Declan Someone:

by KATE MCELDERRY

Finding who you are can change everything.
Declan Someone is a neurodiverse teenager from New York who has spent his life feeling slightly out of sync―with other people, with expectations, and with himself. When an unexpected opportunity takes him to Ireland, Declan steps into a landscape shaped by story, memory, and myth, and begins a journey that quietly challenges everything he believes about identity and belonging.

Set between contemporary New York and Ireland, Declan Someone is a lyrical coming-of-age novella that blends modern literary fiction with subtle elements of Irish folklore. As Declan navigates new relationships, creative pressure, and unresolved questions from his past, myth becomes a gentle lens through which he begins to see himself differently.

Written with warmth, clarity, and emotional insight, this is a hopeful story about neurodiversity, self-worth, and the courage it takes to grow into who you already are. Accessible yet richly layered, Declan Someone will resonate with teens and adults alike.

260 pages, Paperback

Published March 20, 2026

Reviews

[Amy Metzger]

A fun young adult novel that is full of puns and word play. It made me want to visit Ireland and write!

[Betsy Robinson]

I met author Kate McElderry on Instagram, and she was so supportive of my posts that I got curious about her debut novel, Declan Someone.

Although Kate's bio says she is an author and educator based in Baltimore County, Maryland, Declan Someone (The Journey of Declan Noone), inspired by her own neurodiversity, her students, and time spent writing in Ireland, has a London publisher and the only place I found it in the USA was Barnes & Noble. And the book is having a big UK debut. You can see all about all that at Kate's website.

Declan Someone is the story of 18-year-old Declan Noone, an aspiring writer who struggles with ADHD. Despite his insecurities about writing, Declan wins an essay contest and gets a grant to go to Ireland. He is from a broken family and hopes to fill in some holes in his history and relationships by traveling to the place everyone comes from. The book weaves reality with myth and has nice plotting.

Because I think Declan Someone might be a gift to young people navigating life with anything from ADHD to other neurodiversities, I'm donating my book to the YA department of my local library. I'm going to stick a subject card in it for the librarian:

ADHD and neurodiversity
Broken families
Ireland and Irish myths
Book discussion guide by the author, a teacher specializing in neurodiversity

Clearly, Kate McElderry wrote this book to help young people negotiate difficulties. I hope some of them will find and enjoy Declan Someone in the Riverside branch of the New York Public Library.

[Peter Gamwell]

I absolutely love this book. In this beautifully crafted story, author, Kate McElderry invites us into the profound quest of a young man seeking identity, self-understanding, meaning, and belonging. Through Declan’s lived experience with ADHD, we are immersed in the complexities of his challenges, the transformative power of strength-based strategies, and his remarkable growth through determination and resilience. Ultimately, it is Declan’s personal creativity that shapes and illuminates his unique path forward – with the help of powerful and wonderful mentors. This poignant and hopeful book will be particularly helpful for anyone seeking to better understand the lived experiences of individuals with neurodivergence. It is an inspiring read!

[Jessica]

This coming-of-age tale beautifully captures the nuanced journey of building confidence from within and realizing one’s own potential. A must-read for any teen or adolescent with ADHD, dyslexia, or anxiety, who is struggling to find where they fit in, Declan Someone is relatable, validating, and inspirational with neurodiversity, Irish culture, and complicated family dynamics woven together naturally.

[Emma Chase]

This book was great! I enjoyed the integration of folklore into the story. Declan is a relatable and realistic character that I felt good to watch grow. 5 stars!!!

[F. W.]

This book was so rich with culture and emotion!!!! I really enjoyed reading about Declan’s journey. When he was at the Noone’s farm I couldn’t help but feel emotional because you could tell that he was carrying so much. I’m so glad that it all worked out for him in the end. This book was a very easy read, I practically finished the book in only a couple hours opposed to usually 12+ hours since I was so focused on the rich story. I really enjoyed the author’s writing style, it was very simple to follow yet quite detailed and informative!

[ROCCO GIULIANO]

I must admit that I had no idea what to expect from Declan Someone.
My understanding of Irish tradition is limited to gauzy notions of leprechauns, druids and old folks dispensing wisdom to wide-eyed, tow-headed children.
As it turns out, there are no leprechauns in Katrin McElderry’s delightful novel, although, as if to compensate, there **are** shape-shifting seals among many other marvels.
Most importantly, there is no shortage of insights about how young people, and, in fact, humans of any age, can navigate life’s ups, downs, and diversions by reframing challenges as opportunities for growth.
This is an essential lesson for all, but especially for the “neuro-divergents” among us whose so-called deficits can, with a little imagination and a dollop of wisdom, be transformed – in fact, shape-shifted – into magical portals to wondrous realms of power and positivity.

[Andrew Hawkins]

Declan Someone is a pleasure to read. I was quickly hooked into the story and despite the novel being classified for a Young Adult audience, I didn’t find myself in any way patronised as an older reader. The themes that McElderry explores in the novel are dealt with in a universally appealing way, and while self-determination, identity and making difficult choices that define who you are, and even having to surrender a dearly held personal goal, may have a particular relevance to the younger adult age-group, they are resonant for readers of all ages. These themes are handled with a light touch, and one never feels like one is reading a story that is driven by pedagogical or ideological goals. The book is full of touching and finely observed detail, with the cultural dissonances between Irish New York and Ireland, Dublin as well as rural, given many entertaining and insightful twists. The scholarship year that New Yorker kid Declan wins to develop as a writer, which forms the backbone of the novel, is obviously an exceptionally privileged and unusual situation for a teenager to find himself in, but McElderry handles her material in a way that produces a tale of universal and compelling interest. Throughout she writes with skill and charm. Highly recommended.

[Susie Needle]

Declan Someone (The Journey of Declan Noone) is a delightful tale about a young man who has struggled with ADHD. In the process of spending a year in Ireland, back to his family’s roots, he discovers, among other things, that he is not alone as a neurodiverse learner
and comes to be more accepting of himself and others.
Kate McKelderry is a gifted storyteller, weaving Declan’s experiences in Ireland into a charming story.

[Tara]

This story is a page turner for all ages. Children and adults will delight in Declan's journey of self discovery where he is pleasantly delighted when he doesn't get the answers he is looking for. He learns that the lesson is in the journey and how we get help from unexpected friends we make a long the way. The novel is authentic in craft and authentic to the setting.

[Edna]

In an authentic, energetic and enthusiastic voice, Kate McElderry’s Declan Someone tells a tale of awareness and alignment, healing and transforming, connection and community that is simultaneously ancient and modern, realistic and mystical. A joy to read!