of laughter and even some tears.
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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?

Our review:
Parents say (1 ):
Kids say (2 ):

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

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