Freya Harte is Not a Puzzle

by Méabh Collins

Things I will be in Irish college : * Friendly to everyone (agree with everything they say) * Easy-going * Nice (compliment everyone’s clothes/ make-up)

Things I will NOT * Annoying (don’t ask too many questions) * Embarrassing * Weird (no stupid jokes or comments)



Freya’s always felt different, so when she learns she’s autistic she doesn't want anyone to know. All she wants is to fit in. But does she really need to change herself or can she find friends who like her just the way she is?

Genres: Young Adult, Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Disability, Mental Health, Irish Literature, Friendship

256 pages, Paperback

First published March 6, 2023

Reviews

[meli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arc : Pub Date : March 6, 2023


This is the most incredible book I've read on .Autism. The representation.of Freya's struggles is so accurate. Though I am not Autistic , I felt incredibly close to Freya , and related to her struggles and stresses she felt due to her inabilities to connect with her peers. I will forever recommend this book and it will have a special place in my heart . As A women with a physical disability, I feel books like these are essential for those with disabilities to feel heard and represented. I will forever be grateful to the Netgalley platform for providing this book. I can't wait for the world to meet Freya.

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[Mélyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was drawn to this book because of the double challenge Freya is facing, i.e. dealing with her autism and navigating the minefield which is adolescence, and I think that the author did a wonderful job when it comes to making the readers feel and understand the main character’s struggles, something which I always appreciate in novels. There were also parts that reminded me that the book is aimed at a younger audience, and I rolled my eyes a bit (you can’t get away from the catty popular girls in YA fiction, it seems🙄), but overall it was a positive reading experience. I would have loved to have such books back when I was in the target age group! I sometimes rant about diversity being forced down our throats for marketing purposes, but when it’s done right, making us care about fictional characters with different realities can really help raise awareness and openness.

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Happy to be finishing a somewhat disappointing reading year on a high with this 5 star!

A lovely story about an Irish girl trying to make sense of the world being on the autism spectrum and her and the people close to her dealing with the label ‘autistic’

[Maebh Delahunty · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The suggestion that I'm somehow not here makes me bristle. People have a tendency to talk about me this way. In a world of her own. Away with the fairies. Head in the clouds. Roundabout ways of saying that I'm disconnected from the world, even though I'm here, I'm more here than most people seem to be. Why else would I find noise so loud, light so bright, smell so strong, touch so intense?"

[hannah m · Rating 5 out of 5]

read this whole book within 24 hours. i SOBBED every other page😭😭the first like 10 pages weren’t so relatable to me so i was like “hmmm what am i getting into?” and THEN i started reading more and getting more info about freya and her struggles and i absolutely fell in love with her. she is the most good and accurate representation i’ve read of autistic girls for young readers!!!! i just wanted to hug her and tell her that “i feel you freya, life is freaking hard but you will get through” and like as shown in the ending, there’s no Perfect solution or way to solve the struggles one faces as a young autistic woman, but there are places and people that will help you!!! i loved this book soooooooo much!!!!

[méabh · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The language around autism matters. It should be centered around the person as they truly are, not what they appear to be on the surface."

⭐⭐⭐⭐

I could not put this book down. I read it in a day, and I am so glad I did. It was interesting and well-written, and I was really invested in Freya's character! It opened my eyes alot to the issues around autism in the Irish school system, and had a fast-moving, thought-provoking plot. I thought it could have gone into Freya's experience with an eating disorder a bit more, but overall it was a great book!

[Codie Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book feels a little like a more child-friendly version of Eleanor Oliphant and I mean that as a compliment. We follow the thoughts of Freya Harte, who has recently been diagnosed with Autism. Add to that the usual difficulties of being a teenage girl and trying to fit in and it’s no wonder Freya is having regular meltdowns.

Freya is incredibly likeable and I found it so insightful seeing into her mind. I am not Autistic so it wouldn’t be right for me to say whether the portrayal was accurate or not, however the way Meabh Collins wrote her thoughts, I felt every emotion with her. The churny knot in my stomach when she was interacting with some of the girls in her school took me right back to Secondary school.

I did have to keep googling what certain Irish phrases meant, which disrupted the flow a little, but it was refreshing to read a book set somewhere entirely different from the usual stories I read.

I loved that Collins never tried to change Freya, and her quirks, nor did everything suddenly work out - it was a realistic level of growth and I found it informative as well as entertaining.

At some points it felt a little surface level and veered more on the educational side, but it was a quick, enjoyable read that I can imagine will bring a lot of comfort and a sense of belonging to many young people who read it.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being a teenager is hard. Being a teenager with autism is even harder. This story of Freya learning about herself felt like a realistic and honest look at what navigating the pitfalls of the teen years can be when you perceive yourself as different, other, and wrong. I loved that it wasn't all happy endings and that the easy way wasn't always taken during the course of the book. I loved how the reader could feel Freya's insecurities and how she tried to cope with them. At times, I felt parts of the book got a bit preachy or overly educational about autism, but it was well done in the context of "blog" posts that were openly written to educate. This would be a great book for someone wanting to get a better understanding of what someone with autism might be going through. Like the book reminds readers, autism presents in unique ways in each person so knowing one presentation doesn't mean you know all of them. Overall, this is a heartwarming look at trying to fit in, finding yourself, friendship, and family.

