A Different Sort of Normal: The award-winning true story about growing up autistic

by Abigail Balfe

*The beautiful true story of one girl's journey growing up autistic - and the challenges she faced in the 'normal' world*

I'm not like the other children in my class . . . and that's an actual scientific FACT.

Hi! My name is Abigail, and I'm autistic. But I didn't know I was autistic until I was an adult-sort-of-person*.

This is my true story of growing up in the confusing 'normal' world, all the while missing some Very Important Information about myself.

There'll be scary moments involving toilets and crowded trains, heart-warming tales of cats and pianos, and funny memories including my dad and a mysterious tub of ice cream. Along the way you'll also find some Very Crucial Information about autism.

If you've ever felt different, out of place, like you don't fit in . . . this book is for you.

*I've never really felt like an actual-adult-person, as you'll soon discover in this book...

Told through the author's remarkable words, and just as remarkable illustrations, this is the book for those who've never felt quite right in the 'normal' world.

Very important, very funny and very informative. This is the book the world needs right now.

Genres: Nonfiction, Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Middle Grade, Memoir, Disability, Mental Health, LGBT

234 pages, Paperback

First published July 22, 2021

Reviews

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This illustrated MG memoir is EXACTLY the kind of book I desperately wanted to find when one of my kids first got his autism diagnosis, and I'm so glad it's finally available now for kids and families. Full of useful information and humor, it's just so warm-hearted, fun, smart, funny, and lovely in every way (not to mention full of adorable cat pictures, a bonus). I wish it had been around a few years ago, but I loved reading it with my wonderful autistic kid now, and we both agreed that it was fantastic. Highly recommended.

[Deacon Tom F. (Recovering from a big heart attack) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spectacular

This is a great primer on Autism. Abigail Balfe is a 35 yr old autistic lady who walks the reader through many different phases on her journey.

The ones that were most impressive were sexuality; school struggles and puberty. The presentations were honest and filled with graphics.

This was truly amazing.

[Louise Gooding · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just all kinds of amazing...that's all!
I was super lucky, honoured and thrilled to have had the chance to read this book in it’s early stages. It is honest, real and downright brilliant. Abigail writes in such a brilliant creative way that really will draw in readers of all ages. Seriously, ever since I discovered this book I knew it was going to be special, that it would go places. It’s award winner worthy, and I don’t think i’ve ever said this about any book or felt so strongly passionate about. (bar my own of course! 😅).
Congrats on this stunner!!

[I_am_a_cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is really nice. I read it on my kindle. It was much longer than I expected, but in a good way! I give this book 5 stars because I don't think there's much the author could improve on.

[Savanna Celena van der Meij · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations and beautiful story, including fun and not so fun personal anacdotes and stories, while offering very usefull and easily understandable information about identity, gender, neurodiversity, stages of life and other important things. I really love her way of writing and interacting with the "reader person" it indeed felt like a conversation (slightly monologish). Would recommend, feel good, easy, lots of cats and other illustrations and great information source, all at once!

[Irishbookmammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

"A Different Sort of Normal" by Abigail Balfe offers a poignant and introspective exploration of late-diagnosed autism, providing a unique perspective on the complexities of neurodiversity. Through her candid storytelling, Balfe reflects on pivotal moments from her childhood, reexamining them with a new understanding of autism. This introspection allows her to make sense of past experiences and behaviors that were previously misunderstood, offering readers a window into the challenges and revelations that come with a late diagnosis.

What sets Balfe's memoir apart is its ability to blend personal narrative with broader insights into autism spectrum disorder. By sharing her journey of self-discovery, Balfe not only illuminates her own experiences but also contributes to a deeper understanding of autism within the larger context of neurodiversity. Her storytelling is engaging and relatable, offering readers a chance to empathise with the unique perspectives and challenges faced by individuals on the autism spectrum.

A Different Sort of Normal is a compelling and thought-provoking read that challenges stereotypes and fosters empathy. Balfe's honest and introspective approach makes this memoir accessible to a wide audience, from those personally affected by autism to anyone interested in learning more about neurodiversity. This book serves as a reminder of the importance of embracing diversity and celebrating the unique perspectives that enrich our world.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very insightful and amusing book. I read it before giving it to my son who is demonstrating autistic traits. However I found that the authors experience of friendships and school matched my own. Great book. I love the drawings too.

[Jody Walsh]

A fun graphic novel, that is aimed for middle schoolers but can be enjoyed by anyone interested in learning about autism. She provided lots of helpful information in a very fun format. She also includes resources to further learn about autism, including websites, podcasts, and youtube videos. This could be very helpful for a teenager who wants to understand themselves if they feel like an outsider, or if they want to understand a friend who is struggling with social situations.

[Amy Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, so whether or not you know someone who is autistic, you need to read this book! It is a true account of a woman who was diagnosed with autism in her 30s, reflecting on her life growing up. It’s such a fantastic celebration of neurodiversity and the amazing qualities and characteristics that are often seen in autistic girls. Some of the stories she tells are hilarious, and others so moving.

How dyslexic-friendly is it?
This is probably the most accessible & engaging book I have ever read. The authors' creativity and skill for illustrations (she did them all herself!) and explaining things makes it fun, pleasing to the eye and enjoyable. Each new page is original and refreshing, there’s not too much text, and it has short paragraphs and easy language. It’s a very quick read and I finished it in one night.

The cover might look like this book is written for children and adolescents, and although it’s definitely written in a way they can understand, I wouldn’t want adults to be put off reading it, because it’s such a fantastic insightful book. You will just love the author by the end of it.

Overall thoughts: a wonderful inspiring non-fiction book. It busts a lot of common myths about autism and I think is a very important read for adolescents and adults!

[Penny · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is brilliant. A super easy to read insight into what it is like to be autistic... brilliant for people who are wanting to know how to approach a family member / friend / pupil who is neurodivergent, and also (I would imagine) a great read for people who are neurodivergent as I suspect it would confirm that they are not alone.

What is great is that Abigail acknowledges that every neurodivergent person has their own journey and story - you can't actually pigeon-hole everyone and slap a label on them. She also highlights the fact that gender differences are way more complex than I certainly had ever supposed, as one needs to take into account the entire gender spectrum and not just male and female.

It is an absolutely fascinating read - open and honest and funny (especially when it comes to cats!) and it somewhat confirmed in me that we are all on the spectrum at one level or another and I suspect I am more on the spectrum than I have always suspected!!

[Emma]

Same, girl. Same.

I appreciate this is meant for children, but as an adult undergoing Autism assessment at the moment as recommended by my GP, I found this book to be really comforting.

I knew a lot of the information but did find comfort in some things that happened to me growing up (toilets at school, friendship difficulties, people calling us weird etc.) and I did learn that my special interests being typically effeminate, compared to boys special interest being things like trains and numbers, made me feel a bit more normal. I always worry I'm going to be excluded from the Autie community because my Special Interests differ from the Autistic stereotype that has been traditionally based on white, CIS males.

My only problem with the book was that the font was a bit too busy for me and my sensory issues, but I know that's a me thing, I know many others who've read the book have found the font to be helpful in breaking up the text.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this, and I am so glad this book exists. This book is written by a 35 year old, neurodivergent cisgender woman who learned of her autism diagnosis as an adult. She then explains her childhood, from the day to day things to the embarrassing ones, and she does so in a way that is easy to digest for younger ages. That said, I struggled a bit with the format of the book. Given that Balfe’s brain works in a really cool and awesome way that is different than how my brain works, the contnuous interruptions and tangents made it difficult for me to feel as pulled into the story. I am aware that what makes this difficult for me to read may actually make it easier for others to digest. I also love her illustrations and humor throughout. I plan to buy this book for my daughter, and I will encourage others to read it because even if you aren’t neurodivergent, this helps give perspective of those who are and how we can support them.

[Haylee Perry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has been one of my FAVORITE books on autism so far, and I can’t believe more people don’t talk about it! This is like the book I’ve dreamt of writing, and I’m now lowkey mad that Abigail beat me to it. What a GREAT read for all ages—autistic or not. The target is autistic kids ages 8-12, but I highly recommend this for anyone who works with or lives with those kids, and anyone of any age who may be curious about autism in themselves or someone they know. Or if, like me, you just like reading anything that makes you feel seen: “Yes, I still sometimes feel like a fraud. As if perhaps I’ve invented being autistic in my mind. That I’ve somehow discovered this handy label that I’ve decided to stick to myself as a convenient excuse for feeling like an outsider…but it’s absolutely 100 percent normal to feel like this.”

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is truly wonderful. It is kind, speaking carefully to a reader who might not be ready to find out the truth about who they are. It is honest, sharing those small moments of a life which are so human that they instantly spark that feeling of sameness in you.

I wish I had read this book as a child but I am grateful that it found me at all. I will be donating my copy to my local primary school in the hopes that it falls into the hands of an undiagnosed child, looking for answers.

This book should be on as many bookshelves as possible, I think, so that everyone who feels strange and alone can learn about what it means to be a different sort of normal.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, this is a very interesting look into how one autistic person has come to understand the way their brain works with the complicated world. There are a lot of really sensitive, well-researched, and detail-oriented stories here that I think will really resonate with a lot of people, and that's the beauty of capturing all the possibilities with a situation like autism. This is a super cool perspective to see laid out in a book.

The art and the way the pages are designed are lovely. I adore all of the colors and the "bullet journal" style to how things are formatted. This is very "easy" to read in that the way it draws your eye along is relaxing, and that's super cool.

This is a 4-star book in my opinion because while most of this is truly comforting and interesting, I do feel like some parts were a little too generic -- For most of the time, it comes off as accessible and enlightening! For other times...people who don't have autism get generic advice such as: "be a good listener" and people who do have autism get generic advice such as: "speak up for yourself" that are true but are complicated to actually apply in practice (so more notes on those would have been helpful). I also didn't understand the "normal girls" fiction book snippet -- people who are 'blonde' and 'popular' can be neuroatypical too! It seemed not-inclusive to create an "I'm not like other girls" comparison character.

As another example of wishing we didn't move on too fast from one interesting point to another, I found myself wishing there was more substance to the passages where the author describes having a difficult time processing that sometimes their friends make other friends. What skills could the author teach readers about how they processed that hurt but accepted that it's a normal and healthy part of making different friendships? Things like that aren't touched on in the book, but people who are struggling socially really could have benefited from some deeper analysis IMO, instead of the just "this happened to me, moving on" quick tone that chapter took on.

Still, I'm not saying that "this happened to me" ISN'T a valuable perspective to have with a book like this. There are a TON of extremely relatable details in this book AND some details that I think will help open other peoples' eyes. I'm glad this book is out there especially for young readers as a good introduction to the many ways that an autistic brain can work with the world.

[Dawn Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who is not autistic, this was an excellent book for me to read so I can learn how to be a better friend, advocate, and helper to those in my life that ARE autistic. I can also say that if you or someone you know, love, or even remotely care about has just gotten an autistic diagnosis, or you've just met them and they tell you that they are autistic, you need to IMMEDIATELY get this book and read it. And then read it again. This book will absolutely be a guide for those who don't know how to explain what is going on with them and for those who want to be a good friend or helper. I cannot recommend this book enough. It truly opened my eyes to MANY things [I had NO idea that someone could be diagnosed with autism so late in life; the author was in her 30's!!], and I can only hope, going forward, that I can be a better friend to those around me that are on the spectrum.

I found myself agreeing with many things that the author deals with [I am an extreme introvert and do not like crowds, small talk, or a lot of smells/scents, and I am often made fun of for the things I like {re: nonfiction books}], those scenes in the book had me shaking my head yes yes yes over and over. It is always a lovely thing to find that you have something in common with the book you are reading [or in this case, the author]. It helped me understand her even more and reminded me that everyone has something and we all just need to be kinder to each other.

This book is filled with lists [I LOVE lists], tons of important information [much I didn't know], fun and quirky illustrations [which I LOVED as they were fun and entertaining] and a fantastic glossary of definitions at the end of the book that I found to be very, very, helpful. The author is brutally honest about the things she has struggled with, how difficult school was and how sometimes, life now is very hard. She is also very honest about what she is working on and the things that have worked and not worked for her. She is also quick to remind everyone that what works [or not] for her may not for others and that is TOTALLY okay; everyone just needs to find their own "different kind of normal".

Thank you to NetGalley, Abigail Balfe, and Random House Children's/Crown Books for Young Readers for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This charming, heartfelt, delightful book really moved me and helped me feel less alone in the world. I read it twice in the space of a few days and both times I cried and laughed. The author takes you on a journey and the book covers so many topics! There are so many elements to each chapter alongside adorable, eye-catching illustrations that I was utterly absorbed! It's such a beautiful mixture of vulnerability, hardship, understanding, acceptance, hilarity and empowerment that I couldn't help but be moved to tears. A completely true story about being unique - told in a wonderfully unique format :). I truly think that everyone could learn something from this book; the part that has helped me the most is to be a little more understanding and accepting of myself and even, dare I say it, to learn to celebrate my different sort of normal! A true joy that I would recommend to everyone :)

[Lola · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually got this book in paperback after seeing a recommendation for it. I really enjoyed this book and it's just so pretty. It's filled with drawings on every page and the book is so colorful and fun. The tone is positive and affirming and explains a bunch of autistic behaviors in easy to understand language. I really liked the tone and vibe of this book. I think this is a great book both for children and adults who want to know more about autism.

There wasn't as much new information for me in this book as I've read so much about autism already, but I am still glad I picked up this book as the way the information was presented was just so well done and the colorful art on every page made it so fun to read. I liked the art style and how the art helped add to the points she was making or fit the topic. I definitely recommend this one!

[Steph Curtis · Rating 5 out of 5]

There seem to be very few books about autism that are written for young readers, to help them understand themselves better. Abigail is a late diagnosed autistic person who wrote this book at the age of 35, but the format of it makes it feel like it was written by someone younger. By that I mean that it is not a 'boring' book; it is full of illustrations, and speech bubbles, and different font types on every page that all catch the eye. The whole format feels like it is someone having a conversation with a friend about life experiences - some of it looks hand-written or is presented on notepaper.
A Different Sort of Normal is positive and practical, with an element of humour throughout that makes it not too heavy a read. This is an empowering, fun graphic novel that is aimed at children but I think it would also be helpful and relatable for older autistic readers.

[Maisy · Rating 4 out of 5]

every child (and their parents) should have access to A Different Kind of Normal. It’s so important and informative in such a smart and brilliant way. I wish I’d been able to read it when I was younger as a sibling of someone with autism, but I’m so glad it’s available for the next generation now.

p.s. I also wish I’d read a physical copy (despite the audiobook being narrated brilliantly by Balfe) because I think the illustrations would have taken this rating up to 5.

p.p.s If I ever find myself with children of my own, a physical copy of this book will be in my house.

[Chuva · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a great book.
I related to a lot of it.
I didn't know what dyscalculia was and I was very happy to discover it (I'm definitely gonna do some reseach).
I liked the drawings, especially the cats.😍
I love the idea of a ''different sort of normal''.❤️

Also, this is a small detail, but I really liked the fact that there was no blank page like there usually is on books. It's wasteful. But this one didn't have them and I loved it.

Thank the author for this book !

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved A Different Sort Of Normal and will be recommending it to everyone I know! Living with a disability and having an autistic son it actually made me cry to see so much positive representation in a book. It’s also visually stunning, beautifully written and I’m sure it will help so many children (and adults) to feel supported as individuals with it’s powerful and inclusive message throughout. A great book for building empathy and understanding the value of being different.

[elbow ☆ · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars!
a fantastic autobiography/memoir/guide that seems like it was basically written for/about me. seriously at times i was wondering if the author was spying on me and taking notes. i think this would have been an incredibly helpful book for me to have read when i was 12, but im glad that i have it now!

[Holly (The GrimDragon) · Rating 5 out of 5]

"This is for the SOULS
Who never quite fit in,
The odd ones out,
The misfits--
Told to grow a thicker skin.

This is for the ones
Who feel ALIEN, weird, or wrong--
Like everybody knows The Rules,
While they're left to tag along."

[Fi]

I don't rate memoirs, and this is mostly/kind of a memoir. But I really enjoyed this! I loved learning about Abigail's experiences with being autistic before she knew she was autistic, and I found a lot of it to be very relatable! I think this could be a great resource for anyone who is just starting off on their autism discovery journey and wants to read some experiences of other autistic humans.

[Andréa]

Note: I received a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

[Soim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun, informative, and so wonderfully, haphazardly relatable, this is a book I really wish had existed when I was about twelve, as it probably would've helped to put a lot of things into perspective.

[Geraldine Carlos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Una importante lectura para informarse del autismo escrita por una persona autista

[Maree Silver · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick read, from an own voice aimed at those diagnosed with Autism. Very conversational style, but lots if facts in small useful bites. Enlightening.

[Lucy Hastings · Rating 5 out of 5]

EVERY SINGLE WORD I RELATE TO! ( I'm austic)