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A Kind of Spark book review


 There are certain books you need at certain points in your life and I think I finally picked up Elle McNicoll at the almost perfect time. I have wanted to read Elle McNicoll for a while now, my attention being brought to her because many of her books are set in Scotland but I think if I had read her before the last few months and I hadn’t had my referral done the representation wouldn't have done what it did do for me or have been as important. I connected so much to Addie and felt strongly towards her. It’s another book I almost cried at because of how much I felt for her (a common theme across middle grade books with female autistic main characters) and I just loved it. I am now desperate to read Keedie and learn more. I also think Elle McNicoll is going to become a new favourite author. 

A Kind of Spark follows Addie a young autistic girl who is campaigning to get a witch memorial in her small Scottish town. It is a fantastic middle grade story that discusses so many important things in a great way for both the target age range and any other readers of any age. 


Throughout the story, we follow Addie’s perspective which I loved because you can it means that you see exactly how her mind works and how she faces situations due to being autistic. I loved this and when you are following a character whose mind does work differently I really like getting their perspectives because it helps you understand them and their actions. 


Along with seeing Addie frequently throughout the story we also see a lot of her friend Audrey and sisters Keedie and Nina. We also see a few other characters that I wasn’t as much of a fan of. Audrey is a fantastic friend to Addie during the story and I really liked seeing their friendship develop and how much Audrey supported Addie when she needed her. Keedie and Nina are also great sisters and I absolutely loved them. Keedie is also autistic and you see her discuss masking and suffer from autisc burnout both of which were great additions to the story. Nina may not understand but she supports and try to understand Addie as best she can even if she doesn’t always get it right. 


I really connected to Addie (and Keedie) during the story and many of the things that they went through or felt. I tabbed many of the times that I did connect or relate to them and out of the 187 pages I added 10 tabs, but that wasn’t every time that I related. I can find it really hard sometimes to read book where I strongly connect to the characters and the struggles that they can go through and that was the case with this but I also loved seeing the positive moments and seeing myself at times. 


I loved this book. I read it in one sitting, couldn’t put it down and immediately rated it five stars. The story was powerful, heartwarming and really special. The characters are amazing and a great setting that being Scottish (and near Edinburgh) I loved. I will not stop recommending this book anytime soon and I cannot wait to read Keedie and more of Elle McNicoll’s middle grade because I know I will love it after reading this.

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