Wired Different: A Neurodivergent Tale

by D.C. London

In a post-human world where psychology has been banned, four robot students accidentally start a neurodivergence acceptance club...and spark a revolution.

Quirk never wanted friends. But when he discovers an old pink hoodie from the extinct human civilization, his world turns inside out. He stumbles into a group of robots like him: a nervous bot obsessed with human artifacts, a hyperactive giant who never stops talking, and a frantic bot plagued by sensory issues.

In a society that has outlawed all knowledge of psychology, these four have no words for what makes them different. They've never heard of autism, ADHD, anxiety, OCD, or sensory processing disorders. But together, they inadvertently create the Wired Different club-a safe space where being different doesn't mean being broken.

As their small support group grows, so does the backlash. More students find hope and community. More parents push back with fear and misinformation. And when the cost of ignorance becomes painfully clear, the club must decide: Is acceptance worth the fight?

A graphic novel about neurodivergence, belonging, and learning that different doesn't mean defective.

Perfect for:
School libraries and SEL curriculum (grades 5-10)
Counseling offices and support groups
Families with neurodivergent children
Readers who loved New Kid, Guts, El Deafo, and Smile
136 pages, full-color. Includes mental health resources, crisis hotlines, and glossary.

Content notes: Bullying, suicide, grief, parental conflict

Genres: Science Fiction, Young Adult, Comics, Middle Grade, Mental Health

136 pages, Graphic Novel

Published June 15, 2026

About the author

D.C. London is an author and illustrator with ten published graphic novels for middle grade and young adult readers. He is the co-founder of Parliament Studios and Creative Director of the Emmy-nominated PBS television series START UP. A U.S. Army veteran who served in the 101st Airborne Division, London is a tireless advocate for veterans and works to help end veteran suicide. He is the father of three sons and lives in Michigan.

Reviews

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A patient, empathetic graphic novel that will resonate with middle school readers who may be beginning to understand their own differences or coping mechanisms —or hoping to better understand classmates who may be struggling to fit in. The artwork is simple inviting cartoon work, and the pink hoodie serves as a wonderful symbol of comfort, identity, and belonging. Without giving anything away, the story takes some surprisingly heartbreaking turns that add real emotional weight to its message of acceptance and understanding, so be ready. Thoughtful, accessible, and ultimately hopeful, this would be an excellent addition to any school library.

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a spectacular reflection of neurodivergence and the isolation that can develop as a side effect. The metaphorical storytelling was extremely creative and presented heavy topics in such a lighthearted and educational manner. The illustrations and structure were so creative, allowing you to be completely immersed in the world of robots. I also commend the wordplay, such as "shift" or "switch" in place of curse words - it's an age appropriate element that adds comedic relief, as well.

Each character is extremely loveable and relatable in some way, finding comfort in one another after realizing they're unique but in similar ways was so touching. I adore the principal's character and feel that his position will teach readers that there is always an adult you can trust and confide in when you are feeling such heavy emotions. I highly recommend this book - to neurodivergent readers so they know they are not alone, and to neurotypical readers to better understand the internal struggles of many of their friends and peers! **I strongly advise reading trigger warnings prior to reading**

[Bree Kaitlyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Parliament Publishing Group for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This comic was beautiful. This story follows a post-human world where robots act just how the humans used to. Just like humans, there are robots who feel they are not normal, or as they put it “wired differently.” There is a robot who is on the spectrum, one who has bipolar, two with ADHD, anxiety, PTSD, and many other diagnoses. The representation of all of these disorders was so well-written and easy to understand. The comic deals with real world issues that can help others who feel they are alone and suffering in silence.

I personally struggle with depression, anxiety, and ADHD, and I felt so seen and represented in this comic. This would be wonderful for middle grade (and adults) who are going through the same thing as these characters.

Although the intended audience was middle grade, as an adult, this made me tear up and touched me.

[Shiritaku · Rating 4 out of 5]

Die Graphic Novel sollte es unbedingt auch bei uns auf deutsch geben! Es ist ein emotionales und tiefgründiges Werk, das das Thema »Neurodivergenz« behandelt in einer SciFi-Welt, in der es nur Roboter gibt und Informationen von Menschen illegal sind. Den jungen Bots wird immer wieder eingeredet, dass sie kaputt sind, einfach faul oder sich zusammenreißen sollen.. Roboter haben zu funktionieren und sowas wie psychische Probleme gibt es da nicht, Punkt! Doch genau hier setzt die GN an.. denn genauso passiert es doch auch in unserer Gesellschaft. Viele leiden unter Autismus, ADHS, Angststörungen und mehr - oft ohne es selbst zu wissen. Meist kennen sie die Begriffe auch gar nicht erst oder kommen nicht auf die Idee, diesbezüglich nachzuforschen. Neurodivergenz hat so viele unterschiedliche Facetten und leider ist es heutzutage oft immer noch ein Tabuthema.. auch hier fehlt sehr oft die Akzeptanz und Hilfe, vor allem von den erwachsenen Bots. Bei einem läuft es leider darauf hinaus, dass er sich selbst »abschaltet« und daraufhin gerät alles weiter außer Kontrolle.
Die Graphic Novel spiegelt wunderbar unsere aktuelle Gesellschaft wider und zeigt, wie man am besten damit umgehen sollte. Aufklärung und Beistand, schon in der Schule! Und dass ein jeder es absolut wert ist, auf dieser Welt zu wandeln! 🫶 Mich hat's sehr tief getroffen und daher hoffe ich, dass der Titel es sich zu uns schafft. Meiner Meinung nach wäre es definitiv ein Thema, das viel mehr Aufmerksamkeit erhalten sollte und das schon möglichst früh im Leben.

[Andra-Mihaela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Today is #review day!🥰

From me, #wireddifferent by D.C.London gets 5⭐! 🥳

First of all, I want to thank NetGalley and Parliament Publishing Group for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for a honest review!

General info: a graphic novel about young robots discovering that being different doesn't mean they are broken; a story perfect for the middle graders / young adults in your life that might need a little encouraging and support ; neurodivergence rep and careful discussions of sensitive topics;

CW: bullying, parental conflict, suicide (off-page), grief

BOOK THOUGHTS

So…lately I've been #reading more and more graphic novels, and when I saw the cover for this one🤩…I immediately knew I had to read it!😆
As you can see from the CW, the subject is difficult and needs extra care, and I'm very happy to say that D.C.London knew what they were doing.😌

As per the introduction, the world you're seeing it's one ruled by robots, where humanity has long died out. Everything related to us, even useful information like mental health knowledge, has been banned. That has repercussions in this new society where robots have developed a similar psychology to us, and Quirk, Glitch, Fidget and Trig feel them very acutely. 🥺

I really, really loved this one! It's perfect for the intended audience to read it by themselves or with a parent/ guardian. I think that we really need more such #books and that people , worryingly, tend to either dismiss the difficulties neurodivergent people face daily or downplay them, especially when it comes to children.

The formative years are the most important in someone's life, and positive messages like this graphic novel DO have an enormous impact!☺️

Back to the book…I loved the art ( though I'm not picky in that department😅), the pacing was perfect and the information spread throughout the pages was well done!.
The robots's shapes and sizes feel like a deliberate choice for readers to connect with them! We have symbolism ( like with Glitch who's egg-like and is very fragile mentally…>..>..like an egg🤭), and a little irony ( Trig has a bell torso😶) baked into the designs.
The school setting was well-done, felt very immersive and I really enjoyed how great a role it played in our story.In fact, from the first moment we see Quirk discovering the hoddie, you get the feel for the rest of the story.

The plot is tight (expected for this format), but not rushed or half-baked! It gives you just enough to connect with the MCs and understand every situation they face, without lingering over them uselessly.
The author included not only the children's experiences, but also positive and negative approaches to them. We have various responses from teachers, other kids, the headmaster ( who's a dear) and from parents! But they didn't stop there! They actually gave a realistic solution for the protagonists to find not only help and understanding from others, but also friendship! All this is accompanied by actual information on the disorders that is very well integrated with the plot.
Loved that we got to see how someone with a neurodivergence ( or simply different) is treated by others…the bullying, the unfair anger or annoyance people have with them, the excuses others make and how lonely everything feels at times…all beautifully drawn.🥺 But fear not! This isn't all dark and gloomy! We see budding friendships, people trying, we see change and complexity where we initially only saw bad intentions, and this elevates the whole story!🤩

I really hope this little book has many readers, and , even if it has a darker, more serious topic, I believe seeing an anxious child with OCD and depression trying to make a friend will give them a push in the right direction. ( and yes…my favorite is Glitch 🤭..his role and perspective is extremely important!)

