A DIFFERENT SORT OF NORMAL – ABIGAIL BALFE-ABIGAIL BALFE

CHILDREN S NON-FICTION BOOK OF THE YEAR, THE BRITISH BOOK AWARDS – SHORTLISTED BLUE PETER BOOK AWARDS BEST BOOK WITH FACTS – LONGLISTED OBSERVER CHILDREN S BOOK OF THE MONTH Discover the award-winning true story of one girl s journey growing up autistic and undiagnosed – a must-read book about autism, neurodiversity and embracing who you are – for kids and adults alike. If you ve ever felt different, out of place, like you don t fit in – this book is for you. This book is what I needed as a kid! Empathetic, joyful and beautifully authentic. – Elle McNicoll, author of A Kind of Spark I REALLY love it. It s the book I wish I d had when I was a kid. Buy it for your kids, your parents, your grandparents. Mostly buy it for yourself – Holly Smale, author of the Geek Girl Series ‘Honest, real and downright brilliant’ – Louise Gooding, author of Wonderfully Wired Brains Hi! My name is Abigail and I’m autistic. But when I was a child I didn’t know I was autistic. In fact – it wasn’t until I was in my thirties that I discovered my neurodivergence and my life finally started to make sense. This book follows my journey of self discovery from childhood through adulthood, as I attempt to navigate the confusing world around me – a world predominantly built for neurotypical brains. In this book you’ll find: VERY IMPORTANT FACTS about neurodiversity, neurodivergence, autistic traits, autism and gender, sensory sensitivities, social communication, emotions, friendships, bullying, sensory overload, meltdowns, family, school, special interests, masking, puberty AND MORE VERY PERSONAL STORIES involving toilets, cats, poo, swimming pools, my ridiculous family, my slightly unusual way of trying to make friends, falling up the French stairs wearing a skirt, getting locked in a cinema overnight and MORE embarrassing (and often hilarious) moments like these… PLUS TIPS for supporting the neurodivergent people in your life, advocating for your own needs as a neurodivergent pe