A History of My Weird

by Chloe Heuch

Starting high school was never going to be easy for Mo, but a fall out with her so-called 'friends' leaves her lonelier than ever. Then she finds Onyx. Exploring an abandoned Victorian asylum may seem a weird way to develop a friendship, but then Mo has always found she does things a bit differently. Together they help each other accept their own differences even when others struggle to do the same. Determined to keep the pair apart, Onyx's dad actions force them back to the secrecy of Denham asylum. On Halloween night, with the old building due for demolition, the two friends enter for the last time…

195 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 7, 2024

Reviews

[Lora X · Rating 5 out of 5]

I actually bought this book as a second for a discount during book fair because the cover looked nice, the title was relatable and the story sounded cute.
At home I read the note about the author first: Chloë is neurodivergent. „Well, it was quite obvious. Now I’m really looking forward to reading it.“
I started reading: The protagonist is autistic. „You got me, now I’m sold. I’ll love it.“
And I did love it indeed. The characters are lovely (besides some very special ones which you just want to punch in the face as soon as they appear) and I really liked how the author included different topics around growing up / puberty, neurodiversity and LGBTQ+ in family dynamics but also in school and society.
If you liked Elle McNicolls A Kind of Spark I’m really sure you’ll enjoy this one as well. 💖

[Susie · Rating 4 out of 5]

addictive reading, sometimes it felt a bit like a checklist of all things autistic, but other than that heartfelt and Frank

[Denise Gale · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was sent a proof of this book in exchange for an honest review so thank you Firefly and Bounce for sending me this as i loved it!
As soon as i started reading this book i was hooked and knew i was going to love it! Mo was so well written and authentic and as a result i was completly invested!
Mo finds it hard to make friends, because she is autistic she finds reading people hard and as a result she finds herself in a friendship group that is not genuine. This all changes when she meets Carys a fellow outsider who has her own problems and secrets but who appears to at least genuinly like spending time with her.
I loved the themes in this book and how it explored the link between autism and old asylums and i liked how they linked this back to Mo’s family. This book highlights a part of history I was not aware of, where people with autism were not understood and were seen as a problem to contain rather than help. The book also raises awareness around what it is like to deal with autism even though we understand it more now, through Mo we learn about her daily struggles. Books like this are so important as they help foster empathy and understanding whilst also helping people feel represented and seen.
Her friendship with Carys/ Onyx was realistically portrayed too, as being friends with them wasn’t always easy or without a few hiccups along the way. This was due in part to Onyx having their own issues to deal with which was dealt with in a very sensitive way.

I raced through this book in a day and I think this book will be perfect for fans of A Kind of Spark!

[Steph Warren · Rating 5 out of 5]

This middle-grade novel tackles themes of friendship, neurodiversity, gender diversity and bullying, following main character Mo as she starts secondary school, with all of the social and academic challenges that involves.

Most of Mo’s challenges will feel familiar to any tween/teen, as she faces ostracism from her more popular, socially conforming peers, tries to make new friends, and struggles with adults who don’t seem to listen properly or understand where she is coming from. And her new friend, Onyx also struggles with relatable problems like parents who don’t support or understand their ways of expressing their individuality, and a possible first crush.

With a plot that includes drama – literally, as they put on a show! – and a creepy night visit to an abandoned old asylum, along with school and family conflicts, there is plenty going on and the short sections broken down by date instead of chapters really helped to keep the attention of the younger Shines (who can get overwhelmed by loooong chapters).

Speaking of which, here’s what Minishine (11) and Babybows (8) had to say about the book:

Minishine: I liked this book – it reminds me of me!

Babybows: It’s amazing! All about mean teachers and nice teachers and friends and acting and autism and stuff.

Minishine: Actually, I think it’s about showing people that it’s okay to be different.

Babybows: I don’t like Onyx’s dad though cos he is mean. He won’t let Onyx wear black clothes that they like and makes them clip their hair back and calls them Carys when they want to be called Onyx. I don’t like bullies – grown-ups or kids. Grown-up bullies like him and Mo’s maths teacher are the worst because they are older so they should know better! They should pick on someone their own size! No, wait… that’s still not okay!

Minishine: Yeah, but the story shows that anyone can be different and they don’t have to hide it. And the play reminded me of The Greatest Showman and I love that film, and it has the same thing about being different too! And my favourite characters are Mo AND Onyx. I feel like Mo is a bit similar to me, but I’m more into ‘girly-girl’ stuff and am obsessed with Taylor Swift, not sneaking around old asylums!

Babybows: But you do both love DRAMA!

We all agree that this is a great story for those looking for neurodivergent main characters and fans of books/TV like A Kind of Spark or Can You See Me? It’s so important for children with ASD to be able to see themselves in different media and for those who are neurotypical to see and understand more about their neurodiverse peers.

More than this though, this is a really engaging and fun story that draws you right in to the characters’ lives and makes you feel like you really know them all. Definitely a recommended read from our 50/50 ND/NT household!

[Sabrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mo has just started a new school and everything is different!
I liked Mo right from the start. I really sympathised with her school troubles and was overjoyed when she made a friend and found some nice older kids who watched out for her. It was great to see her trying to keep her own personality, despite other people wanting to change her. Some action packed adventure as well as an emotional ending that left me with tears in my eyes.
I'm not knowledgeable enough to say if the autism representation is 100% correct or not, but to me it seemed very sensitive and well done. I feel like I learnt a lot about the concerns people might have.

https://sabrinasbooktails.blogspot.co...

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Chloe Heuch's first book, and absolutely loved this new one! Such a wonderful, moving and uplifting story full of characters that I was really invested in and wanted to know what would happen to them next. I'm going to miss them now I've finished the book. A beautiful and inclusive story that I'll be recommending to everyone.

[Asa ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a pleasure to be asked to read an early version of this, and a second read through of the final novel has been really exciting! Following Mo and Onyx through their journeys is gripping and heartwarming, and it's so lovely to see well-written representation of autistic and trans people, especially for a younger audience.

[Mrs Walsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I’m about 80% sold on this one. I thought it had some good storylines and shone a light on how we are all individuals. There were bits I felt never got resolved, like the man in the asylum. I also thought some of the ending was too rushed. Overall I good book just not sold completely.

[Milana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like this book because I can relate to it A LOT. I love it how it makes her different and so relatable and for kids that are new yr 7's, its so nice to hear from another persons perspective even though the author's not ACTUALLY in yr7.

[Alice magical library · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this story! I think that Mo and Carys were amazing, and I loved the storyline. I think that Chloë’s writing skills are just incredible, as I was always wondering what was going to happen next. I really hope that we hear more about these amazing friends, as I think their story was just wonderful. I also think that she described how life in school is like for an autistic child like myself. I would definitely recommend this book.