Title of the Book and The Author
The children’s book I have read, titled “A Kind of Spark”, is a touching novel by a neurodivergent writer, Elle McNicoll. The writer of this children’s book is also autistic, like the main character, and is passionate about disability representation and rights. The author is originally from Scotland and now lives in East London. “A Kind of Spark” is her debut children’s novel.
Appropriate Age Group
The book is a good read for everyone, especially for elementary, middle, and high school children. It is a middle-grade novel primarily focused on the written narrative. The book addresses important themes related to empathy, neurodiversity, and historical injustice. The novel is important for middle-grade children as it emphasizes the importance of understanding and accepting differences. The book has no illustrator.
Story of “A Kind of Spark”
The novel tells the story of an 11-year-old girl with autism named Addie who campaigns for a memorial in her small Scottish town to honour the women killed centuries ago. Those women were falsely accused and persecuted as witches in the historical witch trials in her town. She comes up against many obstacles, from a reluctant parish council to a sometimes cruel teacher, as she challenges societal perceptions of her autism and advocates for a memorial to honour the victims of historical witch trials in her small Scottish town (McNicoll). She learns that centuries ago, her town used to burn witches simply because they were different. Through her demonstration, Addie demonstrates that everyone’s voice matters regardless of their difference because, being autistic, she feels a connection with those persecuted women who were also different from the rest of their community. She also wants to ensure that they are not forgotten.
Enhancing Language Development through “A Kind of Spark”
The novel exposes readers of middle grades to rich language through different vocabulary, sentence structure, and expressive language, which can enhance language development. It also exposes readers to rich emotional vocabulary, which encourages them to develop empathy and understanding for others while they engage with the characters and their dialogues. Children’s encounters with new words and phrases in the novel can contribute to vocabulary expansion, which can enhance children’s effective communication skills.
Enhancing Cognitive Development
The story engages readers with complex themes, including historical events, discrimination, and social injustice in society. In this way, the storytelling technique of Elle McNicoll prompts critical thinking in middle-grade children and can foster cognitive growth. The novel delves into Addie’s perspective, allowing readers to explore her thoughts, emotions, and unique way of processing information, which can enhance readers’ theory of mind to enable them to develop a different and deeper understanding of different cognitive processes. Moreover, Addie’s questioning of the historical narrative and evidence of women being dragged from their homes, hung, and burned because they were accused of witchcraft prompts readers to consider the evidence and form their own conclusions, which can foster cognitive thinking and appreciate diverse ways of thinking.
Moral Content in the Story
The book presents moral content for the children, highlighting the value of remembering and honouring those who suffered injustice at the hands of their people by any means in any society. In the story, the author is determined to create a memorial that can teach readers, especially young children and middle-graders, about compassion, understanding, empathy, and standing up for what is right. It is a powerful novel that promotes understanding and social awareness about the different people who usually diverge from the norm, stating that one should believe in and value authenticity while being true to themselves.
Works Cited
McNicoll, Elle. A Kind of Spark. Yearling, 2022.
Cite This Work
To export a reference to this article please select a referencing stye below:
