A Different Sort of Normal
A Different Sort of Normal
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A Different Sort of Normal by Abigail Balfe
CHILDREN'S NON-FICTION BOOK OF THE YEAR, THE BRITISH BOOK AWARDS 2022 - SHORTLISTED BLUE PETER BOOK AWARDS BEST BOOK WITH FACTS 2022 - LONGLISTED THE OBSERVER CHILDREN'S BOOK OF THE MONTH - JULY 2021 Discover the beautiful true story of one girl's journey growing up autistic and undiagnosed - and the challenges she faced in the 'normal' world. 'This book is what I needed as a kid! Empathetic, joyful and beautifully authentic. I loved it!' - Elle McNicoll, author of A Kind of Spark I'm not like the other children in my class . . . and that's an actual scientific FACT. Hi! My name is Abigail, and I'm autistic. But I didn't know I was autistic until I was an adult-sort-of-person*. This is my true story of growing up in the confusing 'normal' world, all the while missing some Very Important Information about myself. There'll be scary moments involving toilets and crowded trains, heart-warming tales of cats and pianos, and funny memories including my dad and a mysterious tub of ice cream. Along the way you'll also find some Very Crucial and Myth-busting Information about autism. If you've ever felt different, out of place, like you don't fit in . . . this book is for you. *I've never really felt like an actual-adult-person, as you'll soon discover in this book... Told through the author's remarkable words, and just as remarkable illustrations, this is the book for those who've never felt quite right in the 'normal' world. Discover why readers love A Different sort of Normal: 'Funny, fascinating . . . a rewarding and highly entertaining read' - Guardian 'I REALLY love it. Buy it for your kids, your parents, your grandparents. Mostly buy it for yourself' - Holly Smale, author of the Geek Girl series A hugely engaging, funny and informative account of being neurodivergent - Observer Insightful, accessible and easy to navigate, this is an essential book for autistic and allistic (non-autistic) readers of all ages - Booktrust
A funny, fascinating illustrated memoir that conveys - via joyous tangential leaps, vivid doodles and informative notes - how it felt to grow up autistic and undiagnosed. . a rewarding and highly entertaining read * Guardian *
I REALLY love it. It's the book I wish I'd had when I was a kid (I'd have known I was autistic immediately, right down to the cats). Buy it for your kids, your parents, your grandparents. Mostly buy it for yourself * Holly Smale *
Illuminating * The I Paper *
A hugely engaging, funny and informative account of being neurodivergent * Observer *
This book is what I needed as a kid! Empathetic, joyful and beautifully authentic. I loved it! * Elle McNicoll, author of A Kind of Spark *
Funny, poignant and wise, with a rich seam of understanding and empathy . . . one of the best children's non-fiction books I've read in a long time * The Bookseller *
Insightful, accessible and easy to navigate, this is an essential book for autistic and allistic (non-autistic) readers of all ages * Booktrust *
An amazing, life-changing hug of a book I wish I had when I was growing up. It's funny, eye-opening and supremely reassuring and an important, myth-busting look into autism and how that experience can vary so much. For anyone and EVERYONE who has ever felt different. Time to reclaim it and celebrate it * Rashmi Sirdeshpande *
This book is a great explainer, full of empathy for different situations, which explodes many misconceptions about autistic people along the way! I wish I had had this available many years ago when teaching an autistic child on a one-to-one basis * Love Reading 4 Schools *
What a difference Abigail Balfe's new book is going to make for so many people! A Different Sort of Normal is a wonderful blend of humour, information & reassuring comfort * Emma Perry *
Highly illustrated, beautiful and an essential book for young autistic people * Lizzie Huxley-Jones *
It is an outrageously beautiful, interesting, quirky, personal, funny introduction to autism. It has super gorgeous illustrations and details on every page, and covers SO MANY important topics. * NeuroWild (Em Hammond) an autistic and ADHD speech pathologist, illustrator and advocate *
Your book means so much to me and others - it was like reading about my own life, even down to the special interests, as we are a similar age! Such an important, accessible and wonderful book. * Emma Reynolds, author, illustrator and founder of #kidlit4climate campaign *
I wish I could go back in time and hand deliver A Different Sort of Normal by Abigail Balfe to my younger self. But even thought I can't, the Lucy of now very much appreciates feeling seen and understood and is having to stop herself from tearing up. * Lucy Powrie, author of The Paper & Hearts Society series *
