A Different Sort of Normal

This book is what I needed as a kid! Empathetic, joyful and beautifully authentic. I loved it!

Elle McNicoll, author of A Kind of Spark

Funny, poignant and wise, with a rich seam of understanding and empathy . . . one of the best children's non-fiction books I've read in a long time

The Bookseller

A funny, fascinating illustrated memoir that conveys - via joyous tangential leaps, vivid doodles and informative notes - how it felt to grow up autistic and undiagnosed . . . a rewarding and highly entertaining read

Guardian

Insightful, accessible and easy to navigate, this is an essential book for autistic and allistic (non-autistic) readers of all ages

Booktrust

A hugely engaging, funny and informative account of being neurodivergent

Observer

Illuminating

The I Paper

An amazing, life-changing hug of a book I wish I had when I was growing up. It's funny, eye-opening and supremely reassuring and an important, myth-busting look into autism and how that experience can vary so much. For anyone and EVERYONE who has ever felt different. Time to reclaim it and celebrate it

Rashmi Sirdeshpande

This book is a great explainer, full of empathy for different situations, which explodes many misconceptions about autistic people along the way! I wish I had had this available many years ago when teaching an autistic child on a one-to-one basis

Love Reading 4 Schools

What a difference Abigail Balfe's new book is going to make for so many people! A Different Sort of Normal is a wonderful blend of humour, information & reassuring comfort

Emma Perry

I REALLY love it. It's the book I wish I'd had when I was a kid (I'd have known I was autistic immediately, right down to the cats). Buy it for your kids, your parents, your grandparents. Mostly buy it for yourself

Holly Smale

Highly illustrated, beautiful and an essential book for young autistic people

Lizzie Huxley-Jones

It is an outrageously beautiful, interesting, quirky, personal, funny introduction to autism. It has super gorgeous illustrations and details on every page, and covers SO MANY important topics.

NeuroWild (Em Hammond) an autistic and ADHD speech pathologist, illustrator and advocate

Your book means so much to me and others - it was like reading about my own life, even down to the special interests, as we are a similar age! Such an important, accessible and wonderful book.

Emma Reynolds, author, illustrator and founder of #kidlit4climate campaign

I wish I could go back in time and hand deliver A Different Sort of Normal by Abigail Balfe to my younger self. But even thought I can't, the Lucy of now very much appreciates feeling seen and understood and is having to stop herself from tearing up.

Lucy Powrie, author of The Paper & Hearts Society series

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.

Louise Gooding, author of Wonderfully Wired Brains

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.

Dyslexic Reviews