Side note: I also liked the subtle irony regarding people who don't believe that mental health should be taken seriously!😁…iykyk😏

Now…the elephant in the room…the suicide😢.
As I said…all CW are treated with utmost care, this not being any different...especially with the personal connection the author has with it.😔
It's not graphic, not done to manipulate the reader emotionally, or be a shock factor…it's making a point that it can very well be someone's reality, while also addressing how the people left behind may start processing this unfortunate outcome.

Overall, I highly recommend everyone pick this one up! I bet you can find something to appreciate about it, and who knows…maybe someone in your life may benefit from you reading it!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Net Galley for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

We follow a group of robots in this book. They are all struggling in some way with being different. They form a club at their high school for anyone who feels this way. It is an exploration of different kinds of mental health/neurodivergence and friendship and support.

I am a neurodivergent adult and I did find that I related to some of these characters although they are each a very textbook representation of what their diagnosis would be. Although in real life most people have more nuance, I think it does make sense in a kid's book that is introducing mental health topics to stick to a more basic portrayal. I did think it was both didactic and enjoyable but that it leaned too much on the didactic at times.

I did love these characters, especially the main group of 4. I love that they started so separate but learned how to support each other. I love that there was a portrayal of a supportive adult.

I think the fact that I was so connected to them(and maybe felt represented by them) is what made part of it so devastating. The author does give a trigger warning of suicide at the start of the book. Please heed this warning. I am not a person that is triggered often but I really struggled with this part of the book. I understand why it was included. It's important to have these conversations with everyone. But is was still so hard to read. I put off writing this review because just thinking about it still makes me cry.

I'm giving it 4 stars because I have mixed feelings about it. There may be a time where I change it 5 stars. It has definitely left its mark on me. But I still would have liked it to be a better mix of story and educational.

one tiny note: I am a huge baseball fan and I love that baseball was included, even though it was a very small mention! ❤️

[Amanda Iman · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25

This little book was a lot heavier than I was expecting. I legit had to take a week break before starting and ending it because the opening triggered me so badly. I even talked about it in therapy this past week. So, warning if you have Long Covid, or have lost someone to Covid, the first 10-15 pages may be a lot. Other TWs are covered in the intro, but most people don't think about those of us who are still living day in and day out with the effects of Covid.

Tbh, that's my only real critique of this book. I think it's a wonderful way to introduce middle and high school kids to neurodivergence, whether they need to understand their classmates or themselves. As someone who didn't receive my neurodivergent diagnosis until my mid-30s, I wish I'd had a book like this growing up. I probably would have gotten help sooner.

I really like that London emphasizes to the readers in his outro not to self diagnose and to get the appropriate testing and help. Overall, he does a great job between the text and illustrations of showing the complexity and diverse range of neurodiversities and some other related mental health issues. I'm interested to see if this becomes a series or remains a stand-alone book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Parliament Publishing Group/Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) for access to this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

[ERKIEFER · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was fortunate enough to get an advance copy of this book. It is very thoughtfully written and expertly illustrated by the author. It addresses numerous common misconceptions about people who are neurodivergent and oddly enough uses robots to humanize the approach to having serious discussions about various neurodivergent behaviors.
I think the book rightly shows that these kids are normal, awkward and just as confused as any other teen dealing with making friends, the pressures of school and perceptions that they can’t control. It also shows kids that it is not a dead end street and that neurodivergent kids can grow up to be successful, contributing neurodivergent adults. It doesn’t have to be the one thing that defines you, it’s just one color on the palette.
I think this is a must read for any neurodivergent kid, friend or family member of one. I have it on good authority that there will be more books in this series, and I look forward to reading them as soon as they are available!

[Randy Dudek · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not the target audience for this book.

I wish I were at the age where I would have been, but also that this book had already existed for me then.

The artwork is amazing throughout the book, the characters are very relatable, (Too relatable in some caes!) and while the plot of this first book isn't unusually deep, "Wired Different" still tells a very important story that all kids of the Young Adult demographic could stand to learn, whether they have "Noodle Vengance" in them or not.

I'm about to hand this book off to my children, and I cant wait for Book 2.

[Rebecca Larsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this graphic novel. It was a beautiful story, underpinned by an important message for the perceived future we are creating. The characters that London has created are endearing and personable. Their growth and understanding of each other is heart-warming. It was just like a giant hug and I savoured every page.