Thanks to BooksGoSocial for a copy of the book. This review is my own opinion.

[Izzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to O’Brien Press for the advanced copy. I really loved this book, and it holds a very special place in my heart. Freya reminded me of myself, always trying to fit in and pretending to like things she didn’t or not like things she did. Trying to keep friends that didn’t see her value, and missing potential friends in those that did. It was actually a little painful reading this book at 24 years old, every part of Freya was real and raw and relatable. I really wish I had this book when I was a tween, maybe then I wouldn’t have felt so alone. I’ve donated this copy to a teacher at my local school in the hopes that it can reach someone who maybe needs it now as much as I needed it back then. I’m just really glad this book exists. It’s a story of friendship, love, kindness, and not just tolerance of everything that comes along with being autistic, but also true acceptance as well. Sometimes even celebration. Because Freya is wonderful and brave and kind, and a really amazing protagonist to follow throughout the book. I did feel at some points it got a *little* bit too teach-y? But overall I feel like it’s a book that can be enjoyed by neurotypicals and neurodivergents alike!

[Sinéad O'Hart · Rating 5 out of 5]

While I can't speak to the accuracy of the autism representation on offer here, I can say that the book absolutely nails how it feels to be 'different' during adolescence, and the sense of preferring to hide your truth rather than speak it, if that helps you to get through things more easily. Freya is an endearing character, one I related to very deeply, and I would like to think that readers of this book would come away with a deepened sense of empathy and understanding for anyone who is not 'the norm'. The book feels painfully accurate and very well observed, and it brought me right back to my own school days! I also really enjoyed the Irishness of it, which feels distinct and important. Freya is a character you'll want to root for, and she was great to read about.

Slight content warning: There is a depiction of what I felt classified as a sexual assault, which I'd counsel anyone sensitive to issues like this to be careful about when reading.

[karla_bookishlife · Rating 5 out of 5]

Freya Harte has captured my heart. A teenage girl grappling with an eating disorder and a newly given diagnosis of autism, Freya is struggling to fit in with the world around her and with her peers. During the course of the summer term and the months that follow, Freya undergoes a journey of self discovery and acceptance and soon realises that actually the world needs to start trying to understand her rather than the other way around. I felt so angry and upset on her behalf by some of the comments and actions of others, especially by those who should know better, like the teachers and politicians. As a mother of autistic children, and only realising myself in adulthood that I am autistic, it is so wonderful to see autism so brilliantly and sensitively communicated on the page. I would have loved to have had a book like this in my teens to help me understand myself a little better at that age.

[Meaghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastically wonderful. As a neurodivergent, but not autistic, person, it for a brilliant job showing what life is like from the first-person perspective. There were certain points where I wasn’t sure what the climax of the story would be – but I was so impressed and excited with every reveal of another aspect of Freya, as she learned metaphors and explanations that helped the world make more sense, and as she focused her energy into growth and actions neither of us (myself or Freya) expected.

I was excited to buy a newly published Irish book from an Irish press (O’Brien) at a small Irish bookstore (The Clifden Bookshop) for an incredible price (€10, a YA immediately offered in paperback!!). Collins’s first book is incredible, and I hope many more people will read it. I look forward to whatever work she does next.

[Mary Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written with contemporary style and panache, it is a book that gives us so much. It shows how the language we use matters; that inclusivity and feelings matter. Freyas’ voice is utterly genuine, speaking of the relief she gets from discovering she is autistic, but her longing to be just like everyone else. It shows her worry and her heart. And it gives us a glimpse into the reality of teenage life, in general. The tenuous line within friendship and family relationships are at the fore as Freya tries to navigate both and comes to an acceptance of herself; who she really is and how autism plays into that. Empathy and understanding shine here. A truly beautiful, heartwarming story…and you better have the tissues ready.

[Hasina Begum · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can’t believe it’s taken me this long to read this book- it was one of the best books on Autism. I finished this book in one day and enjoyed it from start to finish.

This book follows Freya who tries to navigate secondary school and all the challenges that come with it, along with her recent diagnosis of an eating disorder and autism. Two diagnosis’s she completely rejects and tries to keep a secret from the world. Can Freya find her identity in this world where labels can change how others look at you?

As someone who was diagnosed as Autistic but as an adult, I could relate to Freya in so many ways. A wonderful book for young teens who are going through diagnosis or have been diagnosed.

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this if you like good fiction, but have some hankies handy. My heart strings were pulled time and again by this story of teenager Freya. Up to now she has struggled with life and school. Recently she learned she is an autistic person. This brings some relief, but has it’s own problems as well. As a Scottish teacher life long learning can be sometimes be boring in its presentation. I am happy to advise every teacher, and everyone else as well, I found reading this book an easy way to access the topic of autism and to add greatly to my understanding of autism and autistic people. Thank you to O’Brien Press, BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine.

