Representations: https://trello.com/c/VAfrX6An/77-a-kind-of-spark-by-elle-mcnicoll

Love that kids have books like these nowadays, and despite the fact I've not watched it yet it's so delightful to know the BBC have seemingly also given it so much support!

The story is quite simple and to-the-point. Addie - who's autistic - learns about witch trials that happened in her town and it effects her a lot more than anyone realised. She sees herself in the so-called "witches" and the bigotry she faces in the modern day just for being autistic. So, she fights for a memorial plaque to apologise to the women who lost their lives and to never let them be forgotten.

Naturally, absolutely wonderful representation. The contrast between adult autism and child autism and showing absolutely for sure that it is not something you grow out of and the harm behind that misconception is critically important.

This book tackles masking, burnouts and meltdowns, ableism of multiple forms and even forced institutionalisation of autistic people. It does get heavy, but it gets very real and all the problems are very real problems us autistic people face.

It's also about joy and family, finding good friends and standing up for yourself and what you really believe in. It's a happy story overall I would say, the negativity doesn't define Addie or her sister Keedie.

Just a note about something mentioned in the ending though, not all neurodiverse people are autistic!!! The opposite of autistic is allistic! Neurodiversity isn't a direct substitute for autistic, autism is just under the neurodiverse umbrella!!! 

Also as a note for " Are the flaws of the main character(s) a main focus of the book? " and people saying yes to it, autism is not a flaw. The flaws are from the other characters around her and their bigoted beliefs. Autism is a part of Addie and always will be - it is not a choice, nor something that can be changed - it is not a flaw. 

I love this book so much. I don't think I'll ever be able to put into words just how much I love it. This is the book I needed as a child. This is the book I want all little autistic girls to have. Reading about Addie was amazing and heartbreaking in a good way. I have never before felt so well seen and represented in anything before. I have known since my diagnosis that theoretically I am not alone with how I experience things and how I feel. I have never had this kind of prove that it is normal. That it is just the way mine and many other people's brains work. 

This is a cute story about a girl finding out her town used to have witch hunts and trying her best to get her town to acknowledge that and put up a memorial for them. It's a fun story that I would recommend to kids based purely on that. It is also so much more than that though. Reading Addie's story teaches you so many important things. Wether you're neurodivergent and it shows you that you're not alone and are okay the way you are, or you're neurotypical and it shows you how differently we experience the world from you and the difficulties that come with that. I hope and believe that this book will teach everyone to be more compassionate towards themselves and others.