It is honest, real and downright brilliant. Abigail writes in such a brilliant creative way that really will draw in readers of all ages. Seriously, ever since I discovered this book I knew it was going to be special, that it would go places. It’s award winner worthy, and I don’t think I’ve ever said this about any book. * Louise Gooding, author of Wonderfully Wired Brains *
How dyslexic-friendly is it? This is probably the most accessible & engaging book I have ever read. The authors' creativity and skill for illustrations (she did them all herself!) and explaining things makes it fun, pleasing to the eye and enjoyable. * Dyslexic Reviews *
I REALLY love it. It's the book I wish I'd had when I was a kid (I'd have known I was autistic immediately, right down to the cats). Buy it for your kids, your parents, your grandparents. Mostly buy it for yourself * Holly Smale *
Illuminating * The I Paper *
A hugely engaging, funny and informative account of being neurodivergent * Observer *
This book is what I needed as a kid! Empathetic, joyful and beautifully authentic. I loved it! * Elle McNicoll, author of A Kind of Spark *
Funny, poignant and wise, with a rich seam of understanding and empathy . . . one of the best children's non-fiction books I've read in a long time * The Bookseller *
Insightful, accessible and easy to navigate, this is an essential book for autistic and allistic (non-autistic) readers of all ages * Booktrust *
An amazing, life-changing hug of a book I wish I had when I was growing up. It's funny, eye-opening and supremely reassuring and an important, myth-busting look into autism and how that experience can vary so much. For anyone and EVERYONE who has ever felt different. Time to reclaim it and celebrate it * Rashmi Sirdeshpande *
This book is a great explainer, full of empathy for different situations, which explodes many misconceptions about autistic people along the way! I wish I had had this available many years ago when teaching an autistic child on a one-to-one basis * Love Reading 4 Schools *
What a difference Abigail Balfe's new book is going to make for so many people! A Different Sort of Normal is a wonderful blend of humour, information & reassuring comfort * Emma Perry *
Highly illustrated, beautiful and an essential book for young autistic people * Lizzie Huxley-Jones *
It is an outrageously beautiful, interesting, quirky, personal, funny introduction to autism. It has super gorgeous illustrations and details on every page, and covers SO MANY important topics. * NeuroWild (Em Hammond) an autistic and ADHD speech pathologist, illustrator and advocate *
Your book means so much to me and others - it was like reading about my own life, even down to the special interests, as we are a similar age! Such an important, accessible and wonderful book. * Emma Reynolds, author, illustrator and founder of #kidlit4climate campaign *
I wish I could go back in time and hand deliver A Different Sort of Normal by Abigail Balfe to my younger self. But even thought I can't, the Lucy of now very much appreciates feeling seen and understood and is having to stop herself from tearing up. * Lucy Powrie, author of The Paper & Hearts Society series *
It is honest, real and downright brilliant. Abigail writes in such a brilliant creative way that really will draw in readers of all ages. Seriously, ever since I discovered this book I knew it was going to be special, that it would go places. It’s award winner worthy, and I don’t think I’ve ever said this about any book. * Louise Gooding, author of Wonderfully Wired Brains *
How dyslexic-friendly is it? This is probably the most accessible & engaging book I have ever read. The authors' creativity and skill for illustrations (she did them all herself!) and explaining things makes it fun, pleasing to the eye and enjoyable. * Dyslexic Reviews *
Abigail Balfe (Author, Illustrator)
Abigail is a Brighton-based writer, illustrator and creative producer. Original storytelling has always been at the heart of Abigail's career and she has spent a decade leading social media campaigns for some of the biggest TV & entertainment clients in the world. Abigail also used to perform stand-up comedy and won several tiny trophies for her onstage humour; which involved life-size illustrations, ridiculous songs and rambling stories about her family.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9780241508794 |
| ISBN 10 | 0241508797 |
| Title | A Different Sort of Normal |
| Author | Abigail Balfe |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Paperback |
| Publisher | Penguin Random House Children's UK |
| Year published | 2021-07-22 |
| Number of pages | 240 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |