Rules for Camouflage

by Kirstin Cronn-Mills

Atypical meets Every Last Word in this relatable and heartfelt coming of age story about a neurodivergent teen navigating school, friendships and first love.
​
Evvie Chambers is doing her best to skate through the last month of high school to graduation. The only thing standing in her way is a biology report on foxes—and her teacher, Mrs. Audrey Dearborn. The same Mrs. Dearborn who’s been a thorn in Evvie’s side for years, refusing to acknowledge or accommodate her neurodiversity. Evvie would much rather be doing her report on Aretha, the octopus she cares for when she volunteers at the Minnesota Zoo but deviating from the exact assignment isn’t allowed—and Mrs. Dearborn isn’t going to make following the rules easy.

Evvie’s only escape from high school hell is the Lair: a safe haven for kids whose brains need some time away. But when Mrs. Dearborn refuses Evvie’s pleas to finesse the final report assignment to her strengths, and persistent bully Vandal McDaniel directs his harassment toward Lair members, Evvie finds herself more desperate than ever for stability and support.

When a shocking act of violence pushes the whole mess over the edge, Evvie, with the help of her friends and the others who love her, will have to figure out how to find her place in the wide world, while remaining true to herself.

Genres: Young Adult, Realistic Fiction, Romance, Fiction, Contemporary, Mental Health, Friendship

336 pages, Hardcover

First published June 18, 2024

Reviews

[Gigi Ropp · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE THIS BOOK! From the neurodivergent characters and the beautiful support they receive from adults around them to the incredible friendship with an octopus, I was immediately in love with everything about this and the love affair continues even after the last page! SO good!

[Fay · Rating 4 out of 5]

RTC

[Gary Anderson]

In Rules for Camouflage by Kirstin Cronn-Mills, our neurodivergent heroine Evvie flat out confronts the school superintendent about his time in high school: “Did you pick on the geeks? The weirdos? The nerds? The kids who were just a little different?” Those are the kids who may be shadow-dwellers in their high schools, but they are front and center in this excellent young adult novel.

Evvie and her friends are the ones who are teased, ignored, and even tortured by others in their high school, including some of the adults. Evvie’s brain doesn’t work in typical ways, and one of the ways she is wired requires her to stand up and fight back against injustice. Evvie has two mottos: “Respect Existence or Expect Resistance” and “Fwoosh.” The first is self-explanatory while “Fwoosh” is the imaginary sound made when an octopus (or neurodivergent high school senior) goes into camouflage mode as a reaction to stress.

Evvie is fascinated by octopi, especially Aretha, the octopus she cares for at a Minnesota zoo. She relates not just to Aretha’s camouflage expertise but also her intelligence, creative problem-solving, and cautious relationship-building. At the zoo Evvie meets Blue, a boy who also has a quirky brain, and they find their way to something like being a couple, complete with a Zoo Prom.

The zoo is Evvie’s safe place, while school mostly seems like a rigged game. Evvie’s school nemesis is Ms. Dearborn, the biology teacher who is set on making Evvie’s life difficult while saying that she is just trying to help her straighten out her life. I’m not a big fan of young adult novels that demonize teachers, but I’ve known enough cruel, hypocritical teachers like Dearborn to say that this time I loved seeing someone like that challenged by a student who says exactly what she is thinking without any filters. Dearborn is offset by Rachel, the wonderful music teacher who provides a safe place in the school for Evvie and others who need sanctuary when school becomes just too much.

Rules for Camouflage sidesteps most young adult literature tropes as it celebrates some of the most vulnerable kids in a high school–for example, those who prefer not to socialize, those who like to read, those who show pride in their ethnic cultures, those who don’t want to go to college right away, or those whose interests do not align with anything at school. Many young readers will relate to Evvie and her friends because author Kirstin Cronn-Mills authentically captures the feel of high school. Rules for Camouflage is a solid recommendation for those who like realistic fiction by John Green, Angie Thomas, or Jennifer Niven; the idiosyncratic characters in A. S. King books; and maybe even animal lovers and marine life enthusiasts.

This review is also posted on my What's Not Wrong? blog and Instagram in slightly different form.

[Gina Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is totally giving Freeform original TV series

Our main character, Evvie, is neurodivergent, and this book just follows her throughout a year of school - fighting back against a teacher she doesn't agree with (I mean, personally, I kind of sided with her teacher on the main issue, but I am not a 16 year old. Plus her teacher proved to be evil in other ways so whatever), dealing with her long distance best friend's alcoholism, having a requited crush for the first time, and just being a kid. Their mom also has a similar diagnosis - no diagnoses are revealed on page in this book, which I find interesting, because Evvie didn't want anyone to have preconceived notions. I do know that it sounds like her mom has ADHD and while Evvie doesn't have too many problems relating to her mom, it does give a view into how parenting, and just trying to do adult things, with ADHD can be a struggle.

Evvie is obsessed with an octopus that lives at the zoo she volunteers at, and her teacher is making her do a project on animals. The teacher has specified it has to be mammals, and Evvie tries her hardest to get an approval to do octopi as her animal. Like I said, it's like, damn, just do the fox, but on the other hand, I don't know if the teacher specified mammals before or after hearing Evvie's pitch. Evvie spends the whole book convinced that the octopus presentation will be sufficient, almost to the point of delusion, and well, it is definitely one of the few climaxes of the book.

Evvie is quirky to the point of pain sometimes (the group of kids Evvie hangs out with says "hop off my wang" more than I can handle) but I mean, isn't that what being 16 is all about? That's why it feels like a funny TV show to me - I think the Atypical comp is a great one.

Evvie's a great character and super fleshed out. She's funny, complex, and won't allow people to make up her mind for her, for better or for worse. I also really liked her crush, Blue, who also is neurodivergent; he has intrusive thoughts, so badly that he spends time at an institution. The way they navigate each others' brain differences is sweet to see.

This was super easy to read and really strong in voice. I will say that the finished copy had MULTIPLE errors, especially in the text chats, which was confusing to read. Like, in one instance, it said "I texted Hannah since Karen wasn't available" and then the texts following SAID they were between Karen and Evvie when they should have, clearly, been between Hannah and Evvie. Or whatever tf their names were. But like that happened MORE than once.

[The Page Ladies Book Club · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rules for Camouflage is a wonderful story of self discovery and acceptance! Evvie was a great character and I truly enjoyed getting to know her! The relationship between her and her mother was one of my favorite parts! Reading about her struggles and triumphs you really can't help but feel emotional at times! One of the other things I loved about this book is the love and support that the characters received from friends and adults! This is a great addition to the neurodivergent literature genre and a fantastic read for many young readers! Thank you Novl, Kirstin Cronn-Mills and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for sharing this book with me!

[Nicole Austin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley and Little Brown Books for Young Readers for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

"Rules for Camouflage" by Kirstin Cronn-Mills offers a heartfelt and relatable coming-of-age story centered around Evvie Chambers, a neurodivergent teen navigating the challenges of high school, friendships, and first love. This book is just so honest and authentic. I absolutely liked Evvie’s perspective and learning more about how her “weird brain” (as she describes it) works as well as the other characters in the book. There is so much diversity within this book, and the author is careful not to include any labels, presumably because neurodivergence can be such a spectrum, and this allows readers to connect with the characters even if they themselves don’t have a label.

Evvie's inner world is portrayed as a wonderful and glorious place, providing you with a unique glimpse into her mind. Despite facing obstacles, including a power-tripping and challenging teacher, Mrs. Dearborn, Evvie remains resilient as she strives to find her place in a world that often fails to accommodate her neurodiversity. The book beautifully captures Evvie's struggles and triumphs. Her journey is one of self-discovery and acceptance, as she learns to navigate the complexities of school, friendships, and bullies like Vandal. There is just so much acceptance and love throughout the book, like with Evvie’s friend Hugh (also known as Blue) as well as Evvie’s mother, who is also neurodivergent. I especially love the relationship between Evvie and her mother as they are both neurodivergent and similar in many ways, so they are able to understand one another. They communicate, they give each other space, and I just loved their mother-daughter relationship. I would also love to give a shout-out to the cat, Popcorn, who was also given an (imagined) voice that felt very authentic for a cat. As a fellow cat owner, I just loved the addition of Popcorn and her inner voice.

