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Peta Lyre’s Rating Normal
At sixteen, neurodivergent Peta Lyre is the success story of social training. That is, until she finds herself on a school ski trip - and falling in love with the new girl. Peta will need to decide which rules to keep, and which rules to break…
'I'm Peta Lyre,' I mumble. Look people in the eye if you can, at least when you greet them. I try, but it's hard when she is smiling so big, and leaning in.
Peta Lyre is far from typical. The world she lives in isn't designed for the way her mind works, but when she follows her therapist's rules for 'normal' behaviour, she can almost fit in without attracting attention.
When a new girl, Sam, starts at school, Peta's carefully structured routines start to crack. But on the school ski trip, with romance blooming and a newfound confidence, she starts to wonder if maybe she can have a normal life after all.
When things fall apart, Peta must decide whether all the old rules still matter. Does she want a life less ordinary, or should she keep her rating normal?
A moving and joyful own voices debut.
'Honest, perceptive and gutsy; I loved tuning into Peta's world.' - Emily Gale
'I'm Peta Lyre,' I mumble. Look people in the eye if you can, at least when you greet them. I try, but it's hard when she is smiling so big, and leaning in.
Peta Lyre is far from typical. The world she lives in isn't designed for the way her mind works, but when she follows her therapist's rules for 'normal' behaviour, she can almost fit in without attracting attention.
When a new girl, Sam, starts at school, Peta's carefully structured routines start to crack. But on the school ski trip, with romance blooming and a newfound confidence, she starts to wonder if maybe she can have a normal life after all.
When things fall apart, Peta must decide whether all the old rules still matter. Does she want a life less ordinary, or should she keep her rating normal?
A moving and joyful own voices debut.
'Honest, perceptive and gutsy; I loved tuning into Peta's world.' - Emily Gale
248 pages, Paperback
First published April 28, 2020
10 people are currently reading
2197 people want to read
About the author
Anna Whateley
4 books39 followersAnna Whateley writes young adult and children’s fiction. She holds a PhD in Literature from Queensland University of Technology and has studied and worked in both in Australia and the UK.
She also enjoys teaching future teachers, parenting future adults, and reading her work to two exceptionally patient dogs.
She also enjoys teaching future teachers, parenting future adults, and reading her work to two exceptionally patient dogs.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 135 reviews
February 21, 2020
I was lucky to get an advance copy of this book, and dear God, I felt so SEEN. I have the same "alphabet" as Peta and the author (ASD/ADHD/SPD). I deeply understood every single "I have no idea what the social convention is here so I'm going to fall back on what my psych taught me" situation Peta went through, her anxiety spirals, and feeling like she can never quite get it right despite trying so hard to implement the lessons from therapy. Not to mention all the flashbacks with various adults getting exasperated with her just for existing and being herself. That was my childhood too!
The biggest thing in this book for me personally was watching Peta's struggles with masking vs her natural instincts. What most neurotypical people don't understand is that saying "really? But you seem so normal!" or "wow, you can't tell!" to someone neurodiverse is not a compliment. Many well-meaning but misguided psychs, specialists and therapists continue try to push neurodivergent people towards appearing neurotypical by training them to sit still, explaining social conventions and what to do in various situations (ie "people might get upset if you take a long time to reply to them. It's good manners to respond promptly when someone talks to you"), with the end goal being that they'll fit into a neurotypical society. What we're now realizing is that doing that causes stress, anxiety, depression, PTSD and exhaustion from trying to playact neurotypical all day and push down your natural instincts. It's like trying to run a really resource-heavy app (like a game or something) on your phone all day - the battery will go down much faster. This was my experience and I didn't even realize it until I was in my mid 20s because nobody had ever talked about it. I really would have loved to have had a book like this during my teen years - I would have had the language and the understanding of why I felt so angry and exhausted all the time and why I felt like I was a liar and a fake and a nothing person underneath that facade. And I would have felt less alone, and understood that I didn't HAVE to playact neurotypical. The Frankenstein analogy of having various skins sewn over your own to make you appear like everyone else was perfect.
I cried happy tears when I finished reading - it was so good and so validating to feel SEEN; to see someone like me written BY someone like me.
The biggest thing in this book for me personally was watching Peta's struggles with masking vs her natural instincts. What most neurotypical people don't understand is that saying "really? But you seem so normal!" or "wow, you can't tell!" to someone neurodiverse is not a compliment. Many well-meaning but misguided psychs, specialists and therapists continue try to push neurodivergent people towards appearing neurotypical by training them to sit still, explaining social conventions and what to do in various situations (ie "people might get upset if you take a long time to reply to them. It's good manners to respond promptly when someone talks to you"), with the end goal being that they'll fit into a neurotypical society. What we're now realizing is that doing that causes stress, anxiety, depression, PTSD and exhaustion from trying to playact neurotypical all day and push down your natural instincts. It's like trying to run a really resource-heavy app (like a game or something) on your phone all day - the battery will go down much faster. This was my experience and I didn't even realize it until I was in my mid 20s because nobody had ever talked about it. I really would have loved to have had a book like this during my teen years - I would have had the language and the understanding of why I felt so angry and exhausted all the time and why I felt like I was a liar and a fake and a nothing person underneath that facade. And I would have felt less alone, and understood that I didn't HAVE to playact neurotypical. The Frankenstein analogy of having various skins sewn over your own to make you appear like everyone else was perfect.
I cried happy tears when I finished reading - it was so good and so validating to feel SEEN; to see someone like me written BY someone like me.
June 7, 2020
Trigger warnings: shitty parenting, domestic violence, poverty, neurotypical bullshit towards neurodiverse characters, sexual harassment/assault, mental health.