[Matt Henry · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author has created endearing characters who carry this accessible story with heart and hope. I cannot wait for more in this series.

[KB · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book depicted many forms of neurodivergence well. I liked that it included how the characters were feeling about what was going on with them and it also gave a more clinical viewpoint. This book is great reminder to every one out there that we aren’t broken, we’re just wired different(ly)

Thank you NetGalley and Parliament Publishing Group | Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Titles.

[mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wired Different is an intense and emotional graphic novel. It explores neurodivergence in a unique way because, yes, all of the main characters are robots.

The messages this story delivers definitely leave you with a lot to reflect on. Through its characters and their experiences, it reminds us that there is no single "right" way to think, feel, or exist.

And in the end, I’m left with one simple thought: yes, we are all wired different(ly), and that’s perfectly okay.

[Deborah Zeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

four robots accidentally start a revolution. by forming a support group. 🤖💛
quirk: never wanted friends. finds an old human hoodie. world tilts sideways. 👀

meets three other bots like him —

artifact-obsessed nervous bot. talks-nonstop hyperactive giant. sensory-overwhelmed frantic bot. 🔌
psychology is banned in this world.

none of them have words for what they are.

no autism. no ADHD. no anxiety. no OCD. no language for any of it. 😶
so they make their own space. 🌟

wired different club — where different doesn't mean broken.
the club grows.

the backlash grows faster. 😤

parents push fear. misinformation spreads.
is acceptance worth fighting for? 🔥


Wired Different(ly) casts robots in a post-human world as stand-ins for neurodivergence, and somehow it just clicks. Each bot is built differently, navigating a world made for one "standard model" — ADHD, autism, dyslexia, bipolar disorder, misophonia, anxiety, depression, PTSD all get a character, and none of it feels like a lecture in disguise.

The plot is simple, and that's by design. This book isn't trying to out-twist anyone — it's trying to look a neurodivergent kid in the eye and say you're not broken, you're not alone. That takes heart, not plot armor.

The bullying scenes hit hardest: quiet, ordinary, the kind nobody calls out. Heavier topics (family strain, suicide) get real care here, sad but never hopeless.

The glossary alone makes this worth keeping on the shelf.

[Kate ROGERS · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for this eArc!!

3.25 stars.
This graphic novel is a unique depiction of neurodiversity and I think will be great for teaching younger audiences on the topic. I liked the writing style and the artwork!

[Kaley Breaden · Rating 3 out of 5]

This graphic novel was different then what I was expecting it to be. Basically its about a group of "different robots" in school that decide to start a group called "wired different" It's about a group that is accepting no matter what may be different with you. When a new robot joins and his mom flips her lid. Everything changes. Life is precious and you should grow into your differences not be shunned away from them.

[Silas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book through NetGalley.

This is a graphic novel intended for middle-school-aged children. It is decidedly not for young children, based on subject matter (I would recommend paying attention to the disclaimer at the start of the book), but it doesn't assume that the reader knows much of anything about neurodivergence. Having discovered my own neurodivergence late in life, that is a fairly safe assumption, since people don't know much about it, myself included up until a little over a year ago. This goes over the basics, covering a lot of different kinds of neurodivergent experiences, though each one is covered independently, not covering that they often occur together.

The story features robots, which is a bit of a weird choice, but I think it is meant to make the material more engaging to children because of the novelty, and to use the titular metaphor more easily. It is also a method for explaining why the information is actually restricted, and not just generally unknown.

The characters' actions are generally pretty real, apart from the principal being a bit more heroic than I expect most principals would be in real life, including, unfortunately, a very unsupportive parent (because apparently robots have parents... it works if you don't think about it too hard. Neurodivergent people are known for not thinking about things too much, naturally /s). I might have preferred if the single female main character didn't end up in a suggested relationship with the first male main character at the end (suggested by holding hands). The gender-styling itself is a bit odd now that I think about it, but with it as a given, having more female-coded characters might have helped that not undermining the story a bit.

Overall, this book is not without issues, but it does a good job on its main point, which is helping the reader to learn about the basics of symptoms and varieties of neurodivergence, and understanding that they are a different way to be, and not being broken.

[Coralie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Since the dawn of computers, humans have attempted to create artificial intelligence. Our films and novels are full of tragic warnings about general artificial intelligence, often ending in AI-driven robots taking over and wiping out humanity. But what if training AI with human speech, human behavior, and human intelligence inadvertently creates a system where robots have the same psychological issues that we humans do? Since we can't even agree on a definition of what human intelligence is, why would we assume artificial intelligence would be any better if it's based on our own?

Overall, this is a good book with great representation and a super interesting premise, but it did fall a bit flat for me. I wish we had a bit more worldbuilding, especially about why everything to do with humans is so taboo/illegal when those robots don't even reject the social norms surrounding gender or nuclear families. I loved the character pages that went into more details about those specific characters' conditions and how they manifest for them; but in the story itself, the introduction of all of these different neurodivergences sometimes felt a bit inorganic.

thank you to netgalley + parliament publishing group for this advanced review copy ◡̈

[Hillamonster · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75

[♡ kitty *:･ﾟ✧ · Rating 4 out of 5]

“We’re all different, not broken”

as someone who grew up feeling like there was something inherently wrong with them, only to find out at age 24 that i was autistic and had ADHD, i found this really resonated with me!
the story was very heartwarming and did a good job showing the different types of neurodivergence and i enjoyed the cast of characters.
i honestly wish this had been around when i was a teenager because i feel like it would have helped me a lot and given me comfort knowing i wasn’t alone in my experiences and the way i was feeling. i really hope this makes it’s way into the hands of some neurodivergent young people and helps them to feel less alone!

thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for sending me this arc in exchange for an honest review

[mika · Rating 5 out of 5]

[thanks to netgalley, the publisher and the author for the e-arc!]

i am finishing this graphic novel close to tears, because where was it when i was younger and needed it most??

many important topics are raised, including neurodivergence, mental health, bullying, issues with family, and even suicide. those were handled extremely well, it was realistic and not sugarcoated but still very hopeful.

the wiring metaphor for neurodivergence worked really well too! in a way, i was also raised in a world where psychology wasn't a thing (luckily i was able to discover more about all this as i grew older) and so the story, although it is set in a futuristic world, felt very contemporary to me

what the author created here touched me to my core. i cannot stress enough how great the whole graphic novel is overall in explaining different types of neurodivergence. each character represents one type, or some other mental health related diagnosis (e.g depression or ptsd) which will help younger audiences understand them. yes, often the descriptions were very simplified and general, and it did seem like the characters were doing a fun quiz, but the author's notes on self diagnosis and the complexity of neurodivergence help put this into perspective. also, the main goal is still to educate children on this topic, which is still very largely misunderstood. i do believe readers will find themselves in those robot characters and find the courage to ask for help

[Xiibalba · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I'll say this first: I wish I had this book when I was a kid.
Wired Different(ly) uses robots in a post-human world as a metaphor for neurodivergence, and honestly it works better than it has any right to. Different robots are wired differently and the story follows them navigating a world that was designed for a "standard model" that most of them don't fit. ADHD, autism, dyslexia, bipolar disorder, misophonia, anxiety... the book covers a lot of ground without ever feeling like a textbook, this doesn't feel like a lesson. It feels like a story that happens to make you understand things better.
The plot itself is pretty straightforward. It's not going to blow anyone's mind with twists or reinvent the graphic novel format. And that's fine, because that's not what this book is trying to do. What it IS trying to do is look a neurodivergent kid in the eye and say: you're not broken. You're not alone. Your feelings are valid. And for that? It doesn't need a complicated plot. It needs heart, and it has plenty.
Where the book really got me was the bullying scenes. They're not overdone or dramatic for the sake of drama. They're quiet and realistic in a way that honestly made my stomach turn, because I recognized them. The casual cruelty, the exclusion that nobody calls out, the moment where a character just... stops trying. If you've been the weird kid (hi, that was me, that IS me), you know exactly what those panels feel like. And the book doesn't shy away from the darker consequences either.
I docked a star because some of the secondary characters feel a bit thin, and there are moments where the dialogue gets a little after-school-special. But book does something really important: it gives neurodivergent kids a mirror, and it gives neurotypical kids a window. Both of those things matter a lot.
If you're a parent, a teacher, or just someone who wants to understand what it's like to move through the world with a brain that doesn't come with the standard manual, read this. Give it to your kids. Give it to their friends. Give it to that one family member who still thinks ADHD means "just try harder." Four stars and a lot of gratitude for books like this existing.