As the story unfolds, you are taken on a rollercoaster of emotions, from moments of joy and camaraderie within the Lair, a safe haven for neurodivergent students, to heartbreaking acts of violence that push Evvie to the edge. There is a powerful message in the book that, unfortunately in today’s society, there are still moments where you have to mask, where you have to put on your camouflage in order to simply survive, but it’s completely acceptable and encouraged to act as your authentic self when in a comfortable environment surrounded by those who love you and understand you. I am so thankful that this book explores this message with having the Lair in a school space, which is something I think all schools should have in order to make life bearable for anyone at school. While the actions of Mrs. Dearborn seemed a bit too extreme at times as well as some of the acts of violence depicted in the book, I know that there are teachers just like her in the real world, that there are those in power who take advantage of and break down those who aren’t neurotypical. With the support of her friends and loved ones, Evvie is able to find the strength to remain true to herself and carve out her own path in the world.

"Rules for Camouflage" is an absolutely necessary addition to the genre of neurodivergent literature, offering a refreshing perspective and reminding readers of the importance of acceptance and understanding. Cronn-Mills' storytelling is both relatable and impactful, making this book a must-read for anyone seeking a coming-of-age tale with a neurodivergent perspective.

[booksonthefloor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was gifted this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I tend to be wary in general of books that feature neurodivergent characters. I don't want charcters full of stereotypes. I want characters who feel like people.

This book is FULL of characters who feel like people.

Evvie, the main character, is a dynamic neurodivergent girl. I was struck by how she seems very intelligent, and also seems very done with school. I feel like the book really holds space for both of those things. The author lays out that Evvie has had a really hard time in high school, that college is not for her right now, and that she has come up with an alternative plan. I really love that this is done off the page and is presented as a fact as opposed to a plot point. There isn't the push and pull of "should she go to college," that is common in YA books about senior year. There should be more books normalizing that college is not for everyone (or that immediately going to college is not for everyone.)

Mrs. Dearborn is a teacher with whom I am sure many readers will struggle. I think some would have a hard time believing a teacher like her can exist in 2024. I have had a boss like her and just last year, my neurodivergent daughter had a teacher like her. I have seen in other people's reviews on Good reads that they don't find her believable. Gosh, does she feel familiar to me.

The neurodivergent "Lair" reminded me so much of my own high school experiences in our music department that I could only picture my own band room while reading about it. Music teachers have, for so long, acted as the safe haven for neurodivergent kids.

The storyline that I did not like was that of Ken. She seems to be struggling with pretty severe addiction issues, but this storyline gets wrapped up without much fanfare at the end of the book. She is described as "shaky" and "pale" and "puffy," after drinking excessively for what appears to be a long time, often alone, but then just... stops drinking. This storyline didn't seem super plausible to me and didn't address a serious problem in the way I would have liked to read. Although, I did appreciate that Evvie eventually tells her mother about her concerns for Ken and doesn't try to handle the situation completely alone.

[Christina · Rating 2 out of 5]

**This book was sent to me by Little Brown and NOVL.**

There was so much I wanted to love about this book. I love books that feature neurodivergent characters and I think they are much needed in a diverse bookshelf. I liked the inclusion of Evvie's special interest being octopus and I liked learning about them through her character. I also though the Lair was such a cool concept and a really necessary safe space for young people in real life.

What did not click for me in this book was the protagonist, Evvie. I understand that the story was told through her perspective, but I felt that at times it lacked some detail to really help the reader understand her motivations. For example, she has such an aversion to completing Dearborn's assignment just...because she doesn't want to? She begins the story absolutely hating Dearborn and there didn't seem to be any reason behind it until the end and I'm not sure that it was fully realized for the reader until that point either. Also, the fact that Evvie skipped sophomore year was just glossed over and I would have liked that part to be more fully developed because I really think it would make Evvie's decisions and rules of engagement in school during her senior year much more clear.

Overall, the premise for this book was interesting and had a lot of elements I could have liked, but the main character was not one that I connected with. Maybe I am not in the target demographic for this book, being mostly neurotypical myself, but, being a general education teacher with experience with all types of students, it will definitely be something that I share with them in my classroom library.

[Ella · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.8/5

I genuinley enjoyed very little in this book. It was just very cringe-worthy, and I found myself having to put down the book and take a walk during the texting moments lol. When Evvie and Ken had arguments over messages, why did they feel it was necessary to add those swearing, red, and mad emojis? The topic they were discussing was actually pretty serious, so why did they use like 50 corny emojis in one text? Seems out of touch.
Something that really bugged me was the whole Gus Gus-on-fire and Evvie-Cant-Graduate debacle. Evvie was just told life changing news about her future, but all she cares about is Gus Gus, who she was informed multiple times that he is fine and at his house. With his mother. And a few bandages. If I remember correctly, she doesnt even really tell her Mother about her not graduating? Idk.
To be fair, I would also be extremely concerned about a friend of mine if he was set on fire. But, Evvie missed freshman year, and worked incredibly hard to graduate, so why does she gloss over the fact she wont get that diploma? Speaking of that, why was there barely anything about Evvie missing freshman year? They gave us a page or two about it and that was it. I wish we knew more so Evvie could have had more depth added to her character.
Here is my problem with Mrs. Dearborn...is she just a bigot? Is that it? Is there any other depth to Dearborn, other than she hates neurodivergent people? We know she has been like this since she started teaching, but why? CMON I NEED ANWSERS.