[Pamela · Rating 4 out of 5]

finished this book very quickly. This was a delightful read about a character trying to figure themselves out. The book does a decent job of representing autism in the main character and unique issues faced, along with other, more typical issues that the child faces. loved seeing the main character grow. Loved seeing family and friends grow to learn more about Freya and how to be more inclusive. Really like the reality (it wasn't a perfect ended; it was a realistic ending) behind changes that can help neurodiverse people. closer to 4.5 stars. I really wanted to better understand the friends' perspectives and parents in the future/epilogue would've gotten it to 5.

[Iria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and I feel it is so necessary in the current Irish YA literary landscape - and the YA field at large. It provides an insight into the life of an Irish teen that is coming to terms with her recent diagnosis of autism at the same time as she struggles with the difficulties of secondary school friendships, which I think Méabh Collins tackles really well. I was hooked from the beginning, as I found it very interesting to see how Freya dealt with different challenges, and how her family and friends also learned about her autism. Thus, I would highly recommend not only teens but also adults to read this book!

[Kelsey Rhodes · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25/5 stars! This book handled mental health so well and really captured the energy of how receiving a diagnosis can both provide relief but also worry. We see this in the show "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend" when the main character is happy to finally understand why she struggles in the way she does but also fears what this means about her or if she is damaged/broken. The author captured this exact situation perfectly. A truly special and beautiful story.

I received an advance review copy for free through NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It approaches autism with a light but informative touch. The prejudices Freya faces are relatable but anger inducing. Thankfully they are balanced with interactions with people who are interested in Freya and who support her in a positive manner.

I particularly enjoyed the minor literary and folk details sprinkled throughout the novel. Changlings and female Irish writers are both interests of mine.

As a former school librarian I can say with confidence that this book will make a strong addition to any school library. Read it.

[Rachael Mills · Rating 5 out of 5]

{AD|GIFTED} An absolutely phenomenal tale of a teenage girl newly diagnosed with autism. Freya's struggles were so easy to empathise with and the author was able to portray them profoundly and authentically. Every autistic experience is different but I think Freya's is one that will resonate with a lot of readers. This is also a very informative book thanks to the inclusion of blog posts written by an autistic boy Freya begins following on social media. I really think every school library would benefit from stocking a copy of this book. Highly recommended.

[Eric Gallagher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ironic to say, but do not judge this book by its cover, particularly the back cover. Its cringey since it lacks context.

It is absolutely brilliant. Definitely younger readers are the target audience, and I wouldn't have ever encountered the story if I didn't work with books...but it literally jumped out of a delivery at me and I had to buy it.

So glad I did, and I will recommend this book to anyone. I would have liked to read it when I was younger.

[Jemma Nield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful!

An easy holiday read with some important messages about autism. I have a nephew on the spectrum, so it was dear to my heart. Everyone should read this to get a better understanding of autism and how we can all be more inclusive. Great insight into neurodivergent people and a lovely, heart-warming story with in-depth characters. Should definitely be a KS3/ KS4 book taught in schools. Loved it!

[Anna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Freya Harte Is Not a Puzzle: DNF. As an autistic reader, I wasn't comfortable with Freya's level of shame and internalized ableism toward her diagnosis. It's (unfortunately) not an unrealistic depiction, and for the right reader it may be quite thought-provoking, but it's not what I want/need to be reading right now.

[Olivia Shiel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb read that offer a real, sensitive and at times laugh out loud funny book on a person with autism. Highly recommend as a stand alone work but most especially to anyone with autism themselves, their parents, family and friends. Really well written and very enjoyable.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely and heartwarming story of a girl navigating the complexities of being a teenager and having an autism diagnosis. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

[Sarah Webb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrific debut novel about an autistic teenager in Ireland. Funny, honest and moving. Recommended for age 13+

[Andrea Barlien · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite a lovely book about Freya coming to terms with her diagnosis as an autistic person. Great perspective with authentically drawn characters.

[Jess Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stunning. One of the most accurate depictions of growing up as an autistic girl that I've ever read. I will be telling everyone about this novel.

[Eva · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.7

[Kitchen Sink Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

When the advance information sheet that comes with a book tells you that this has been written by a debut author its exciting, a new name, a brand-new story, hope for something wonderful – there is something special about finding a brand-new author. Méabh Collins is a debut Irish author with her book, Freya Harte Is Not A Puzzle. It has an Irish setting and some Irish words that I absolutely could not pronounce but that is part of its charm. For Irish readers the few words will be a fun addition, for non-Irish readers and speakers they make an interesting addition to the story but for me the real highlight is the way these and some other aspects of the book highlight to us that language and terminology matter.

Freya has always felt that she is different. Her difference seems to come to a head when, having started secondary school she loses her best friend, seems to put her geography teachers nose out of joint regularly, and begins to show traits that her father is convinced are just her becoming a teen. Mum is not so convinced, and a possible eating disorder is revealed to be autism. At first Freya doesn’t want anyone to know but it soon becomes apparent that sharing her diagnosis will not cause her t be stigmatised, quite the opposite, it helps her friends to understand her and accept her for who she is. This is an honest, heart-warmingly genuine story and it left me with a better understanding of autism and a warm glow.