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Show Us Who You Are
A neurodiverse twelve-year-old girl is shown an amazing new technology that gives her another chance to talk to the best friend she lost. But she soon discovers the corporation behind the science hides dark secrets that only she can expose in this heartwarming and heroic sophomore novel from the award-winning author of A Kind of Spark.
A CILIP Carnegie Medal nominee!
*"McNicoll writes Adrien and narrator Cora with nuance and verve." -Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
It has never been easy for Cora to make friends. Cora is autistic, and sometimes she gets overwhelmed and stims to soothe her nerves. Adrien has ADHD and knows what it is like to navigate a world that isn’t always built for the neurodiverse. The two are fast friends until an accident puts Adrien in a coma.
Cora is devastated until Dr. Gold, the CEO of Pomegranate Institute, offers to let Cora talk to Adrien again, as a hologram her company develops. While at first enchanted, Cora soon discovers that the hologram of Adrien doesn’t capture who he was in life. And the deeper Cora dives into the mystery, the more she sees Pomegranate has secrets to hide. Can Cora uncover Pomegranate's dark truth before their technologies rewrite history forever?
A CILIP Carnegie Medal nominee!
*"McNicoll writes Adrien and narrator Cora with nuance and verve." -Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
It has never been easy for Cora to make friends. Cora is autistic, and sometimes she gets overwhelmed and stims to soothe her nerves. Adrien has ADHD and knows what it is like to navigate a world that isn’t always built for the neurodiverse. The two are fast friends until an accident puts Adrien in a coma.
Cora is devastated until Dr. Gold, the CEO of Pomegranate Institute, offers to let Cora talk to Adrien again, as a hologram her company develops. While at first enchanted, Cora soon discovers that the hologram of Adrien doesn’t capture who he was in life. And the deeper Cora dives into the mystery, the more she sees Pomegranate has secrets to hide. Can Cora uncover Pomegranate's dark truth before their technologies rewrite history forever?
304 pages, Hardcover
First published March 4, 2021
50 people are currently reading
2846 people want to read
About the author
Elle McNicoll
18 books766 followersHey, I'm Elle. I'm Scottish, autistic and an author/screenwriter who is really bad at logging her reading choices.
I write about autistic girls finding out who they are and what makes them happy, because I'm an autistic girl trying to find out who she is and what makes her happy.
I don't read reviews, as they are for readers, but I'm grateful to any and everyone who engages with my work, on the page or on the screen. My Young Adult Romance debut is called Some Like It Cold in it will be published on the 3rd of October. Official professional shiz below:
Elle McNicoll is a bestselling and award-winning novelist and screenwriter. Her debut, A Kind of Spark, won the Blue Peter Book Award and the Overall Waterstones Children’s Book Prize, as well as Blackwell’s Book of 2020. She is a four time Carnegie nominated author, and was shortlisted for the Books Are My Bag Awards 2020, 2021 and 2022, the Branford Boase Award 2020 and The Little Rebels Award 2020 and 2021. She was also honoured in the US with the Schneider Award, 2022.
Her second Middle Grade novel, Show Us Who You Are, was Blackwell’s Book of the Month and one of The Bookseller’s Best Books of 2021. Her first fantasy middle grade, Like a Charm, was nominated for Best Children’s Book for Older Readers in the first ever Week Junior Book Awards, and was highly praised in the New York Times.
Her debut novel, A Kind of Spark, has also been adapted for television, which debuted on UK and US screens on the 2nd of April, 2023. It is Emmy nominated and won Best Children’s Programme at the Broadcast Awards and the Royal Television Society Awards in London, 2024 and is now streaming in many territories around the globe. A second season is currently airing on CBBC.
Her debut Middle Grade was named as one of the greatest children’s books of all time, coming in at number 75, and she is twice nominated for the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award.
Her YA debut, Some Like It Cold, will be published on October 1st (US) and October 3rd (UK). She is an advocate for better representation of neurodiversity in publishing, as an autistic and dyspraxic novelist, and currently lives in North London.
I write about autistic girls finding out who they are and what makes them happy, because I'm an autistic girl trying to find out who she is and what makes her happy.
I don't read reviews, as they are for readers, but I'm grateful to any and everyone who engages with my work, on the page or on the screen. My Young Adult Romance debut is called Some Like It Cold in it will be published on the 3rd of October. Official professional shiz below:
Elle McNicoll is a bestselling and award-winning novelist and screenwriter. Her debut, A Kind of Spark, won the Blue Peter Book Award and the Overall Waterstones Children’s Book Prize, as well as Blackwell’s Book of 2020. She is a four time Carnegie nominated author, and was shortlisted for the Books Are My Bag Awards 2020, 2021 and 2022, the Branford Boase Award 2020 and The Little Rebels Award 2020 and 2021. She was also honoured in the US with the Schneider Award, 2022.
Her second Middle Grade novel, Show Us Who You Are, was Blackwell’s Book of the Month and one of The Bookseller’s Best Books of 2021. Her first fantasy middle grade, Like a Charm, was nominated for Best Children’s Book for Older Readers in the first ever Week Junior Book Awards, and was highly praised in the New York Times.
Her debut novel, A Kind of Spark, has also been adapted for television, which debuted on UK and US screens on the 2nd of April, 2023. It is Emmy nominated and won Best Children’s Programme at the Broadcast Awards and the Royal Television Society Awards in London, 2024 and is now streaming in many territories around the globe. A second season is currently airing on CBBC.
Her debut Middle Grade was named as one of the greatest children’s books of all time, coming in at number 75, and she is twice nominated for the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award.
Her YA debut, Some Like It Cold, will be published on October 1st (US) and October 3rd (UK). She is an advocate for better representation of neurodiversity in publishing, as an autistic and dyspraxic novelist, and currently lives in North London.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 371 reviews
March 2, 2021
Elle McNicoll has no idea what a sophomore slump is because her second novel is out-of-this-world-EXTRAORDINARY!
I love Elle's debut, A Kind of Spark, so much. The protagonist of that book, Addie, is a truly remarkable and brilliant young girl. In Show Us Who You Are, we meet Cora, another brilliant protagonist who shows us that being autistic is something to never ever be ashamed of. What I love about the characters of Elle's books is that they demonstrate real people who are different, but being different is something to be celebrated and loved.
Cora's friendship with Adrien is a true highlight of the book. They have incredible banter with each other and there were so many times I laughed at their interactions and how they would reply to people. Their relationship with one another is a bit of a rollercoaster ride, especially after a certain event that happens that shooketh me to my core, but again the character work that was so beautifully displayed in A Kind of Spark is carried over here.
One of the reasons I love this book is the plot too. Pomegranate Industries is making life-like holograms of people so that loved ones can visit them when they pass away, so they never have to say goodbye. The sci-fi element of that alone really excited me and to see how Cora would navigate this kind of world. There were some twists and turns that I just didn't expect but they led to some incredibly touching character moments that really did have me weeping in the third act.
And don't even get me started on the villain of the story, oh my gosh. A brilliant villain though, a one I absolutely love to hate. No more will be said about that as I do not want to spoil it for anyone.
Everyone, please buy 'Show Us Who You Are'. It blends together touching character moments with a fast-paced plot to project a book that demonstrates the differences of the people around us - and why they should be loved and celebrated.
I love Elle's debut, A Kind of Spark, so much. The protagonist of that book, Addie, is a truly remarkable and brilliant young girl. In Show Us Who You Are, we meet Cora, another brilliant protagonist who shows us that being autistic is something to never ever be ashamed of. What I love about the characters of Elle's books is that they demonstrate real people who are different, but being different is something to be celebrated and loved.
Cora's friendship with Adrien is a true highlight of the book. They have incredible banter with each other and there were so many times I laughed at their interactions and how they would reply to people. Their relationship with one another is a bit of a rollercoaster ride, especially after a certain event that happens that shooketh me to my core, but again the character work that was so beautifully displayed in A Kind of Spark is carried over here.
One of the reasons I love this book is the plot too. Pomegranate Industries is making life-like holograms of people so that loved ones can visit them when they pass away, so they never have to say goodbye. The sci-fi element of that alone really excited me and to see how Cora would navigate this kind of world. There were some twists and turns that I just didn't expect but they led to some incredibly touching character moments that really did have me weeping in the third act.
And don't even get me started on the villain of the story, oh my gosh. A brilliant villain though, a one I absolutely love to hate. No more will be said about that as I do not want to spoil it for anyone.
Everyone, please buy 'Show Us Who You Are'. It blends together touching character moments with a fast-paced plot to project a book that demonstrates the differences of the people around us - and why they should be loved and celebrated.
December 31, 2020
This is going to blow everyone away.
I was lucky enough to read this early, hunched under blankets and muttering "holy shit holy shit" over and over again as I did. Where Spark lit the flame, Show blows everything wide open.
Dragged along to her brother's work do, aspiring journalist Cora meets Adrien, son of the CEO of Pomegranate Technologies, a company that uses AI to recreate real people as holograms. Her new friend Adrien is her first friend who gets what it means to be neurodiverse in a world not built for you. (Cora is autistic and Adrien has ADHD). As Adrien and Cora grow closer, she also is drawn into the world of Pomegranate, agreeing to take part in their research in order to learn more about them. But what she uncovers is rot.
This book is a stunning exploration of identity, disability, what it means to be a person and grief. It's both a rip-roaring future-science thriller, and a beautiful story of two souls that understand each other innately becoming friends. It's fury and sharp toothed, while also overflowing with emotion and beauty and truth. I can't explain what it feels like to read this book in simple sentences, because it was so many things all at once.
But I can tell you that the minute I finished, I read it again.
And again.
This is an important, incredible story of friendship and courage that will be remembered forever.
I was lucky enough to read this early, hunched under blankets and muttering "holy shit holy shit" over and over again as I did. Where Spark lit the flame, Show blows everything wide open.
Dragged along to her brother's work do, aspiring journalist Cora meets Adrien, son of the CEO of Pomegranate Technologies, a company that uses AI to recreate real people as holograms. Her new friend Adrien is her first friend who gets what it means to be neurodiverse in a world not built for you. (Cora is autistic and Adrien has ADHD). As Adrien and Cora grow closer, she also is drawn into the world of Pomegranate, agreeing to take part in their research in order to learn more about them. But what she uncovers is rot.
This book is a stunning exploration of identity, disability, what it means to be a person and grief. It's both a rip-roaring future-science thriller, and a beautiful story of two souls that understand each other innately becoming friends. It's fury and sharp toothed, while also overflowing with emotion and beauty and truth. I can't explain what it feels like to read this book in simple sentences, because it was so many things all at once.
But I can tell you that the minute I finished, I read it again.
And again.
This is an important, incredible story of friendship and courage that will be remembered forever.
September 7, 2022
I fell in love with this book from the first chapter, and I immediately knew this would be a 5 star read. You all know I loved A Kind of Spark, and it's safe to say Elle McNicoll's second book is even better.
In the first chapter, we meet our autistic main character, Cora, who becomes friends with Adrien, a boy with ADHD. It was beyond precious to see this portrayal of a neurodivergent friendship, and Adrien has quickly become one of my favourite characters ever.
I was NOT ready for the emotional rollercoaster this book would put me on, though! While the overall course of the book was hopeful and empowering, Elle McNicoll doesn't shy away from real, tough to discuss themes like grief and eugenics. I'm amazed at how she manages to especially make the theme of eugenics comprehensible for middlegrade readers, and she makes it so very clear that Cora and Adrien don't need to be fixed, they need to be accepted for who they are.
"I have every right to be here. As me. Exactly as I am. [...] I might be different to you, I might be different to every person in this room, but you have no more of a right to exist than I do. You don't get to pick and choose which bits of me are fine. All of me is fine."
It's very clear to see that this book is not only written by and about neurodivergent people, it's also explicitly written *for* us. There were so many small relatable moments that I expenct neurotypical people won't really pick up on, and while it has its educational moments, it's not a book that necessarily educates about what autism is. Actually, when asked, Cora can't really put into words what her autism means for her and she also hasn't necessarily learned a lot about it. Because the point is that you shouldn't have to understand someone completely in order to respect them. Show Us Who You Are is so unapologetically autistic, and it made me feel very seen.
In the first chapter, we meet our autistic main character, Cora, who becomes friends with Adrien, a boy with ADHD. It was beyond precious to see this portrayal of a neurodivergent friendship, and Adrien has quickly become one of my favourite characters ever.
I was NOT ready for the emotional rollercoaster this book would put me on, though! While the overall course of the book was hopeful and empowering, Elle McNicoll doesn't shy away from real, tough to discuss themes like grief and eugenics. I'm amazed at how she manages to especially make the theme of eugenics comprehensible for middlegrade readers, and she makes it so very clear that Cora and Adrien don't need to be fixed, they need to be accepted for who they are.
"I have every right to be here. As me. Exactly as I am. [...] I might be different to you, I might be different to every person in this room, but you have no more of a right to exist than I do. You don't get to pick and choose which bits of me are fine. All of me is fine."
It's very clear to see that this book is not only written by and about neurodivergent people, it's also explicitly written *for* us. There were so many small relatable moments that I expenct neurotypical people won't really pick up on, and while it has its educational moments, it's not a book that necessarily educates about what autism is. Actually, when asked, Cora can't really put into words what her autism means for her and she also hasn't necessarily learned a lot about it. Because the point is that you shouldn't have to understand someone completely in order to respect them. Show Us Who You Are is so unapologetically autistic, and it made me feel very seen.
November 21, 2023
✰ 4.5 stars ✰
“I stare at the white china as it gets steadily cleaner and I wonder what it must be like. To see someone come back to life in the form of a hologram.
I can’t understand Dad’s reaction. Surely it must be the most wonderful idea in the world.
Never having to say goodbye to somebody.”
In a time where Hollywood starlets were fighting in their stance against the studios for the usage of AI in future films to preserve their existence, Elle McNicoll's 2021 sophomore middle grade book Show Us Who You Are showed the effects of how AI would affect our lives in a poignant and emotional story that without a doubt, left a lasting impression on me.
“I just want to be heard. I just want a way to be understood. I feel like people read me all wrong, and if I had a way to put the thoughts down and send them out into the world, then they wouldn’t. Then they would understand.”
Cora was a strong-willed protagonist - twelve-years-old and autistic, I felt so bad for her at the start of the book. The way her teacher so callously dismissed her desire to join the newspaper club simply because she's 'different' or as he oh-so eloquently put it with his infuriatingly pitiful smile 'You know why. Your condition…well…I wouldn’t want you to be overwhelmed. I just don’t think you’re a good fit for it.' Oooohhh - I wanted to rip into the pages and shake him - how dare you speak to a child like that?!! 😤 I never felt she was different than anyone - she was honest and open, she had so much feeling in her, just because she didn't feel comfortable around others, doesn't mean that she's not normal. All of her experiences felt so very relatable; she never behaved in an inappropriate way and I felt awful for her that she had no real friends in her life, except for her much-older brother, Gregor.
But, everything changes when she meets Adrien Ramsey - the son of her brother's boss - a boy home-schooled by his parents due to his ADHD - a boy who opens Cora's heart into living life to the fullest and embracing and enjoying it for what it is. It's impossible not to be drawn into his warm orbit - irresistible to his infectious spirit and kindness that radiates from being with him. 🥰🥰 A friendship that just clicks - one so precious and deep that when it's suddenly and so painfully ripped away from her (yes, I was NOT prepared for it to happen when it did!) - Cora is faced with the impossible question - what would she do to have the chance to speak to him again - to never ever face the loss of seeing the face of the ones she loved? 💔
These Grams are digital pieces of people’s souls. But they are not flesh and bone. You cannot hurt or maim them. They cannot leave their surroundings and take over the world, or whatever other clichéd horror stories we’ll hear.”
It's the challenges that Cora faced once she gets involved at the Pomegranate Institute where her brother works that the story really presents what it's trying to achieve - the questions we have to ask ourselves of how far we would go - the extent of what we do to bring back our loved ones - in which capacity? How much of our identity are we willing to sacrifice simply for the sake of living beyond death? 😟😟 To be interviewed and studied so that when a 'Gram—hologram, that is—will be as human-like and true to life as possible.... and then they can live forever. Virtually. Like virtual immortality. Then their loved ones can visit them after they’ve died.' - it does sound sorely tempting, doesn't it? But, isn't the beauty often in the flaws and our imperfections? The memories that we can't replicate or bring back, or even add on to an artificial memory that never experienced it. It's that difficult choice that Cora faces as she becomes more involved in the process that she starts to realize how very wrong her perception had been.
I spotted who the villain was a mile away; it was painfully obvious to me, but that's just my own reading sensibilities that knows how to narrow it down. But, I still loved reading how Cora exposed the truths, while struggling to do what's right - the war in her heart that she wanted to be as close to Adrien as possible, giving up parts of her personality just to speak to him. 😢😢 I liked how the conflict arose - how she could finally sense that something is wrong - how she began to see that what she had been thinking all along - that perhaps in trying to help, she was actually hurting others. It was heart-breaking because she's already felt loss - her family has lived grief - and she can't afford to lose any more of what she has. It's when her father holds her close and touches her temple, with those reassuring words 'He’s in there for always. You’re not leaving him anywhere, just like you’re not leaving Mum. They’re in there forever. They’re not going anywhere,' that you witness how Cora has to make the decision all on her own. ❤️🩹❤️🩹
“Hey, Cora?”
“What?”
He catches my fingers. Not my hand, just the fingers. Like he knows the feeling of having my hand grasped would be too much right now.
He squeezes them so lightly.
“You’re my best friend, Cora.”
Y'know, you grow up with boys and you go through that phase that 'oh, stay away, or you'll get cooties' or you get ridiculed for being friends with a boy, but there was nothing to joke about when it came to the beautiful friendship between Cora and Adrien - they were everything to me - their bond was so heart-felt and genuinely portrayed. 🥺🥺 He was so lovable, so sweet, so protective, so understanding of her feelings and so kind to her and so comforting - how he just wanted to have his father's love - how he helped Cora see the beauty in who she was - that she was perfect as she was - 'but Adrien doesn’t care at all about the rules. “He’s my friend.”' 🫂🫂
And that beautiful ending - I DID NOT know that tearing up before lunch on a Saturday would be on the agenda, but I was! 😭😭 It was too heart-wrenching, but so pure - I wasn't expecting it, I just - I read it twice, because the smile that had spread across my face was trying to stop the tears from falling. It was just the sweetest and most heart-felt connection between these two friends - that even if he wasn't there in spirit, he had always been the guiding force for her choices and decisions. It was - I can't even reveal it, because you have to experience it, all on your own - warm and safe and loved. 🥹🥹
All my hugs for these two. 🤍🤍
“Love is accepting and celebrating something or someone for every natural fiber of them. The parts that they can’t change…those are the parts that need loving the most.”
And the writing - ah, the writing - it spoke to my heart - sent me spiraling on an emotional roller-coaster, gave me a whirlwind of twists, a bit predictable at times, and the ending was something I have seen generally - but the message - this empowering message that you don't have to change anything about yourself - that you are perfect as you are - flaws and all. 🤌🏻🤌🏻 'You can’t just take out the parts of a person that you don’t like,” I say, my voice strained. “It doesn’t work like that.' It was a solid good read; I was really impressed and the fact that this a sophomore book, makes me want to read the author's debut novel as soon as possible, cautiously optimistic that it'll be just as good. 🤞🏻🤞🏻
Well-written, engrossing, and moving, these are the types of stories I would not hesitate recommending to anyone. 'I never know how to explain. The feeling can flow through a pen, but never through my voice.' Yet, here I can say that this is a story that deals with loss and love, acceptance and friendship, family and courage with writing that is eloquence perfection to my writing sensibilities. I could not have had a better time than I did with this gem. 👏🏻👏🏻
“I stare at the white china as it gets steadily cleaner and I wonder what it must be like. To see someone come back to life in the form of a hologram.
I can’t understand Dad’s reaction. Surely it must be the most wonderful idea in the world.
Never having to say goodbye to somebody.”
In a time where Hollywood starlets were fighting in their stance against the studios for the usage of AI in future films to preserve their existence, Elle McNicoll's 2021 sophomore middle grade book Show Us Who You Are showed the effects of how AI would affect our lives in a poignant and emotional story that without a doubt, left a lasting impression on me.
“I just want to be heard. I just want a way to be understood. I feel like people read me all wrong, and if I had a way to put the thoughts down and send them out into the world, then they wouldn’t. Then they would understand.”
Cora was a strong-willed protagonist - twelve-years-old and autistic, I felt so bad for her at the start of the book. The way her teacher so callously dismissed her desire to join the newspaper club simply because she's 'different' or as he oh-so eloquently put it with his infuriatingly pitiful smile 'You know why. Your condition…well…I wouldn’t want you to be overwhelmed. I just don’t think you’re a good fit for it.' Oooohhh - I wanted to rip into the pages and shake him - how dare you speak to a child like that?!! 😤 I never felt she was different than anyone - she was honest and open, she had so much feeling in her, just because she didn't feel comfortable around others, doesn't mean that she's not normal. All of her experiences felt so very relatable; she never behaved in an inappropriate way and I felt awful for her that she had no real friends in her life, except for her much-older brother, Gregor.
But, everything changes when she meets Adrien Ramsey - the son of her brother's boss - a boy home-schooled by his parents due to his ADHD - a boy who opens Cora's heart into living life to the fullest and embracing and enjoying it for what it is. It's impossible not to be drawn into his warm orbit - irresistible to his infectious spirit and kindness that radiates from being with him. 🥰🥰 A friendship that just clicks - one so precious and deep that when it's suddenly and so painfully ripped away from her (yes, I was NOT prepared for it to happen when it did!) - Cora is faced with the impossible question - what would she do to have the chance to speak to him again - to never ever face the loss of seeing the face of the ones she loved? 💔
These Grams are digital pieces of people’s souls. But they are not flesh and bone. You cannot hurt or maim them. They cannot leave their surroundings and take over the world, or whatever other clichéd horror stories we’ll hear.”
It's the challenges that Cora faced once she gets involved at the Pomegranate Institute where her brother works that the story really presents what it's trying to achieve - the questions we have to ask ourselves of how far we would go - the extent of what we do to bring back our loved ones - in which capacity? How much of our identity are we willing to sacrifice simply for the sake of living beyond death? 😟😟 To be interviewed and studied so that when a 'Gram—hologram, that is—will be as human-like and true to life as possible.... and then they can live forever. Virtually. Like virtual immortality. Then their loved ones can visit them after they’ve died.' - it does sound sorely tempting, doesn't it? But, isn't the beauty often in the flaws and our imperfections? The memories that we can't replicate or bring back, or even add on to an artificial memory that never experienced it. It's that difficult choice that Cora faces as she becomes more involved in the process that she starts to realize how very wrong her perception had been.
I spotted who the villain was a mile away; it was painfully obvious to me, but that's just my own reading sensibilities that knows how to narrow it down. But, I still loved reading how Cora exposed the truths, while struggling to do what's right - the war in her heart that she wanted to be as close to Adrien as possible, giving up parts of her personality just to speak to him. 😢😢 I liked how the conflict arose - how she could finally sense that something is wrong - how she began to see that what she had been thinking all along - that perhaps in trying to help, she was actually hurting others. It was heart-breaking because she's already felt loss - her family has lived grief - and she can't afford to lose any more of what she has. It's when her father holds her close and touches her temple, with those reassuring words 'He’s in there for always. You’re not leaving him anywhere, just like you’re not leaving Mum. They’re in there forever. They’re not going anywhere,' that you witness how Cora has to make the decision all on her own. ❤️🩹❤️🩹
“Hey, Cora?”
“What?”
He catches my fingers. Not my hand, just the fingers. Like he knows the feeling of having my hand grasped would be too much right now.
He squeezes them so lightly.
“You’re my best friend, Cora.”
Y'know, you grow up with boys and you go through that phase that 'oh, stay away, or you'll get cooties' or you get ridiculed for being friends with a boy, but there was nothing to joke about when it came to the beautiful friendship between Cora and Adrien - they were everything to me - their bond was so heart-felt and genuinely portrayed. 🥺🥺 He was so lovable, so sweet, so protective, so understanding of her feelings and so kind to her and so comforting - how he just wanted to have his father's love - how he helped Cora see the beauty in who she was - that she was perfect as she was - 'but Adrien doesn’t care at all about the rules. “He’s my friend.”' 🫂🫂
And that beautiful ending - I DID NOT know that tearing up before lunch on a Saturday would be on the agenda, but I was! 😭😭 It was too heart-wrenching, but so pure - I wasn't expecting it, I just - I read it twice, because the smile that had spread across my face was trying to stop the tears from falling. It was just the sweetest and most heart-felt connection between these two friends - that even if he wasn't there in spirit, he had always been the guiding force for her choices and decisions. It was - I can't even reveal it, because you have to experience it, all on your own - warm and safe and loved. 🥹🥹
All my hugs for these two. 🤍🤍
“Love is accepting and celebrating something or someone for every natural fiber of them. The parts that they can’t change…those are the parts that need loving the most.”
And the writing - ah, the writing - it spoke to my heart - sent me spiraling on an emotional roller-coaster, gave me a whirlwind of twists, a bit predictable at times, and the ending was something I have seen generally - but the message - this empowering message that you don't have to change anything about yourself - that you are perfect as you are - flaws and all. 🤌🏻🤌🏻 'You can’t just take out the parts of a person that you don’t like,” I say, my voice strained. “It doesn’t work like that.' It was a solid good read; I was really impressed and the fact that this a sophomore book, makes me want to read the author's debut novel as soon as possible, cautiously optimistic that it'll be just as good. 🤞🏻🤞🏻
Well-written, engrossing, and moving, these are the types of stories I would not hesitate recommending to anyone. 'I never know how to explain. The feeling can flow through a pen, but never through my voice.' Yet, here I can say that this is a story that deals with loss and love, acceptance and friendship, family and courage with writing that is eloquence perfection to my writing sensibilities. I could not have had a better time than I did with this gem. 👏🏻👏🏻
March 22, 2021
Show Us Who You Are is a heart-wrenching novel full of friendship, grief, and bravery. The main character, Cora, is autistic and her best friend Adrien has ADHD. Their friendship brought me a lot of joy.
No other book has made me feel the way this one did. I laughed, I cried, I loved some characters and hated others. I felt the grief that the characters were feeling. I experienced such a wide range of emotions while reading Show, and that’s a testament to how incredible McNicoll’s writing is.
I would love to have a friendship like Cora and Adrien’s, it is something to aspire to. These are two extremely strong characters, full of heart, bravery, and determination. They know who they are and they believe in themselves and in each other. They stand up for what’s right in the face of evil, and they don’t let the world beat them down.
The concept behind this story is a fascinating one, I enjoyed reading about Pomegranate and the holograms they make. The idea that people can still see and speak to their loved ones after they’ve passed away is really interesting.
As with any good story, there are twists and turns, and not everything is as it seems. The book contemplates mortality and morality, and the importance of respecting and accepting people for exactly who they are.
As an autistic person, I relate to a lot of the content, and the neurodivergent representation is spot on. Own Voices books are more important than ever and the quality of the representation really shines through and means the world to me.
Show Us Who You Are feels like a love letter to neurodivergent people. We are wonderful as we are, that’s what this book is about. Show the world who you are, and don’t ever be ashamed. Your differences are something to be proud of.
No other book has made me feel the way this one did. I laughed, I cried, I loved some characters and hated others. I felt the grief that the characters were feeling. I experienced such a wide range of emotions while reading Show, and that’s a testament to how incredible McNicoll’s writing is.
I would love to have a friendship like Cora and Adrien’s, it is something to aspire to. These are two extremely strong characters, full of heart, bravery, and determination. They know who they are and they believe in themselves and in each other. They stand up for what’s right in the face of evil, and they don’t let the world beat them down.
The concept behind this story is a fascinating one, I enjoyed reading about Pomegranate and the holograms they make. The idea that people can still see and speak to their loved ones after they’ve passed away is really interesting.
As with any good story, there are twists and turns, and not everything is as it seems. The book contemplates mortality and morality, and the importance of respecting and accepting people for exactly who they are.
As an autistic person, I relate to a lot of the content, and the neurodivergent representation is spot on. Own Voices books are more important than ever and the quality of the representation really shines through and means the world to me.
Show Us Who You Are feels like a love letter to neurodivergent people. We are wonderful as we are, that’s what this book is about. Show the world who you are, and don’t ever be ashamed. Your differences are something to be proud of.
April 10, 2021
I wanted to get a full review of this book posted, but it's just so good I'm resorting to telling you to just buy it. The friendship, the exploration of what means to be neurodivergent, the ending, it was just so, so good. I want to read every book Elle ever writes.
April 11, 2023
I am SOBBING! Everyone needs to read this book right now!!!
"You wouldn't want to be cured?"
"I'm not ill"
"You wouldn't want to be cured?"
"I'm not ill"
April 8, 2021
Wow! A truly inspirational story, that blew me away, much like a Kind of Spark. With two neurodivergent characters; Cora (autistic) and Adrien (ADHD), this book doesn't shy away from admitting the struggles these characters have in everyday life, especially in school. A story with many twists and turns, and an especially unexpected event in Chapter 13, certainly an emotional roller coaster.
The theme intrigued me, embedding the story within 'Grams' - a concept where people are made into holograms that can act as a support for their families when this person is no longer with them. It proved a winning concept with Cora, especially when Adrien took an unexpected turn. But after a long exploration into the Pomegranate institute, Cora found that it wasn't what it was set out to be, and the morals of the company were sometimes inhuman.
At first, I was intrigued by the offerings of the Pomegranate Institue, I genuinely thought it might be a great idea, but by the end of the book, I had certainly changed my mind! We are all individuals and we shouldn't want to be perfect, or want to remove the 'sparks' about us, because without them we would all be the same. Our differences make us who we are, and Cora advocates this very well.
A truly inspirational story of a very courageous girl. 'A Kind of Spark' is still my favourite book EVER, but Show Us Who You Are is definitely up there!
The theme intrigued me, embedding the story within 'Grams' - a concept where people are made into holograms that can act as a support for their families when this person is no longer with them. It proved a winning concept with Cora, especially when Adrien took an unexpected turn. But after a long exploration into the Pomegranate institute, Cora found that it wasn't what it was set out to be, and the morals of the company were sometimes inhuman.
At first, I was intrigued by the offerings of the Pomegranate Institue, I genuinely thought it might be a great idea, but by the end of the book, I had certainly changed my mind! We are all individuals and we shouldn't want to be perfect, or want to remove the 'sparks' about us, because without them we would all be the same. Our differences make us who we are, and Cora advocates this very well.
A truly inspirational story of a very courageous girl. 'A Kind of Spark' is still my favourite book EVER, but Show Us Who You Are is definitely up there!
May 30, 2023
I'm not sure where to start. I could say that I laughed, that I cried, I could say that I felt like I was really SEEN in this book, or I could just say that I loved it. But somehow, somehow that doesn't seem like enough, no matter what I say, because all of that is true but I'm also missing something—missing words that I need to use to describe this book, but can't find.
I've got tears on my cheeks as I write this and I'm still wiping them away as I just think about that beautiful ending. Like... goodness gracious the ending was so perfect. I'm going to save most of my thoughts for a review for my blog, but just know this: This book was a near-perfect representation of what it's like to be autistic. Each autistic is different, but there are some of us who are like Cora. And I loved seeing that. As an autistic myself, I felt so seen and am so attached to her character.
I would highly recommend this book, but if you want a more in-depth review, head to my blog! If it's not up yet, stay tuned because it's going up in the schedule soon. The link is in my profile. :) Happy reading, y'all!
I've got tears on my cheeks as I write this and I'm still wiping them away as I just think about that beautiful ending. Like... goodness gracious the ending was so perfect. I'm going to save most of my thoughts for a review for my blog, but just know this: This book was a near-perfect representation of what it's like to be autistic. Each autistic is different, but there are some of us who are like Cora. And I loved seeing that. As an autistic myself, I felt so seen and am so attached to her character.
I would highly recommend this book, but if you want a more in-depth review, head to my blog! If it's not up yet, stay tuned because it's going up in the schedule soon. The link is in my profile. :) Happy reading, y'all!
March 31, 2023
This is a must-read for anyone who wants to see more diverse and inclusive stories in children's literature. It's a beautiful and empowering novel that will inspire readers of all ages to embrace their true selves and celebrate the differences that make us all unique.
September 1, 2023
“Grief is just love asking for more time.”
***
“Grief is like rain. When you’re standing in the street, drenched and freezing cold, it’s hard to remember what it’s like to feel warm and dry. It’s hard to imagine feeling warm and dry ever again. But some people are umbrellas. And they keep away the worst of the storm.”
There is something so special about the way that Elle McNicoll writes. A lot of people turn their noses up at middle grade (I could go on a tangent on why the genre is so important and fantastic but I will save that for another time) but the way that McNicoll portrays neurodivergency is raw and honest. I have often seen television shows, movies or books represent us in unrealistic ways but I am yet to be let down by this author.
Books such as this and her debut A Kind Of Spark are important to the community, especially the usual target audience of middle grade because of the lesson behind it. We are often made to feel different, misunderstood and told that we need to change to make it in this neurotypical dominant world but the beautiful message behind Show Us Who You Are is that there is nothing wrong with being different and that if given the chance, we wouldn’t change it.
The highlight for me would have to be the friendship between Adrien and Cora. Both of them have experienced the highs and the lows of being neurodivergent and I loved that they were both able to find comfort and safety in one another and advocate their right to exist just as they are.
Another fantastic read from a great author.
***
“Grief is like rain. When you’re standing in the street, drenched and freezing cold, it’s hard to remember what it’s like to feel warm and dry. It’s hard to imagine feeling warm and dry ever again. But some people are umbrellas. And they keep away the worst of the storm.”
There is something so special about the way that Elle McNicoll writes. A lot of people turn their noses up at middle grade (I could go on a tangent on why the genre is so important and fantastic but I will save that for another time) but the way that McNicoll portrays neurodivergency is raw and honest. I have often seen television shows, movies or books represent us in unrealistic ways but I am yet to be let down by this author.
Books such as this and her debut A Kind Of Spark are important to the community, especially the usual target audience of middle grade because of the lesson behind it. We are often made to feel different, misunderstood and told that we need to change to make it in this neurotypical dominant world but the beautiful message behind Show Us Who You Are is that there is nothing wrong with being different and that if given the chance, we wouldn’t change it.
The highlight for me would have to be the friendship between Adrien and Cora. Both of them have experienced the highs and the lows of being neurodivergent and I loved that they were both able to find comfort and safety in one another and advocate their right to exist just as they are.
Another fantastic read from a great author.
March 25, 2021
I finished this book reeling, bursting with emotions and ready to read it again and recommend it to everyone I know. Elle is neurodivergent herself and that knowledge and understanding seeps through into every element of this book. The protagonist, Cora is autistic and her best friend has ADHD.
Cora is dealing with everything that's hard about feeling different, difficulties with friendships, trying to understand the social norms, finding her voice. When she is invited to help with a project at a company who builds AI representations of people, it soon becomes clear that everything is not as it seems...
It's hard not to give away too much of the plot but the themes are friendship, bravery, awareness and acceptance. If you leave this book without an insight into what it might be to be autistic then you need to read it again! This is the book I wish had been around years ago and I will be recommending it to everyone, those who are neurodiverse and those who aren't but will benefit from gaining understanding from the neurodiverse people in their lives, their homes, their classrooms etc.
When all's said and done, it's just a really good, well written, page turner of story. Hurrah for Elle!
Cora is dealing with everything that's hard about feeling different, difficulties with friendships, trying to understand the social norms, finding her voice. When she is invited to help with a project at a company who builds AI representations of people, it soon becomes clear that everything is not as it seems...
It's hard not to give away too much of the plot but the themes are friendship, bravery, awareness and acceptance. If you leave this book without an insight into what it might be to be autistic then you need to read it again! This is the book I wish had been around years ago and I will be recommending it to everyone, those who are neurodiverse and those who aren't but will benefit from gaining understanding from the neurodiverse people in their lives, their homes, their classrooms etc.
When all's said and done, it's just a really good, well written, page turner of story. Hurrah for Elle!
August 13, 2021
I wasn't too into the book initially, but about halfway through there's a huge shock and then I was engaged.
I do admire McNicoll for the work she puts into representing us neurodivergent people. Her books are the only ones since Anne Fine's Up On Cloud Nine where I regularly go, "hey, that's me!"
Great work, Ellie!
I do admire McNicoll for the work she puts into representing us neurodivergent people. Her books are the only ones since Anne Fine's Up On Cloud Nine where I regularly go, "hey, that's me!"
Great work, Ellie!
August 12, 2021
review to come when i stop crying
November 28, 2024
3.5 stars!
This is such an important read with great neuro divergent main characters
This is such an important read with great neuro divergent main characters
December 23, 2023
What if using AI (artificial intelligence), you could preserve the memory of your loved one in a way that would allow you to visit with the person's hologram after they have passed away? Would you want to be part of this science? Could there be evil at Pomegranate, the institute that is behind the new AI technology?
That is the premise of this story about Cora a young autistic girl who has lost her mother and her new friend Adrien a boy of privilege who has ADHD. A beautiful story about finding a best friend and someone who gets you along with being a science fiction page turner. 4.5 stars rounded up to 5 because of the premise and the fact that this was written in 2021 before ChatGPT (and AI) became the next big thing that will change how we live our lives.
That is the premise of this story about Cora a young autistic girl who has lost her mother and her new friend Adrien a boy of privilege who has ADHD. A beautiful story about finding a best friend and someone who gets you along with being a science fiction page turner. 4.5 stars rounded up to 5 because of the premise and the fact that this was written in 2021 before ChatGPT (and AI) became the next big thing that will change how we live our lives.
March 1, 2022
i’ve said this phrase so many times to so many books but when i tell you my heart is FULL… I MEAN IT!!!!,!:!!.!/$22&
it left me mixed with so much emotions (in a good way) UGHHHH adrien and cora’s friendship😭😭😭💔💔💔
it left me mixed with so much emotions (in a good way) UGHHHH adrien and cora’s friendship😭😭😭💔💔💔
April 2, 2022
This book brilliantly shows why the world needs more stories BY neurodivergent authors.
July 6, 2021
This book was extraordinary. I truly didn’t know what to expect going into this book, but I couldn’t have been in for a better surprise. Cora was an incredible MC, and her friendship with Adrian was just pure platonic soulmates. Her journey both along aside Adrian, and alone, was so beautiful to experience and I felt so incredibly proud of her. Elle did an incredible job at giving an accurate portrayal of neuro divergence in its various forms, both autism and ADHD. Once again demonstrating why own voices portrayals are infinitely better than those written by neurotypical people. The way she managed to discuss literal eugenics in a middle grade book and still make it accessible and hopeful?!!!??? Outstanding. So much of this book made me angry and sad and frustrated, but it was balanced by hope and confidence and love. Hope, friendship, self love and confidence are the key themes of this book, it’s what gives it a soul. And what a magical soul it is. I just want every kid who’s ever felt too different, who���s felt like the world will never allow them to be the ones who win, to read this book. This book says we CAN win. It holds a very special place in my heart and I could honestly write a whole essay on how many different layers and elements there are to this book. I loved it and I couldn’t recommend it highly enough.
February 10, 2022
i can’t even begin to express my love for this book — if you want my thoughts you’ll have to ask me directly bc i’m too tired to type it all out but MAN i went through all the emotions and cried for like the last half of the book but it was so wholesome too and i know i haven’t used any punctuation but you just gotta believe me when i say this book was like a hug and some light during this self-isolation period which is making me go nuts ngl
May 14, 2022
Elle McNicoll thank you for your work I will read everything you publish I swear
In other words, I somehow enjoyed this one as much as A Kind Of Spark, it was great even if I took forever to read it because of a big reading slump.
In other words, I somehow enjoyed this one as much as A Kind Of Spark, it was great even if I took forever to read it because of a big reading slump.
July 7, 2024
"Grief is just love asking for more time."
Oh I LOVED this perfect little book.
Sorry Evie that it took me the best part of a year to pick it up and read it🤪
9.5/10
Oh I LOVED this perfect little book.
Sorry Evie that it took me the best part of a year to pick it up and read it🤪
9.5/10
April 28, 2023
As A.I. Evolves the worst kind of people will use it for devious purposes.
July 2, 2025
“You shouldn’t have to change who you are to be seen. And you sure as hell shouldn’t have to disappear to be remembered.”
Let’s talk about a book that grabbed my soul and made me feel every page. Elle McNicoll’s Show Us Who You Are is everything I didn’t know I needed—a raw, powerful, and unfiltered look at grief, identity, friendship, and what it really means to be “perfect.”
The story follows Cora, an autistic 12-year-old girl who’s just trying to exist in a world that won’t stop staring. Her life flips when she meets Adrien, a high-energy boy with ADHD who’s as chaotic as he is lovable. Their bond is instant, real, and messy in the best way.
Cora gets pulled into the world of the Pomegranate Institute—a tech company building holograms of real people (yeah, think sci-fi meets Black Mirror but for kids). But what starts as a cool opportunity quickly turns into something dark. Like, real dark. And Cora has to decide: will she go along with it or fight to show the truth—even if it means risking everything?
✨ What I Loved:
Cora’s voice is everything. Elle McNicoll doesn’t just write neurodivergent characters—she represents them with heart and fire. Cora isn’t a stereotype. She’s layered, emotional, smart, and most importantly—real.
The friendship. Cora and Adrien are what I wish every middle-grade friendship was. Funny. Honest. Deep. And when things get emotional (and they do)—you’ll feel it in your chest.
The worldbuilding. This ain’t just about vibes—it’s got tech, futuristic ethics, and real questions about how society treats people who don’t “fit.”
🖤 What Could’ve Been Stronger:
A few moments near the end felt fast-paced—like the plot was racing to get to the finish line.
But honestly? The feeling of this book lingers longer than any pacing issues.
📌 Final Thoughts:
Show Us Who You Are is the kind of book you finish and immediately want to talk about. It made me think about how the world sees people like me, like us, like Cora—and what it would mean to really be seen.
If you’re into futuristic drama with real emotional weight, if you care about neurodivergent stories, or if you just want to cry a little (or a lot) and be changed by a book… this is it. Add it to your list. You won’t regret it.
🔗 Let me know if you’ve read this one or if you’ve got a book that hits the same way. I'm always on the hunt for my next digital dream to escape into.
—
Posted by th31nonlynijeaaa for Digital Dream-Escape
IG | TikTok | Reedsy Reviewer | Fashion + Fiction with a little chaos in between 🖤
Let’s talk about a book that grabbed my soul and made me feel every page. Elle McNicoll’s Show Us Who You Are is everything I didn’t know I needed—a raw, powerful, and unfiltered look at grief, identity, friendship, and what it really means to be “perfect.”
The story follows Cora, an autistic 12-year-old girl who’s just trying to exist in a world that won’t stop staring. Her life flips when she meets Adrien, a high-energy boy with ADHD who’s as chaotic as he is lovable. Their bond is instant, real, and messy in the best way.
Cora gets pulled into the world of the Pomegranate Institute—a tech company building holograms of real people (yeah, think sci-fi meets Black Mirror but for kids). But what starts as a cool opportunity quickly turns into something dark. Like, real dark. And Cora has to decide: will she go along with it or fight to show the truth—even if it means risking everything?
✨ What I Loved:
Cora’s voice is everything. Elle McNicoll doesn’t just write neurodivergent characters—she represents them with heart and fire. Cora isn’t a stereotype. She’s layered, emotional, smart, and most importantly—real.
The friendship. Cora and Adrien are what I wish every middle-grade friendship was. Funny. Honest. Deep. And when things get emotional (and they do)—you’ll feel it in your chest.
The worldbuilding. This ain’t just about vibes—it’s got tech, futuristic ethics, and real questions about how society treats people who don’t “fit.”
🖤 What Could’ve Been Stronger:
A few moments near the end felt fast-paced—like the plot was racing to get to the finish line.
But honestly? The feeling of this book lingers longer than any pacing issues.
📌 Final Thoughts:
Show Us Who You Are is the kind of book you finish and immediately want to talk about. It made me think about how the world sees people like me, like us, like Cora—and what it would mean to really be seen.
If you’re into futuristic drama with real emotional weight, if you care about neurodivergent stories, or if you just want to cry a little (or a lot) and be changed by a book… this is it. Add it to your list. You won’t regret it.
🔗 Let me know if you’ve read this one or if you’ve got a book that hits the same way. I'm always on the hunt for my next digital dream to escape into.
—
Posted by th31nonlynijeaaa for Digital Dream-Escape
IG | TikTok | Reedsy Reviewer | Fashion + Fiction with a little chaos in between 🖤
October 7, 2022
I am an absolute wreck. This was so emotional and I'm in tears and I'm so thankful that this story exists and is out there for anybody to read.
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This was such a heartfelt lovely story <3
Cora is a 12 yo autistic girl. She lost her mom when she was little, and now lives with her father and older brother, who works for a mysterious company called Pomegranate Technologies. One night, Cora, her brother and her father go to a party at her brother's boss's house and there she meets and befriends Adrien, the son of the before mentioned boss, the CEO of Pomegranate Technologies.
As she starts hanging out with Adrien, at first reluctantly but soon she gives in to his charm and eccentric personality, she finds out more about what PT does and is asked by Adrien's father to be interviewed to help out PT in its mission. In fact, Pomegranate Technologies is trying to create holograms of real people so that potential customers will be able to interact with loved ones who passed away, famous stars and so on and Cora is PT's chance to study a neurodivergent person in order to faithfully recreate a neurodivergent hologram.
Cora, wishing everyday she had the possibility to speak with her mum once more, agrees; however she'll soon discover that PT's true intentions are much more sinister and dangerous.
I loved Cora's strenght and her determination, her pain and her grief, her courage to speak up about herself, how she was treated and how neurodivergent people like her are treated.
I loved her friendship with Adrien, it was so pure and blunt, how they were just themselves openly, even though other people looking at them might think they're weird or strange.
Do you have to suspend your disblief a little bit because she's twelve and she's the only one advocating for neurodivergent people and fighting for their cause with no grown ups to intervene and help her out? Well, yes. As it often happens with middle grade books, you gotta do that.
That being said, I loved the story, I teared up more than once (yes, I can get very emotional very fast) and I could see myself in so many aspects of this book.
I'm so happy to see neurodivergent representation done well, happy that neurodivergent people can read stories about people just like them and live new adventures through the pages they read.
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This was such a heartfelt lovely story <3
Cora is a 12 yo autistic girl. She lost her mom when she was little, and now lives with her father and older brother, who works for a mysterious company called Pomegranate Technologies. One night, Cora, her brother and her father go to a party at her brother's boss's house and there she meets and befriends Adrien, the son of the before mentioned boss, the CEO of Pomegranate Technologies.
As she starts hanging out with Adrien, at first reluctantly but soon she gives in to his charm and eccentric personality, she finds out more about what PT does and is asked by Adrien's father to be interviewed to help out PT in its mission. In fact, Pomegranate Technologies is trying to create holograms of real people so that potential customers will be able to interact with loved ones who passed away, famous stars and so on and Cora is PT's chance to study a neurodivergent person in order to faithfully recreate a neurodivergent hologram.
Cora, wishing everyday she had the possibility to speak with her mum once more, agrees; however she'll soon discover that PT's true intentions are much more sinister and dangerous.
I loved Cora's strenght and her determination, her pain and her grief, her courage to speak up about herself, how she was treated and how neurodivergent people like her are treated.
I loved her friendship with Adrien, it was so pure and blunt, how they were just themselves openly, even though other people looking at them might think they're weird or strange.
Do you have to suspend your disblief a little bit because she's twelve and she's the only one advocating for neurodivergent people and fighting for their cause with no grown ups to intervene and help her out? Well, yes. As it often happens with middle grade books, you gotta do that.
That being said, I loved the story, I teared up more than once (yes, I can get very emotional very fast) and I could see myself in so many aspects of this book.
I'm so happy to see neurodivergent representation done well, happy that neurodivergent people can read stories about people just like them and live new adventures through the pages they read.
May 9, 2021
A worthy successor to 'A Kind of Spark', Elle McNicoll's second novel is a far braver endeavour with a sharper, more confident sharing of what it is to be neurodiverse and autistic. Having lost her mother, Cora, her older brother, Gregor and her father are a close unit. Her older brother though is working for an unusual and futuristic company called 'Pomegranate' whose project involves re-creating 'grams' or virtual copies of loved ones so that their memories and persona are preserved and no one need grieve again. When she finds herself befriending Adrien, the son of the owner, Cora must answer some difficult, moral questions around loss and grief and challenge who it is that she wants to be.
Quite different from A Kind of Spark, McNicoll's novel feels and reads more like a manifesto for the recognition of and understanding of what it means to be autistic. When Cora is invited to be virtually cloned so that the company can cater for people with all sorts of 'conditions', she realises that Pomegranate's intentions are not as clear or clean as they first appeared and she also comes to question who she wants to be and moral questions around identity and loss. It's a sweep, complex plot with threads of Greek Mythology thrown in for the observant reader.
I was pleased to see Elle branch out here and try something complex and new. It felt bigger and bolder than A Kind of Spark, as if she was stretching her writing wings a little. Adrien, who has ADHD, made for a loveable and patient companion to Cora. A slowly unravelling plot that is sure to grab those independent readers from Y5 upwards.
Quite different from A Kind of Spark, McNicoll's novel feels and reads more like a manifesto for the recognition of and understanding of what it means to be autistic. When Cora is invited to be virtually cloned so that the company can cater for people with all sorts of 'conditions', she realises that Pomegranate's intentions are not as clear or clean as they first appeared and she also comes to question who she wants to be and moral questions around identity and loss. It's a sweep, complex plot with threads of Greek Mythology thrown in for the observant reader.
I was pleased to see Elle branch out here and try something complex and new. It felt bigger and bolder than A Kind of Spark, as if she was stretching her writing wings a little. Adrien, who has ADHD, made for a loveable and patient companion to Cora. A slowly unravelling plot that is sure to grab those independent readers from Y5 upwards.
March 29, 2021
DNF. I'm all for neuro-divergent representation in middle grade books, but this book doesn't really live up to its promise. I find the world building extremely lacking. When does this take place? Current day or in the future? Why are people no longer allowed to travel by planes in this world? Who the hell is Zoe? How exactly do the Grams work? Why is Cora being poor only ever touched on when the plot needs us to distinguish between poor Cora and rich Adrien? Nothing is fully explained and expanded upon, which is why I find the story as a whole difficult to get into. Tell me stuff! Show us what this world that Cora lives in is like! Most of the time I felt like I was reading a part 2 of a series, and that I had accidentally skipped the first book. Disappointing.
July 28, 2021
How often do we get a neurodivergent main character, let alone two, in a children's book? Warmed to Adrien and Cora immediately and found their friendship very believable, despite their differences.
Certain aspects of the plot are predictable, but by no means all. I would have liked to find out more about Noma, but otherwise thought this was a great book with lots of interesting (and quite adult) talking points (eugenics, grief, bullying, ethics in the field of artificial intelligence, home schooling vs mainstream education, etc.)
Will definitely check out A Kind of Spark after this.
Certain aspects of the plot are predictable, but by no means all. I would have liked to find out more about Noma, but otherwise thought this was a great book with lots of interesting (and quite adult) talking points (eugenics, grief, bullying, ethics in the field of artificial intelligence, home schooling vs mainstream education, etc.)
Will definitely check out A Kind of Spark after this.
April 25, 2023
This book was p.h.e.n.o.m.e.n.a.l. If I could give it 6 stars I would.
The science-fiction genre (my personal favourite) has been done so well for middle graders in this book with the entire backbone of the premise being such an important one to young people struggling to be seen and accepted for their neurodiversity.
It is also an important read for parents, caregivers, educators.. all adults! who have ever met a young person or ever will.
The science-fiction genre (my personal favourite) has been done so well for middle graders in this book with the entire backbone of the premise being such an important one to young people struggling to be seen and accepted for their neurodiversity.
It is also an important read for parents, caregivers, educators.. all adults! who have ever met a young person or ever will.
November 26, 2022
I can’t stop crying.
Elle McNicoll’s writing just makes sense.
Elle McNicoll’s writing just makes sense.
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