To end this off on something positive, I did kind of like Evvie and Blues relationship. (But why the Drag Queen beta fish? Fishee Stixx?????? WHO WROTE THIS?)

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Evvie is just trying to get through the last few weeks of her senior year, and she doesn't understand why Mrs. Dearborn insists that she deliver her final biology report about foxes instead of her beloved octopus. Who cares that an octopus isn't a mammal? Evvie's favorite creature is Aretha, the super-smart octopus from the Minnesota Zoo, where she volunteers, and she doesn't understand why everyone wouldn't want to learn about her.

Evvie finds safety in "the Lair," a quiet space one of the teachers has cleared for her and other students who need a timeout sometimes, and in addition to navigating the challenges life and school throw their way, the students must also navigate bullying from other students on campus. But they navigate the challenges together, finding strength in their community and themselves.

I loved the representation of neurodivergent students, but the portrayal of the adults in the novel felt really unrealistic. Perhaps I have been lucky in working at schools that have a more empathetic attitude toward neurodivergent students, but I found it hard to believe so few adults were willing to step in and help these kids with the blatant bullying (from teachers and students). I also feel uncomfortable recommending the book to my audience (teachers who recommend books to students within their classrooms) because of the amount of profanity (including the oft-repeated motto "Hop off my wang").

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

[Sarah Bowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great (mostly) and a hard (TW- bullying from kids and adults and alcoholism in a teen, plus a fire related attack) read that I absolutely flew through and loved Even when my heart was breaking.

Evvie is a neurodivergent teen who's a senior in high school. After not being able to attend for over a year, she combined her sophomore and junior years to catch up. She has to deal with a teacher bully who will not bend towards the way that Evvie learns. She has to see a fellow ND new injured in a horrific way but when she stands up for it to those in "power"....chills! It's a powerful thing that she does.

I was so extremely mad at this teacher, the principal and their relative (like a great grandnephew or something) teen who is the bringer of harm. My absolute favorite part of this was the LAIR and the teacher Rachel who implemented it. The LAIR let kids whose brains work in different ways take a break/reset there and I think all school need a place like this.

And Aretha- the blue day octopus that Evvie spends her time volunteering with 🤩🫶 love! I'm glad she got close to Blue (real name Hugh) while working there too and that their brains worked in different ways from each other even but they still found ways to form a relationship that better was aiming for previously.

[Karin Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a good story about a neurodivergent high school student who is working her way though the high school system and life. Evie is a senior at a school who is working to graduate despite the efforts of her biology teacher. Ms Dearborn, overlooks Evie's assets and passionate interests in octopi, and instead insists upon Evie conforming to her rigid ideas about learning.

Fortunately, for Evie and some of her other friends at school, other teachers recognizes that these students are different and provide a safe space for them.

Evie, like all people, is not perfect and can be challenging. But the author demonstrates how forgiveness, empathy and patience help students like Evie deal with their environment. I was struck by Evie's passionate interest in her love of Aretha, the octopus she cares for at the zoo, and even more so by Evie's courage to stand up for a classmate when he is seriously injured by another student.

This is been a great book for myself as an educator to read as a window into the lives of neurodivergent teens. It would be a great book for other educators to read and certainly to have on the shelves for students to read and serve as a mirror and foundational blueprint for other neurodivergent teens.

[Jessica IJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book was really good and i thought the neurodivergent experience was really well portrayed (not to mention the animal hyfix which was incredibly relatable) and i only have two issues, or opinions really.

a) i was really loving the more or less uplifting story about a young neurodivergent student navigating the typical difficulties of high school, and then gushing his was attacked and evvie failed her class. it really changed the vibe from the beginning of the book.

b) i personally don’t agree with mills take on labels. yes, there is stigma and some harm associated with labeling people, but it also says something about who they are, and when telling a story of neurodivergent representation, with a community so vast as the neurodiverse one, i think it’s helpful. there are a lot of similarities between, say, autism and adhd, but a lot more differences between, say tourette’s and dyslexia. giving these a label allows them to be better understood and allow people to create supports and friends more easily than just going “these people here have ‘brain differences*’”

*as in, neuro=brain and diversity=differences among each other

[Lee Cornell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This definition of neurodivergent comes from the Cleveland Clinic:

Neurodivergent isn’t a medical term. Instead, it’s a way to describe people using words other than “normal” and “abnormal.” That’s important because there’s no single definition of “normal” for how the human brain works. (https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health...)

Evvie is neurodivergent. She struggled and missed her sophomore year of high school, but through the next two years, she has been making up lost ground and will soon be graduating. She hopes. She believes.

I think it is safe to say that high school is rough on nearly everyone, but it is a special challenge if your behavior and/or talents lie outside the norms. Teen angst surges to become debilitating. This novel focuses on Evvie, but we learn how the people around her, neurodivergent or not, impact Evvie’s life. And when she needs to don her behavioral camouflage. FWOOSH.

[Chris G. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Neurodivergent Evvie has had a rough trip through high school - she missed most of freshman year because of struggles with the way her brain works, but she made up the missed year and is on track to graduate on time. The support of her neurodivergent mom, counseling, and a teacher who has created a reset haven for students like Evvie in a small storage room at the high school help to keep Evvie on track until she can finish school and take a gap year working with the octopus at the local zoo where she has been volunteering. Through lists, texts, and narration, readers will empathize with Evvie through friend struggles, a budding romance, and a terrifying hate crime. Neurodivergence is rarely this vividly represented in YA lit; s must read, EARC from Edelweiss.

[Arleigh Salerno · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a good read... a coming of age story of a young girl named Evvie. Giving us a window into the world of a neurodivergent person. We follow her through the obstacles of school, friendship, and even first love (with a boy named she accidentally gave a nickname to!)
At school, she had such huge obstacles to overcome, but had a "safe-haven" to go to when feeling overwhelmed or just needing an escape... honestly, I wish I had that kind of thing when I was in school! One solace she found was also always in an octopus named Aretha, which she was able to help care for. Sometimes, people need that support and a bit of understanding.
Through all of this, she learned to stay true to herself and fight for herself. So recommended!

[Sandra Thom-Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a long way outside the target audience (definitely not a ‘young’ adult) but I loved this book. I really relates to many aspects of Evvie’s school experience (and wish we had a ‘Lair’ at my high school, and at my kids’ high school). Great depiction of what it is like to have a ‘different’ brain. I loved that Evvie’s mum was also neurodivergent, and that we saw the strengths as well as the challenges of the multiple neurodivergent characters.
I give it 5⭐️ as an adult book but 4⭐️ as a YA book because I can imagine a lot of parents/teachers being uncomfortable with some of the language (and a couple of other aspects). I wouldn’t have given it to my kids to read until they reached the upper limit of the YA range

[Tamara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: Rules for Camouflage  
Author: Kirstin Cronn-Mills
Genre: YA        
Rating:  4 out of 5

I enjoyed this read—especially the scenes with Aretha, who was absolutely magical. I liked seeing how Evvie’s mind worked, and to a certain extent, the other kids in the Lair, too. I didn’t really care for a couple of scenes where Evvie and some of the other kids thought their neurodivergent brains meant the rules didn’t apply to them. While I didn’t care for Mrs. Dearborn and her ugly personality, Evvie’s refusal to follow the rules of the assignment was glossed over and made to seem sympathetic, but, yea, it’s not. This was a solid, entertaining read.

(Galley courtesy of Little, Brown Books for Young Readers in exchange for an honest review.)

[Wina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Contemporary fiction for ages 14-18, this takes place in Minnesota, including the MN Zoo. Filled with octopus facts, lists, and texts, this goes by quickly. Evvie is learning how to deal with her neurodiversity, which she shares with her mom. They are a very lovable pair. Her crush has his own mental health struggles, so they are able to understand each other better. The school dynamics include people who are great with diversity and true allies as well as the 'old school' ass hats. Evvie's days have some fantastic encouragement as well as debilitating discouragement. Very uplifting, funny, heartbreaking, and inspires all of us to do better. Another woke book in the true meaning. Full of plenty of swearing, no sex, concerning alcohol use by a friend.