TW: bullying, suicide, Social isolation

[A Robin Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC

Loved this! First of, the drawings were absolutely beautiful. Loved all the colours and all the details. The graphic novel was set up very well. I think it was great that we had the story and in between a little character chart. The story itself was very well done. I liked all the themes a lot. The information that was given about all the wiredly different people was clear and easy to understand. I think this is a great graphic novel for every teenager. Highly recommend!

[Eris H. LaVey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this book will be useful for some neurodivergent teens who are new to their diagnoses or haven't found like-minded people yet, but I personally did not find use in it. 3/5 ★

[Tamikan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you, NetGalley and the publishers for an eARC of this book.

Pros:
-Great message about acceptance
-Very informative about neurodivergent individuals and mental disorders
-Character designs are unique.

Meh:
-The artwork was okay. Backgrounds varied from technically detailed to literally nothing.
-I had so many questions about the robots. They age? They change with age? I know we wanted to remove humans from the message, but I struggled with not having the background of how this robot society began.
-The font is difficult to read. For a book about acceptance, I'd like to see a dyslexia-friendly font.

I would recommend this to a neurodivergent student for the message.

[Jasmine Shouse · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMC, this is such a powerful graphic novel about neurodivergence and mental health! I started tearing up towards the middle. It's a beautiful story of being different and finding your community.

I wish I'd been able to read something like this in high school. I'm going to have my kids read this.

Thank you to Parliament Publishing Group for the opportunity to read and review.

Content warning for abusive parent, suicide, and bullying.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC!


This was a good introduction to neurodivergence for young readers. I can definitely see myself recommending it to my students who might be interested in the topic. I especially enjoyed all the robot puns they made to replace profanity and how they called clothes "human garments." A clever, quick read!

[phoenix *ੈ✩‧₊˚ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wired Different by D. C. London is a heartfelt graphic novel about a group of robots in a post-human world who discover they are neurodivergent, and create a support club that helps them realize they aren’t broken—just different.

I appreciated how the story introduces different neurodivergent experiences like anxiety, ADHD traits, sensory issues, and obsessive thinking. The illustrations were well made, but nothing too special.

Using robots as the main cast is a cool idea, but the whole story lacks worldbuilding. I understand that the main purpose of this graphic novel is to inform about neurodivergence, but I needed more. What happened to the humans? Why is it bad to behave and dress like them? The worldbuilding raises interesting ideas, but it could have been explored more.

I imagine that, especially younger readers, might relate to feeling “different.” At the same time, I think there’s more emotional distance for the human reader. The few extra diary-style pages were informative, but interrupted the reading flow more than they added to it.

I wanted more character development across the group. Quirk stands out the most, but some of the other bots don’t get as much depth as I hoped, and the ending left me unsatisfied.

Overall, Wired Different is a thoughtfully made graphic novel about neurodivergence and identity, but the execution is lacking.


Thanks to the publisher, the author, and NetGalley for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it so much that I want to thank the author and the publisher for granting me a copy of this book; I felt seen and the story is very touching. I loved the way everything has been transformed so perfectly well to fit the tech-world from the choice of words to the neurodivergence traits shown by the characters. All of them were realistic and covered a wide range of disorders, traumas or issues. Most of all what I really appreciated was that throughout the story there's always the feeling of acceptance of who you truly are.
I'm wired different(ly) too <3

[K.C. Norton · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like some of the larger ideas, and the motivations behind the story (according to the notes), but I wanted more from this. The author notes that AI trained on human input can/could have human quirks. But this didn't really make sense in the context of the world we're shown. I wish there had been better logic behind the worldbuilding, because I kept wondering, why robots? How does the message of the story map onto this world? Robots are literally diagnosing each other using the DSM-5, and while I've gone back and forth with folks about using this specific tool in some contexts, for beings made of non-organic materials, it just felt too direct and un-nuanced. If you're gonna go with robots, include some logic for that. The pieces didn't full fit together.

I am a believer in providing tools that will reach different kids, though. Maybe for some young readers, the robot aspect will make things click in a particular way. If the goal is to have a framework for thinking and discussion, I can see how "Wired Different" would be effective on that level.

And, to be honest, the quality of the illustration is also a factor in my rating.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the ARC of this book. It didn't quite work for me, but I can see what the creator was going for.