If you are looking for a story that is delicious and beautiful — Kids Like Us is here for you.
It had such an epic combination of things to love: it’s set in France, there is so much food, there’s a boy who’s obsessed with a book (#relatable) and it features a beautifully accurate representation of autism! As I mentioned recently, I’m on the autism spectrum too and finding books that represent it well is heckin’ hard. SO PLEASED THIS BOOK EXISTS.
Also I want to sit in a flower too. These are my life goals.
+ It’s set in FRANCE. And that is very very pleasing.
I have a completely irrational love of France (no, I’ve never been, but it’s always been somewhere I’m slightly obsessed with). It is a place of croissants and magic. I have done the research. I really loved how authentic the setting was! It actually talked about language differences and French abbreviations and the difference between learning France and actually SPEAKING it with locals. Details made the whole A+ immediately.
+ DID WE TALK ABOUT THE COVER.
I would like it on my wall or as a hat.
+ I absolutely adored Martin.
He’s adorable and winning and extremely thoughtful and intelligent. I loved that he was into cooking! Like he enjoyed preparing complex meals and also just staring at bakery windows to see the beautiful cakes. Where might I sign up to be friends with Martin forever. He’s also super in love with this old French book. Books are 98% of my life (I save room for snacks see) so he was automatically relatable and winning and super sweet!
+ The romance…
Hahaha. No. Martin gets obsessed with a girl he thinks is out of his book: but obviously she’s not. I loved his journey of discovery and accidental hypocrisy of wishing her to be someone she’s not (aka a girl from a book) when he hates that people do that to him (wishing away his autism). It was so well done and woven into the story. But I honestly didn’t think romance was a like the main focus of the story. And I didn’t like Gilberte. We didn’t get to know her enough, so she felt shallow.
+ And a moment to talk about the autism representation?!?
I honestly LOVED how Martin was written. He isn’t a stereotype!! Can we like take a moment to appreciate that?!? I LOVE THIS MOMENT. This is so freaking refreshing. See, stereotypes are hard because yes — people always fit them. That’s how they exist in the first place. But the problem with stereotypes is that media will just latch onto one or two things and erase SO MUCH of what it is to be an individual on the spectrum and turn you instead into a caricature. Kids Like us skipped the caricatures and developed a boy who is complex and interesting and autistic.
It also included a lot of autism trademarks I NEVER see in books. For instance:
• Martin does a lot of echolalia — meaning he repeats back what he’s heard instead of saying his OWN words. I loved how they unpacked this topic, with Martin struggling with the idea that he isn’t original. But like…nobody is original?? All words and phrases have been said. And while he repeats things a lot, his THOUGHTS are original.
• He mixes up his pronouns! I loved seeing this on page because it’s an overlooked part of ASD! It obviously doesn’t fit everyone on the spectrum (no symptom does!) but it’s nice to finally see it on page! My autistic nephew struggled with this and while I personally didn’t, I did grow up quoting movies as expression like Martin quotes his book.
• Martin stims with voice tics and music. So pleased to see these!
• His anxiety was represented SO SO WELL. Just A+ mate, you’re doing marvellously.
• He also diverged from a few other ASD stereotypes. Aka, he loved lots of different food and he’s good at sports/swimming and he detects sarcasm even if he doesn’t like it.
+ I did wish it’d been more conclusive about its discussions on how others see autism.
The people around Martin where depressingly awful at times. Not intentionally?? But it still happened. His mother is definitely after a “cure” although she’s not meaning to be awful. Which is heartbreaking. I did like how it talked about balancing living in your “autistic world” to “popping the bubble” and joining society — but I don’t know that it had entirely good conclusions. It said you need both, which you DO, but you don’t need to be ashamed of either which I don’t feel it said. And they did start talking about “cure culture” (WHICH IS A NO) but the discussion was so painful and honestly anxiety inducing for me (AND MARTIN) but it didn’t get shut down properly. Martin disagreed but very feebly. Which is realistic, OK, that’s terrifying to be told you’re broken. But, as a book that would really really encouraging teenage autistics, I would’ve liked to see some more definite NOs underlined. The book was onboard with the no, but…a little clearer, thanks?
+ And my only downside to the storytelling is how Martin keeps quoting his old French book.
IT WAS SUPER BORING. Haha, excuse me. My eyes just glazed over those bits because what the heck was he talking about. Not having read the book myself, I felt confused.
+ BUT THERE’S SO MUCH FOOD and now I want rhubarb jam and croissants.
Honestly books that bother to tell us how delicious the food they’re eating is, are perfect members of society and need to be put on shelves of glory. I am so here for foodie fiction.
I am free. This is what Layla and her activists are trying to tell me. This “locked” personality of mine is the creation of all the people who watch me from the outside. Inside, I’m not locked at all.
Kids Like Us was a really perfectly beautiful story!