[Jame_EReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

👦🏻reviews: This realistic fiction YA romance is worth a read. I am a fan of realistic fiction, so it weighed more on this genre rather than romance. Evvie has neurodivergent and she’s trying not to attract any attention but simply camouflaging herself to the surroundings until her best friend was lost during their field trip to the zoo. Her support from friends and family is so well-written that I couldn’t help not liking the book. In fact, the flow of the story from the beginning to the end while realizing she’s going through her feelings of first love with Blue. It is a cute book and any books that deal with neurodivergent feelings, the ending is usually a good one.

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This young adult novel is perfect for those who feel they just don’t fit in, particularly if they are neurodivergent. Everything is going fairly well in high school for Evvie, but suddenly a bully begins harassing members of the ‘Lair,’ which is a safe-haven at school for other students who are like Evvie. As the bullying intensifies, Evvie starts to feel the pressure, and her grades plummet to the point that she may not graduate. Can she channel her inner strengths to find her way through the institutes of high school and her first romance? No spoilers, but this is a rewarding read for those who find themselves in similar situations.

[Alix · Rating 4 out of 5]

4+

I love books like this, that show adults how to support the kids around them. I was a teen in the 90s and we sort of made our own way around surviving high school. Some of us getting in a lot of trouble in the process. The writing & characters aren’t similar to I Kissed Shara Wheeler but the underlying kids vs shitty adults and their conformity requirements were reminiscent, only from an ND standpoint vs lgbt+, complete with graduation in the balance.

I hope the band teacher was independently wealthy or something. All those clif bars sounded expensive.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a GREAT YA coming of age story featuring two neurodiverse teens, both volunteer at the Zoo and love aquatic invertebrates, especially the octopus. I loved how the main character, Evvie identifies with the way the octopus is able to camouflage (aka "mask") to fit in with their environment.

This book does an excellent job describing what it's like to be neurotypical, the bullying and ableism that is rampant from other neurotypicals (fellow students and teachers alike). Highly recommended for fans of authors like Elle McNicoll, Jackie Khalilieh and Calyssa Erb.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three stars for well-rounded portrayal of neurodivergent characters, but everything else in the book just failed to engage me. The very clear 'us vs them ' conflict at school feels juvenile for a teen audience as opposed to showing more nuance. Maybe this is true to some experiences, but it seemed to ring false to me, or at least show a lack of growth/maturity in the story. There are enough sexual references and F words to signify that the readers are ready for a more advanced view of the world... Certainly enough to make me think the word 'cozy' doesn't belong on the cover as a descriptor.

[Ashley Dauby · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cute and heartfelt book! I really enjoyed this book. I wasnt sure what the book was going to get into when i first jumped into it. But after only a couple chapters, i was hooked. Such a nice story overall about being “different” and how others look at you because of your differences. Jump into Evvies world of school, life, Aretha and Blue and see where itll take you. This is one ill read again!

I did win an early copy of this book in a goodreads giveaway, thank you!!

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story of Evvie, her favorite invertebrate named Aretha, her friends, her struggles with her “unruly brain” (her words), and her trusted adults. Her struggles with untrustworthy adults & kids can be painful to read at times (people can be the worst!) but Evvie persists and even, dare I say, thrives? In her own setting, in the end, she changes the world.

[Nimbell · Rating 1 out of 5]

I made an account just to review this book. As a 44 year old, who raised two Gen Zers, one being on the spectrum, I would never recommend this book for them to read. It's full of terrible ideologies that aren't going to help them overcome small obstacles in life, let alone the big ones everyone faces regardless if you're neurodivergent or neurotypical.

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a cute, easy read. I really enjoyed the unique and inside perspective it gave of people who are neurodivergent. It provided lots of great lessons and words of advice. However, I felt like the cussing and foul language was a bit excessive to the point that it was pretty distracting from the story.

[Nichola · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seems like there is a lot more out there these days for a YA audience concerning neurodivergent protagonists. This fit firmly in there, and I enjoyed the story and felt hopeful for this young person with her interests and the life she was moving forward in. Balancing high school, self regulation and personal professional growth through her job all seemed like manageable challenges.

[Chelsea · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the way they talked about neurodivergence in the book and all of the different characters relationships with their own neurodivergence. All of the octopus facts were super cool and I found myself very invested in Evie’s time at the zoo. A quick and easy read!