4.5 stars.
This was sort of a slow burn for me - more of a 3 star read for the first 50ish pages. But once I got into Peta's voice and the way the story flicks between the past and the present, I absolutely loved this. Peta is autistic and has ADHD and sensory processing disorder. All of that representation is Own Voices, which is WONDERFUL. This is also a f/f romance, which I really enjoyed. Other reviewers have said that the romance came out of nowhere, but to me it felt like the romance wasn't the core of the story.
Instead, the core of the story for me was Peta coming to a place where she's happy with her life. She's happy living with her aunt and baby cousin. She discovers new skills and new interests. Her friendship with Jeb is adorable and they're so supportive of each other. Peta's daily "how normal do I feel?" rating was kind of heartbreaking, but also a great sense of her layers. Ultimately, this was darker than I anticipated from Peta's shitty parents to Jeb's home situation to the sexual assault elements. But I LOVED it.
4.5 stars.
This was sort of a slow burn for me - more of a 3 star read for the first 50ish pages. But once I got into Peta's voice and the way the story flicks between the past and the present, I absolutely loved this. Peta is autistic and has ADHD and sensory processing disorder. All of that representation is Own Voices, which is WONDERFUL. This is also a f/f romance, which I really enjoyed. Other reviewers have said that the romance came out of nowhere, but to me it felt like the romance wasn't the core of the story.
Instead, the core of the story for me was Peta coming to a place where she's happy with her life. She's happy living with her aunt and baby cousin. She discovers new skills and new interests. Her friendship with Jeb is adorable and they're so supportive of each other. Peta's daily "how normal do I feel?" rating was kind of heartbreaking, but also a great sense of her layers. Ultimately, this was darker than I anticipated from Peta's shitty parents to Jeb's home situation to the sexual assault elements. But I LOVED it.
April 2, 2021
A lot of neurodivergent people have loved this and that's completely valid. Personally, this book didn't work for me at all. It was so focused on internalized ableism and I feel like that was hardly challenged.
April 19, 2020
Review originally posted on A Keyboard and an Open Mind 20 April, 2020:
Anna Whateley is a Twitter friend of mine and we’ve both been part of the #6amAusWriters group for about a year now, so I was excited and proud to get my hands on a copy of her debut.
This book. I kind of want to hug it. It feels like such an honest, authentic depiction of the neurodivergent experience. Even if I didn’t know it was an #ownvoices book, I would probably have been able to guess.
Peta is such a wonderful lead character. The book is in first person, which I don’t always enjoy, but this book could not have been any other way. We needed to be in Peta’s head. Seeing her try to fit in and follow the “rules” she has learned through therapy and through observing others could be heartbreaking at times, but it was so liberating seeing her grow and find her own way in a world that is not designed to allow her to succeed.
I think the only thing I might have liked to see a bit more of was the development of the romance between Peta and Sam. As it was, it felt like it leapt straight from “Oh, look, I am definitely attracted to her” to pushing their dorm beds together and kissing a lot. But it was fine that way, and the aftermath and fallout after that is treated really well. Even as I was wanting to yell “No! Sam! Don’t be ridiculous! It’s not like that!” I could absolutely see Sam’s point of view as well.
Also must give a shout-out to Jeb, Peta’s best friend. I can tell just from reading he gives the best hugs. And I loved how he knew Peta’s quirks and what she needed and just responded. She never had to feel weird around him.
Thank you to Allen and Unwin for choosing me as a winner in their recent Facebook giveaway and sending me a proof copy of this book!
Anna Whateley is a Twitter friend of mine and we’ve both been part of the #6amAusWriters group for about a year now, so I was excited and proud to get my hands on a copy of her debut.
This book. I kind of want to hug it. It feels like such an honest, authentic depiction of the neurodivergent experience. Even if I didn’t know it was an #ownvoices book, I would probably have been able to guess.
Peta is such a wonderful lead character. The book is in first person, which I don’t always enjoy, but this book could not have been any other way. We needed to be in Peta’s head. Seeing her try to fit in and follow the “rules” she has learned through therapy and through observing others could be heartbreaking at times, but it was so liberating seeing her grow and find her own way in a world that is not designed to allow her to succeed.
I think the only thing I might have liked to see a bit more of was the development of the romance between Peta and Sam. As it was, it felt like it leapt straight from “Oh, look, I am definitely attracted to her” to pushing their dorm beds together and kissing a lot. But it was fine that way, and the aftermath and fallout after that is treated really well. Even as I was wanting to yell “No! Sam! Don’t be ridiculous! It’s not like that!” I could absolutely see Sam’s point of view as well.
Also must give a shout-out to Jeb, Peta’s best friend. I can tell just from reading he gives the best hugs. And I loved how he knew Peta’s quirks and what she needed and just responded. She never had to feel weird around him.
Thank you to Allen and Unwin for choosing me as a winner in their recent Facebook giveaway and sending me a proof copy of this book!
May 29, 2020
Peta Lyre’s Rating Normal is a debut YA novel by Anna Whateley. Peta Lyre, a teenager living on the spectrum, lives with her Aunt Ant after a traumatic childhood with her parents. This beautiful, authentic, heart felt story is just so special. I loved Peta, Jeb, Sam and Aunt Ant so much. Thanks to Allen & Unwin for my paperback ARC.
April 22, 2020
Peta Lyre’s Rating Normal (Allen and Unwin 2020), the debut novel by author Anna Whateley, is a Young Adult own voices story that allows us access into the head of 16-year-old Peta Lyre, who has been diagnosed with all the letters of the alphabet…ASD, ADHD, SPD…in this coming of age tale about friendship and family, growing up and getting it right, and making and breaking the rules. It is also a tender and poignant LGBTQI (more letters!) narrative that explores young love. With themes of neuro-diversity, Autism Spectrum Disorder, romance and more, this book is a wonderful insight into adolescent life, specifically adolescents who feel different or disconnected.
Peta Lyre is not your typical teenager, and she often experiences frustration while trying to navigate the world surrounding her, a world that is not designed to accommodate the unique way her mind works. But she has had the help and attention of therapists for almost her whole life, and with that help, she can ‘almost pass as normal’, or at least get by enough to not attract attention. But when a new girl starts at her school, Peta’s emotions are challenged and she has to try harder than ever to fit in with societal expectations. The school ski trip is confronting in some ways – in that she has to attempt a whole range of new and scary experiences, but it is also a triumph – in that she develops a new-found confidence and realises that a ‘normal’ life might be possible for her after all. But when her world again crumbles, she must decide whether to keep following the rules that have always kept her safe, or whether to take a risk and create her own normal.
This is a beautifully written, simple YA book that will resonate with all kinds of teens, both ‘normal’ and neuro-diverse, both straight and gay, both those in stable living circumstances and those with less supportive environments. Peta’s best friend, Jeb, is a warm and engaging character, full of yearning and disappointment and optimism and dreams. Extenuating family circumstances mean that Peta lives with her aunt and her toddler niece, who provide a lovely, secure backdrop to Peta’s many anxieties.
In one section, Peta’s need for order and consistency is outlined in painstaking detail by how she places her belongings; in another, Peta allows herself 30 minutes of worry time to deal with her anxiety, and this is broken down into segments which give us a glimpse of how very hard it is to be in her headspace. Peta thinks: ‘My room is the safest place my body has. My mind doesn’t really have a safe place.’ There are times when people use expressions with which she is unfamiliar (like ‘third wheel’) or phrases that she takes literally, when they are meant figuratively or metaphorically, causing more uncertainty and doubt. She notices things that others don’t (in one scene, even while engrossed with her friend dancing inappropriately with a boy, Peta can’t help but notice that ‘He’s not feeling the music at all. He’s out of time by at least a third of a beat…’) In one passage, Peta notes ‘Rules and people are puzzles, and I have to figure them out too.’ Everything is designed so that she doesn’t ‘look so wrong in the first place’. Every time she sees her therapist, she adds another rule to her memory of ‘why people do so many strange things’ so that ‘If I get it right, then I’ll look normal’. Her head ‘swims with mixed-up messages and unsteady boundaries’. She has trouble gauging the reactions of others and interpreting their meaning and intent.
Structurally, this novel sustains our interest not only through the storyline but through the way the chapters are put together. Most of the chapters are set in the current time, and many conclude with Peta giving herself a rating out of 10 for how ‘normal’ she is feeling that day. Sometimes, when things have gone well, it might be 9/10 or even 10/10, but often she feels that she has failed in some way, and her perception of her ‘normal’ rating is as low as 2 or 3/10. These are the days that she thinks she has missed the social clues, misread people’s expressions, misunderstood the meaning of their words or otherwise failed to keep up her façade of being ‘normal’. I think that this rating system will totally resonate with readers (every adolescent!) as they recognise their own struggles for acceptance and for fitting in with those around them.
Another structural point is that every few chapters, we are given a flashback chapter that exposes something about Peta’s life when she was younger (nine years ago, or six years ago, or four) which provides some insight into how she came to be in the situation she is in now.
And the third structural point, and probably the most effective, is that every so often, Peta’s thoughts are italicised throughout the text, and these thoughts are either: (a) mantras obviously instilled into her by her therapist about how to appear ‘normal’ eg ‘Long pauses in conversation might make it seem you are uninterested’ and ‘If you like someone, be a mirror for their body language and emotion’; or (b) her mind racing ahead and inventing a situation that might occur but that hasn’t actually happened. Sometimes this is a worst-case scenario that she can’t avoid thinking about, that plays out obsessively in her head as something bad that is about to happen, and sometimes it is a best-case scenario, or something that she would love to happen but is frightened to think about too much in case she jinxes it and it doesn’t eventuate. In this way, we as readers are given an extraordinary amount of access inside Peta’s head, to her thoughts and her feelings. We understand her insecurities and her lack of self-confidence. We are privy to her relentless need to analyse situations and people to ensure she is ‘acting normally’. We comprehend her behaviour that outwardly might seem extreme or bizarre, but because we are perceiving it from inside her head, seems perfectly reasonable.
And I think this is the great gift of this book: understanding, compassion and empathy. Neurotypical readers will gain valuable insights into their neuro-diverse friends, children and parents, into their thinking processes and their seemingly random actions (which of course, once explained, are not random at all). And neuro-diverse readers will embrace this ‘own voices’ story that so carefully and thoughtfully empathises with their day-to-day struggles to be accepted while still being different.
Peta Lyre is not your typical teenager, and she often experiences frustration while trying to navigate the world surrounding her, a world that is not designed to accommodate the unique way her mind works. But she has had the help and attention of therapists for almost her whole life, and with that help, she can ‘almost pass as normal’, or at least get by enough to not attract attention. But when a new girl starts at her school, Peta’s emotions are challenged and she has to try harder than ever to fit in with societal expectations. The school ski trip is confronting in some ways – in that she has to attempt a whole range of new and scary experiences, but it is also a triumph – in that she develops a new-found confidence and realises that a ‘normal’ life might be possible for her after all. But when her world again crumbles, she must decide whether to keep following the rules that have always kept her safe, or whether to take a risk and create her own normal.
This is a beautifully written, simple YA book that will resonate with all kinds of teens, both ‘normal’ and neuro-diverse, both straight and gay, both those in stable living circumstances and those with less supportive environments. Peta’s best friend, Jeb, is a warm and engaging character, full of yearning and disappointment and optimism and dreams. Extenuating family circumstances mean that Peta lives with her aunt and her toddler niece, who provide a lovely, secure backdrop to Peta’s many anxieties.
In one section, Peta’s need for order and consistency is outlined in painstaking detail by how she places her belongings; in another, Peta allows herself 30 minutes of worry time to deal with her anxiety, and this is broken down into segments which give us a glimpse of how very hard it is to be in her headspace. Peta thinks: ‘My room is the safest place my body has. My mind doesn’t really have a safe place.’ There are times when people use expressions with which she is unfamiliar (like ‘third wheel’) or phrases that she takes literally, when they are meant figuratively or metaphorically, causing more uncertainty and doubt. She notices things that others don’t (in one scene, even while engrossed with her friend dancing inappropriately with a boy, Peta can’t help but notice that ‘He’s not feeling the music at all. He’s out of time by at least a third of a beat…’) In one passage, Peta notes ‘Rules and people are puzzles, and I have to figure them out too.’ Everything is designed so that she doesn’t ‘look so wrong in the first place’. Every time she sees her therapist, she adds another rule to her memory of ‘why people do so many strange things’ so that ‘If I get it right, then I’ll look normal’. Her head ‘swims with mixed-up messages and unsteady boundaries’. She has trouble gauging the reactions of others and interpreting their meaning and intent.
Structurally, this novel sustains our interest not only through the storyline but through the way the chapters are put together. Most of the chapters are set in the current time, and many conclude with Peta giving herself a rating out of 10 for how ‘normal’ she is feeling that day. Sometimes, when things have gone well, it might be 9/10 or even 10/10, but often she feels that she has failed in some way, and her perception of her ‘normal’ rating is as low as 2 or 3/10. These are the days that she thinks she has missed the social clues, misread people’s expressions, misunderstood the meaning of their words or otherwise failed to keep up her façade of being ‘normal’. I think that this rating system will totally resonate with readers (every adolescent!) as they recognise their own struggles for acceptance and for fitting in with those around them.
Another structural point is that every few chapters, we are given a flashback chapter that exposes something about Peta’s life when she was younger (nine years ago, or six years ago, or four) which provides some insight into how she came to be in the situation she is in now.
And the third structural point, and probably the most effective, is that every so often, Peta’s thoughts are italicised throughout the text, and these thoughts are either: (a) mantras obviously instilled into her by her therapist about how to appear ‘normal’ eg ‘Long pauses in conversation might make it seem you are uninterested’ and ‘If you like someone, be a mirror for their body language and emotion’; or (b) her mind racing ahead and inventing a situation that might occur but that hasn’t actually happened. Sometimes this is a worst-case scenario that she can’t avoid thinking about, that plays out obsessively in her head as something bad that is about to happen, and sometimes it is a best-case scenario, or something that she would love to happen but is frightened to think about too much in case she jinxes it and it doesn’t eventuate. In this way, we as readers are given an extraordinary amount of access inside Peta’s head, to her thoughts and her feelings. We understand her insecurities and her lack of self-confidence. We are privy to her relentless need to analyse situations and people to ensure she is ‘acting normally’. We comprehend her behaviour that outwardly might seem extreme or bizarre, but because we are perceiving it from inside her head, seems perfectly reasonable.
And I think this is the great gift of this book: understanding, compassion and empathy. Neurotypical readers will gain valuable insights into their neuro-diverse friends, children and parents, into their thinking processes and their seemingly random actions (which of course, once explained, are not random at all). And neuro-diverse readers will embrace this ‘own voices’ story that so carefully and thoughtfully empathises with their day-to-day struggles to be accepted while still being different.
April 15, 2021
There are some books you just can't put down. Peta Lyre's Rating Normal is one of them. Anna Whateley's story about a young girl losing and finding her way through life with an alphabet of disorders is a gem. The prose is tight and spare, yet the picture it paints of Peta, her best friend, and her first love is evocative. The threads of what's happening externally weave in with the knots and snarls of Peta's inner dialogue in a wonderful eclectic mix.
At it's core, it deals beautifully and sensitively with the heartbreaking revelations and hurts that come with falling in love.
The whole tapestry illuminates the lives of many who live with their own alphabet combinations. As well as a fabulous story, it's an eloquent education.
I thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend it.
At it's core, it deals beautifully and sensitively with the heartbreaking revelations and hurts that come with falling in love.
The whole tapestry illuminates the lives of many who live with their own alphabet combinations. As well as a fabulous story, it's an eloquent education.
I thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend it.
January 23, 2021
I think enough time has passed that nobody can accuse me of not being very upfront that I’m Anna’s literary agent and OF COURSE I’m going to love this, but frankly - so do a *lot* of people so it’s not like I’m overly skewing an already wonderfully rated book with more 5-stars 😂
I think Anna Whateley is one of the most electrifying and brave writers to come out of LoveOzYA in recent years, and I say with hand on heart that her books are necessary and important. There’s an urgency to her storytelling that’s combustible and magnificent and I can’t wait for everyone to see what else she has up her sleeve ...
I think Anna Whateley is one of the most electrifying and brave writers to come out of LoveOzYA in recent years, and I say with hand on heart that her books are necessary and important. There’s an urgency to her storytelling that’s combustible and magnificent and I can’t wait for everyone to see what else she has up her sleeve ...
March 11, 2020
I was lucky enough to receive an advance reading copy of this and gosh it’s really really lovely.
It’s a beautiful, heart felt read that I just couldn’t get enough of.
I myself am in the process of awaiting a diagnosis for some of the same alphabet as the author and the main character (Autism Spectrum) and I felt so so very seen.
Would highly recommend to each and every teenager, it’s just full of colourful, amazing characters and gorgeous story.
It’s a beautiful, heart felt read that I just couldn’t get enough of.
I myself am in the process of awaiting a diagnosis for some of the same alphabet as the author and the main character (Autism Spectrum) and I felt so so very seen.
Would highly recommend to each and every teenager, it’s just full of colourful, amazing characters and gorgeous story.
June 2, 2020
Loved the neouro-diverse rep in this but the romance kind of came out of nowhere and I wasn't feeling it. I'm sad :(
May 4, 2020
A beautiful book that gives you an insight into the life of someone living in the spectrum. Relatable, realistic, and full of believable characters, relationships and situations. Go along with Peta as she learns how to find a place in the world when it’s complicated and confusing, and the strength she needs to find within herself and those closest to her to get through. Highly recommended.
May 28, 2020
I have mixed feelings about this book - overall I really liked the rep we see. It's unusual to see a book told from the pov of a neurodivergent individual and this kind of rep is much needed. It also provided some real insight into the struggle to behave 'normal', as well as how flippancy can cause damage.
I really loved the relationship between Peta and Ant, we love a beautiful found family moment, as well as the friendship between Peta and Jeb and how they all became a family in the end.
Surprisingly, my least favourite part was the relationship. The only thing I liked about Sam was her vibrant family background. Overall, she came across quite unsympathetic to the way Peta sees the world and its not even clear if she even understands Peta's diagnosis. The relationship itself was so abrupt and came out of pretty much nowhere (had it not been for the rainbow on the over I would have been very shocked). It seems like a relationship that will end in heartbreak due to Sam's immaturity and the fact that she's in a relationship with someone she didn't seem to really try to understand.
Honestly, while I like the platonic relationship between Peta and Jeb if we had to have a romance I wpuld have prefered it was between them.
I really loved the relationship between Peta and Ant, we love a beautiful found family moment, as well as the friendship between Peta and Jeb and how they all became a family in the end.
Surprisingly, my least favourite part was the relationship. The only thing I liked about Sam was her vibrant family background. Overall, she came across quite unsympathetic to the way Peta sees the world and its not even clear if she even understands Peta's diagnosis. The relationship itself was so abrupt and came out of pretty much nowhere (had it not been for the rainbow on the over I would have been very shocked). It seems like a relationship that will end in heartbreak due to Sam's immaturity and the fact that she's in a relationship with someone she didn't seem to really try to understand.
Honestly, while I like the platonic relationship between Peta and Jeb if we had to have a romance I wpuld have prefered it was between them.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 28, 2020
Closed the covers on this book and gave it straight to my young teen daughter. Peta Lyre's voices are authentic --I say 'voices' because there's what is said externally, and what is said internally. Peta's internal voices also include those of the rules her counsellor gave her to 'appear normal'. Adding a filter so that the internal monologue doesn't become external is one of these, resulting in much dialogue between Peta's urge to speak and desire to 'pass'. What she hasn't learnt the rules for is desire. This she must work out for herself, and what these feelings are, how to act on them, without letting her head get in the way.
May 11, 2020
Trying to fit in is hard when you’re a teenager, but for “Alphabet Girl,” Peta Lyre, neurodivergence makes it especially tough. Peta has been diagnosed with ADHD, ASD and SPD but with the help of rules set out by her therapist, she tries to pass as “normal” in a world that doesn’t understand her differences.
Living with her Aunty Ant after her parents “quit,” Peta tries to find her way in her new home and school. Peta has great friends in Jeb and new girl, Sam. The three of them form the “Misfit Stompers” to find their place in a world where they don’t meet the expectations set for them.
When Peta goes on a school camp to the snow, she finds her niche. Peta is a natural at skiing and it is here that she finds real freedom. Away from the confusing behavior of people who don’t follow the rules, she finds solace in speeding through the snowy slopes. During the ski trip, the relationship between Peta and girlfriend, Sam, blossoms. It is tender and passionate and fraught with the confusion of young love.
Peta Lyre’s Rating Normal is filled with the dramatic highs and lows that all adolescents must negotiate. Despite their difficult circumstances, Peta, Jeb and Sam are lit with joy and exuberance. It is the special bond they share with each other that gets them through the hard times of growing up and finding their place in the world. The extra layers of neurodivergence and same sex attraction make it all the more poignant
Living with her Aunty Ant after her parents “quit,” Peta tries to find her way in her new home and school. Peta has great friends in Jeb and new girl, Sam. The three of them form the “Misfit Stompers” to find their place in a world where they don’t meet the expectations set for them.
When Peta goes on a school camp to the snow, she finds her niche. Peta is a natural at skiing and it is here that she finds real freedom. Away from the confusing behavior of people who don’t follow the rules, she finds solace in speeding through the snowy slopes. During the ski trip, the relationship between Peta and girlfriend, Sam, blossoms. It is tender and passionate and fraught with the confusion of young love.
Peta Lyre’s Rating Normal is filled with the dramatic highs and lows that all adolescents must negotiate. Despite their difficult circumstances, Peta, Jeb and Sam are lit with joy and exuberance. It is the special bond they share with each other that gets them through the hard times of growing up and finding their place in the world. The extra layers of neurodivergence and same sex attraction make it all the more poignant
May 16, 2020
Peta Lyre is one of those special books that you know will stay with you for a very long time. From the beginning, I was completely inside Peta's mind, during a period of her life where she makes many discoveries about the world and herself. The writing was beautiful, with just the right amount of poetry and prose, peppered with Peta's thoughts and active imagination. The sensory descriptions immerse you within the action and the perfect pace keeps you turning the pages to see what will happen next. Being mostly set in the snow was a bonus for me, because I love the mountains and who doesn't love a good camp story! As someone who felt on the outside in high school and lives with anxiety and ADHD (the latter not diagnosed until 50 yrs of age) there was a very strong connection to Peta's story, that made me feel seen. I didn't want it to end. Deserves all of the rave reviews it's getting and more. If you love realist Aussie YA, set in Australia, put this on your must read list for 2020.
November 10, 2021
This book deals with the issues that are faced by autistic people in terms of learning how to fit in, masking and trying to attain that elusive 'normal' in a really interesting and sympathetic way where it shows the good and bad sides of all these aspects.
Peta is introduced with a strong inner dialogue that includes things such as her rating of how normal she is during any given scene, as well as the psychological tools she's flashing back to every time she goes off track in her head or stares too long at someone without speaking, just to name a few.
Her best friend is the amazing Jeb, and if you think that I did not squeal when these two claim each other as family, then you would be wrong. This book also has Jeb in an abusive family environment without managing to make the plot feel too full or social justice warrior-ish. It's so well written that it's wonderful to just sink into and go along the ride with.
When Sam starts at their school, she falls into friendship with both Peta and Jeb, despite Peta not liking things to change. It becomes obvious very quickly that Peta is bisexual and is quite attracted to Sam, even if the reader comes to see that sooner than Peta understands it.
Most of this book takes place on a school ski trip, where Peta has her first kiss and first fight with Sam. The fight is important, however, as it makes Peta begin to question the wisdom of always masking with the tools the psychologist gave her, rather than taking them as tools only when at need and trying to spend time allowing herself to be herself when around supportive chosen family.
Her mother might be depicted as being a big pile of trash, but honestly Peta has plenty of loving chosen family and it's just beautiful to read.
~
Similar to: Social Queue
Peta is introduced with a strong inner dialogue that includes things such as her rating of how normal she is during any given scene, as well as the psychological tools she's flashing back to every time she goes off track in her head or stares too long at someone without speaking, just to name a few.
Her best friend is the amazing Jeb, and if you think that I did not squeal when these two claim each other as family, then you would be wrong. This book also has Jeb in an abusive family environment without managing to make the plot feel too full or social justice warrior-ish. It's so well written that it's wonderful to just sink into and go along the ride with.
When Sam starts at their school, she falls into friendship with both Peta and Jeb, despite Peta not liking things to change. It becomes obvious very quickly that Peta is bisexual and is quite attracted to Sam, even if the reader comes to see that sooner than Peta understands it.
Most of this book takes place on a school ski trip, where Peta has her first kiss and first fight with Sam. The fight is important, however, as it makes Peta begin to question the wisdom of always masking with the tools the psychologist gave her, rather than taking them as tools only when at need and trying to spend time allowing herself to be herself when around supportive chosen family.
Her mother might be depicted as being a big pile of trash, but honestly Peta has plenty of loving chosen family and it's just beautiful to read.
~
Similar to: Social Queue
May 16, 2020
Once in a while, you read a book that speaks to your heart. This is one of those books.
Anna Whateley has written a protagonist so empathetic, raw, and real, that my heart ached throughout this read. Beautifully and thoughtfully written - stunning prose, well-sculpted characters, and a deep dive into the humanity and beauty of life.
A must read - for everyone.
Anna Whateley has written a protagonist so empathetic, raw, and real, that my heart ached throughout this read. Beautifully and thoughtfully written - stunning prose, well-sculpted characters, and a deep dive into the humanity and beauty of life.
A must read - for everyone.
September 19, 2021
“I thought if I just stuck to the rules I could be normal, and have all the things that normal people have – like a girlfriend. But I followed them and they were wrong.”
Peta has the alphabet of ASD, SPD and ADHD, and in therapy she is taught the rules to fit into society, reinforcing the idea that neurotypical is the default norm. However, luckily Peta has her own group of supportive, funny, idiosyncratic in their own way, people and a journey of self acceptance begins. Making this novel into one of my feel good teen novels of the year. Plus bonus points for being a really readable, non preachy, positive depiction of autism, lgbtq+ and the throwing of a skeptical eye at arbitrary societal rules.
“But I don’t need to get it right all the time; no one else does. Lyrebirds don’t just mimic. They make their own songs too, and dance to their own beats.”
Additional Bit: I really liked the nod to Frankenstein's Monster that is made and the connection Peta makes to the monster- it was just one of those moments when you find a novel you love inside another novel you love and its placement is done so emotionally well.
January 8, 2024
Representation: Main character with autism, sensory processing disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
Trigger warnings: Ableism
Score: Six points out of ten.
I don't know about what to think of this book, the writing style felt very formulaic and robotic, I did like all the disorder representations though Peta's thoughts detract away from the main story and I hated Peta's self-critical voice which is telling her to be "normal" (since she has 3 mental disorders), it was kind of a struggle to read that. There was a relationship with Peta and Sam, but Peta cheated on a man which I found it to be a very strange decision by her. As I read this book, Peta's character turned into a miserable person who sulks all the time and she was redeemed way too quickly however I'm glad her self-critical voice is gone now. The only interesting thing about this was the normal scale out of 10 made by Peta at the end of each chapter which was interesting. I recommend A Kind of Spark by Elle McNicoll, if you want a better book about autism which I really enjoyed. On the plus side it's authentic so there's that.
