Elle McNicoll

Show Us Who You Are

deva

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😭😭😭💔💔💔

Rose Stanley

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.

Really fun and surprising! Enjoyed reading this. Super entertaining and easy to read.

Ocean

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.

Joanna Rosenwink 

Very rarely a children’s book comes along which feels groundbreaking. A Kind of Spark was that book. So I was unsure whether Elle McNicoll’s follow up, Show Us Who You Are would live up to it. However her writing and characters have gained an even greater depth and are so insightful I was moved to tears on multiple occasions.

Cora is an autistic almost thirteen year old who is thrust together with Adrien who immediately notices she is different. To Cora’s surprise this draws them together and very quickly they become inseparable. Adrien’s father runs the mysterious Pomegranate Institute where Cora’s brother works and she is fascinated by their hologram technology which promises to provide solace for grieving families by recreating their loved ones in hologram form. But when Cora uncovers shocking secrets about what the Pomegranate Institute are doing, will anyone listen?

At the heart of this story is the need for understanding and acceptance. That people who are different are not ‘wrong’ or in need of ‘fixing’. This is such an important message and one which will resonate with neurodivergent people as well as anyone who has ever felt out of place or not accepted. Cora’s strength and self-belief are inspiring and she is a great role model for young people. 

The gentle sci-fi elements of this book would be a great introduction to the genre for middle grade readers. Due to the nature of the story and some of the more complex themes, I would say this book would appeal to a slightly older audience than A Kind of Spark and is also a great read for adults to learn more about neurodivergence from a brilliant neurodivergent author.

Show Us Who You Are

Reviews