A Different Kind of Normal
My Real-Life COMPLETELY True Story About Being Unique
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- $7.99
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- $7.99
Publisher Description
In this joyfully illustrated memoir, Abigail Balfe recounts her journey growing up autistic and the challenges of navigating the “normal” world around her. This is a perfect book for both neurodivergent and neurotypical kids to learn more about neurodiversity.
When Abigail was growing up, she was missing Very Important Information about herself. The information? That Abigail is autistic! In fact, Abigail didn’t know she was autistic until she was (kind of) an adult.
This is Abigail’s story about what it was like growing up autistic in a confusing “normal” world. With entertaining anecdotes and funny accompanying illustrations, Abigail details her experiences and explains some Very Crucial Information about autism. And about neurodiversity too— a word that celebrates the importance of all brain types!
Essential, funny, and completely unique, this book is for anyone who has ever felt different.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Author-illustrator Balfe offers readers tools and permission to forge their own paths in a funny and sincere illustrated memoir "for everyone." Balfe introduces herself to the reader as a late-diagnosed autistic adult, sharing her own experiences by way of noting that "if someone had told me when I was younger that it was OK to not be like everybody else... then I think I would have found growing up a lot easier." Alongside affirming, candid text that meanders through footnotes, parentheticals, and sidebars, a cartoon portrayal of Balfe's childhood self weaves in and out of topics—school, special interests, emotions, family and friendships, sensory sensitives, social communication, humor, puberty, and college—through a medically informed, gender-inclusive lens. Prose, crayon-bright doodles and comics, and accessible infographics are further layered into the diary-like volume, making for a jam-packed read. The wealth of advice and reassurance may at times seem basic—trust yourself, bullying is not okay—but the accessible takeaways are no less affirming or liberating as a result, emphasizing the idea that "it's actually pretty amazing to be a different kind of normal." Back matter includes resources for further learning. Ages 8–12.