Trigger warnings: Ableism
Score: Six points out of ten.
I don't know about what to think of this book, the writing style felt very formulaic and robotic, I did like all the disorder representations though Peta's thoughts detract away from the main story and I hated Peta's self-critical voice which is telling her to be "normal" (since she has 3 mental disorders), it was kind of a struggle to read that. There was a relationship with Peta and Sam, but Peta cheated on a man which I found it to be a very strange decision by her. As I read this book, Peta's character turned into a miserable person who sulks all the time and she was redeemed way too quickly however I'm glad her self-critical voice is gone now. The only interesting thing about this was the normal scale out of 10 made by Peta at the end of each chapter which was interesting. I recommend A Kind of Spark by Elle McNicoll, if you want a better book about autism which I really enjoyed. On the plus side it's authentic so there's that.
April 30, 2020
Another great example of the hashtags, #weneeddiversebooks and #ownvoices
Engaging and authentic.
Engaging and authentic.
June 2, 2020
"I know all the tricks because I study people. I’m the mimic, the lyrebird. They created me."
Peta Lyre has spent her life learning how to look normal but with autism, ADHD and sensory processing disorder, normality is a hard thing to come by. After years of therapy, she knows now how to live by the rules, how to figure out what people mean when they don't make sense at first. But when she meets Sam, her grasp of the rules is thrown into disarray as she tries to figure out what's more important: following the rules or following her heart.
Oh wow, I don't know where to begin with this book. I have never read a book that so beautifully captures the frustration of growing up surrounded by people trying to fix you. Of being told you're broken and corrected with condescension and infantilised because disability must equal ignorance, right? This is why we need #OwnVoices representations of disability because when we're allowed to tell our own stories, we bloody nail it.
Anna Whateley has brought us a wonderful story about a neurodivergent girl coming to terms with herself. Acknowledging the abuse she's faced at the hands of her parents and the ableism dealt out by teachers, therapists and doctors. Whenever Peta was recounting appointments, I read with bated breath, terrified of what they'd say to her. I'm sorry to say it was nothing surprising, with a lot of the things her therapists said being things I've been told myself. It's hard to be disabled, but it's even harder when the people looking after you won't accept your disability either.
What I especially loved about Peta's story was how her sexuality was never treated as a big deal. So many people still think that disabled people are sexless, incapable of having fulfilling relationships, let alone consider that some disabled people are queer. I greatly appreciated Peta's attraction to Sam being completely inconsequential and I hope more books follow Whateley's lead. Their romance was bold and beautiful and I loved how they both worked to better understand the other's point of view.
I also loved Peta's friendship with Jeb, who knew just how to support her, and her aunt, Antonia, who just loves her with all her heart. They all work together so well to protect and bolster each other. And it was cool to learn a little bit about Persian culture with Sam and her family. There could've been more of that, to be honest, but I loved what we got.
An amazing debut from an author I will definitely be keeping an eye on. If you're looking for some intersectionality this Pride Month, please acquaint yourself with Peta Lyre!
Warnings: ableism, abusive parents, brief scenes of sexual harassment, references to domestic violence and bullying.
"But I don’t need to get it right all the time; no one else does. Lyrebirds don’t just mimic. They make their own songs too, and dance to their own beats."
February 15, 2021
Peta describes herself as Alphabet Girl, alluding to the diagnoses given to her. ASD. ADHD. SPD. She is a neurodivergent young woman trying to follow all the rules she has been taught through years of going to different forms therapy, to fit in and be "normal" in a neurotypical world. But of course, teenage world rarely follows prescribed rules.
She needs to contend with her fluctuating sensory differences, the rollercoaster of medication, her inner voice, and the added layer to her inner voice, being the rules.
Along with her beautiful friend Jeb, Peta is working through not only all this, but with the realities and lasting impacts of challenging and abandoning parents, and then the old what to do with your life after school pressures.
I liked the fact that the other letters Peta could be connected to, the LGBTIQA+, was not a thing. It was not named, nor agonised about. It just was. A teen whirlwind romance of emotions, tension, over-thinking, and impulsive lust.
This gained a star in my rating as I felt the spiral down as Peta was experiencing it. The despair, the confusion, the sadness, the frustration. Peta is so well formed that I cared that much about her, to feel like. That's powerful writing.
The representation is powerful. This is also a challenge to the intervention world of enforcing rules onto neurodivergent people to fit in a world that rarely thinks to make adjustments for them.
She needs to contend with her fluctuating sensory differences, the rollercoaster of medication, her inner voice, and the added layer to her inner voice, being the rules.
Along with her beautiful friend Jeb, Peta is working through not only all this, but with the realities and lasting impacts of challenging and abandoning parents, and then the old what to do with your life after school pressures.
I liked the fact that the other letters Peta could be connected to, the LGBTIQA+, was not a thing. It was not named, nor agonised about. It just was. A teen whirlwind romance of emotions, tension, over-thinking, and impulsive lust.
This gained a star in my rating as I felt the spiral down as Peta was experiencing it. The despair, the confusion, the sadness, the frustration. Peta is so well formed that I cared that much about her, to feel like. That's powerful writing.
The representation is powerful. This is also a challenge to the intervention world of enforcing rules onto neurodivergent people to fit in a world that rarely thinks to make adjustments for them.
November 8, 2020
While there are so many parts of this I loved beyond measure, the sum of the parts unfortunately equated to an average read and no one is more disappointed by that finding than me (especially as people I know LOVED this book).
So the parts I loved:
*Diverse representation: The lead character Peta is neurodivergent (ADHD, ASD, SPD). Usually you just get characters with a single "condition", so was great to see neurodivergent being represented.
*Aussie YA author: Yes!
*F-F relationship and a really, really beautiful F-M friendship
*Own voices - that always comes with a bucket full of credibility and being able to get insight into what is going on in Peta's head as she tries to remember the rules of social convention or what she has been taught to look for in social cues. Her ratings of "normal" were really beautifully done.
However, with all that I just felt bored. There was no real plot. The pacing felt really slow and I know this because there is nothing else I liked to do than read....I read everywhere. However, I kept putting this down to play solitaire on my phone or to clean. What? That was the dead give away for me that while I wanted to love this book, I didn't. I also didn't like how rushed/forced the F-F relationship was. I think (and I can't believe I am saying this), it would have been stronger without it.
I don't know - beautiful concept. Great representation. Just didn't connect with the writing/plot.
Reading Challenge
Aussie Reader's November 2020 Challenge: Read a book where the author's initials appear in "Vow and Declare" (Melbourne Cup Horse)
Aussie Reader's 2020 Aussie Author Challenge: Read a book by an Aussie Author published in 2020
So the parts I loved:
*Diverse representation: The lead character Peta is neurodivergent (ADHD, ASD, SPD). Usually you just get characters with a single "condition", so was great to see neurodivergent being represented.
*Aussie YA author: Yes!
*F-F relationship and a really, really beautiful F-M friendship
*Own voices - that always comes with a bucket full of credibility and being able to get insight into what is going on in Peta's head as she tries to remember the rules of social convention or what she has been taught to look for in social cues. Her ratings of "normal" were really beautifully done.
However, with all that I just felt bored. There was no real plot. The pacing felt really slow and I know this because there is nothing else I liked to do than read....I read everywhere. However, I kept putting this down to play solitaire on my phone or to clean. What? That was the dead give away for me that while I wanted to love this book, I didn't. I also didn't like how rushed/forced the F-F relationship was. I think (and I can't believe I am saying this), it would have been stronger without it.
I don't know - beautiful concept. Great representation. Just didn't connect with the writing/plot.
Reading Challenge
Aussie Reader's November 2020 Challenge: Read a book where the author's initials appear in "Vow and Declare" (Melbourne Cup Horse)
Aussie Reader's 2020 Aussie Author Challenge: Read a book by an Aussie Author published in 2020
December 12, 2023
4 stars
this is it. the book that has cemented my hatred for third act breakups. everything was going soooo well until the 150-or-so page mark and then things went downhill. i also think i went into this expecting it to be about like... a 16 year old? i really didn't expect all the drinking and drugs and um... adult activities. some of the things that happened kind of threw me for a loop. i also wish there was more of an emphasis on peta and sam rather than peta and jeb. i also am appalled at the name jeb. i wish this had been a 5 star book but unfortunately there were just too many curveballs. i did really enjoy peta and sam's relationship though.
this is it. the book that has cemented my hatred for third act breakups. everything was going soooo well until the 150-or-so page mark and then things went downhill. i also think i went into this expecting it to be about like... a 16 year old? i really didn't expect all the drinking and drugs and um... adult activities. some of the things that happened kind of threw me for a loop. i also wish there was more of an emphasis on peta and sam rather than peta and jeb. i also am appalled at the name jeb. i wish this had been a 5 star book but unfortunately there were just too many curveballs. i did really enjoy peta and sam's relationship though.
July 18, 2021
It was refreshing to read about a person with Autism without the usual stereotypes and written by a neuro diverse author who lives and breathes this everyday. I’m starting to see more of this in the book industry and I can’t wait to read them all. Anna Whiteley must have fantastic self awareness to write this book and able to express the challenges she has faced. I loved how Peta finds her inner strength and follows her own rules. She finds her own family after the woes with her own.
My only concern with this book is the sweeping over the sexual assault Peta experiences with Damon and Jarrod. There isn’t really a solution and she doesn’t really do anything healthy to deal with it. I don’t know if it might be something the writer experienced and she is still processing that trauma or if her editor recommended not going into too much detail with the sexual assault. I think there needs to be something that will help the reader through that experience if they have been in that situation before or even if they haven’t, it’s a good idea to have a conversation about that - acknowledging the pain and what can be done to help yourself or someone after a sexual assault.
This book has a great balance of light topics and dark topics which makes for an excellent read. I’m looking forward to recommending this book to teens and adults.
May 26, 2020
Oh this story is lovely and quite deep and darkly emotional at times. I so enjoyed journeying with Peta as she struggles to find her place in the world and slowly figures out how she wants to be (instead of how everyone else wants her to be). I also loved Peta's friend group, Jeb broke my heart and Sam was a flawed and complicated love interest that I really enjoyed.
I loved reading this one! I highly recommend!!!
I loved reading this one! I highly recommend!!!
May 27, 2020
I loved this book from the first few pages. I have often wondered how neurodivergents navigate a neurotypical world. I still don't know how we do. This is a wonderful coming of age book but also a negotiation of self versus world book. Trying to work out what is acceptable versus what will alienate others is so well articulated. I'm in awe with love for this book.
May 14, 2020
I really loved this book! It was a great YA own voices book with a protagonist who has her very own alphabet (ASD/ADHD/SPD). I cannot wait to see where this author goes after such an amazing debut novel.
January 10, 2021
This was just ✨lovely✨ and Peta Lyre deserves THE WORLD. I love that it’s #ownvoices and such a cute and gay meet cute that made me feel all warm inside. 5 stars!
Read
June 4, 2021
Trigger & Content Warnings
Sexual harassment
Domestic violence
Poverty themes
Sexual harassment
Domestic violence
Poverty themes
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