I loved the writing and the sparse but well placed details. I thought this was a thoroughly accurate and interesting exploration of the autistic mind and feelings and experiences. I didn’t always agree with their conclusions and I hated how people often (although not always!) treated Martin…but that’s the point. Books are about uncomfortable and real things. For such a smol book, it gave me a lot to think about and I quite approve.
I’m also thinking about croissants. But I mean…like also literary things. I can think about literary things…
(and croissants)
Thank you to Text Publishing for the review-copy! Kids Like Us by Hilary Reyl is published 30th of October, 2017!
★★★★☆
Kids Like Us is the delightful, heartwarming story of Martin, a teenager on the autism spectrum, who falls for Gilberte-Alice, a ‘normal’ French girl. While spending summer in the French countryside with his mother, Martin mistakes Gilberte for a character in a novel he is obsessed with—Marcel Proust’s masterpiece In Search of Lost Time. He gradually realises she is not Gilberte, the fantasy girl, but a real person named Alice. Falling in love, in all its unpredictability, teaches Martin that he can in fact connect, can get out of his bubble.
Offering a valuable window into the mind of a high-functioning autistic kid, Kids Like Us is also the ultimate book about acceptance. Perhaps we are all in our own bubble; perhaps the line between reality and imagination does not have to be fixed. We meet Martin’s adorable older sister, Elisabeth, his friend Layla and her very useful ‘moth’ theory. And there’s lots of great cooking. The prose is sharp, original and brimming with empathy and humour.
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I live in Québec, a French province of Canada. In high school, I went to France with my classmates! I really loved it ❤️ It was nice to visit a country where people have the same native language than me. The croissants are amazing ! The only downside was that French people are less friendly than Québécois (especially people living in Paris ahaha)
Oh that is SO awesome.😍 I tried to learn French in highschool but I was self-teaching and it went horribly haha. I ended up being able to read a little but I was speaking most horrendously. 😂It would be amazing to go to France someday!
Yeah French is definitely not easy to learn because there’s a lot of complicated rules haha. The hardest thing for anglophones is to understand that each object as a “gender”
It’s nice to see that you found an autism-rep book you enjoyed 😉
(Your average Goodreads review seems to indicate that they’re rare…)
PLUS food + flowers (were they in the book or just on the cover??) + France. I’ll have to see if my library is getting it. 🙂
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YAY I AM GLAD TOO!😂 And yes…I often find ASD representations in books mostly problematic or offensive, so it’s nice to finally read one where they don’t try to crush the character?! *thanks the universe*
The flowers are GORGEOUS. I mean, there were flowers in the book but the didn’t really sit in a bunch of flowers.😂 It is goals though. Very aesthetic.
Oh my gosh that cover is gorgeous! And sounds amazing. I also loved On The Spectrum so I need to check this book out! *add to TBR :
Escape Life in the Pages
Yayy I hope you enjoy it!! On the Spectrum was amazing (except for their aversion to the word “autism” but I liked the rest of the book haha).
I cannot order this book and read it right now and that is causing me all kinds of angst because I need it. Curse you Cait! *shakes fist. But also thank you because food, France, and decent autism rep? I am so here for it. If a book isn’t talking about food at some point is it really worth reading? My husband actually proposed to me at the top of the Eiffle Tower when we lived in Europe. We were surrounded by screaming schoolgirls and he was trying not to attract their attention and so whispered to me. Afterwards we bought fancy raspberry tarts. I have great fondness for France.
I’M SORRY TARA. BUT IT’S COMING OUT REALLY SOON. (Or is it out by the time I’m finally [SHAMEFULLY] getting around to answering comments?😂) Anyway, I hope you manage to snag a copy soon because it’s afjdslkad beautiful and worth it. And omg what a great proposal!! I can imagine that would induce an amazing fondness for France…particularly the tarts — uM AHEM I MEAN PARTICULARLY YOUR HUSBAND. (But also delicious tarts.)
We have pictures of the tarts but no, “Hey, we are getting married now” pics of us. #priorities
when I was really little, we went to visit my Oma in Germany, and we drove up to Paris for a day. I don’t remember much, just staring at the eifle tower and almost falling over trying to see the top, and asking mom if we could go up it. I also remember being really disapionted when mom said it was too expensive, and putting my sister on a leash because she had a tendency to wander off. we apparently saw some cool fountains and old bookstores, but I don’t remember them.
Most crazily, ~Olive
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Aww that’s SO COOL you went though!! Even if you were tiny.😂(I actually never thought about the fact it’d cost to climb the Eiffle Tower haha…I shall need to remember that when I finally come into my fame and riches and get to go to France.😂)
Books set in France = makes me INSTANTLY want to read it. It’s a place I’ve always, always wanted to go, so I adore reading about it in books (and I so wish I chose French in high school instead of Italian which I was dreadful at haha.) Funnily enough, I’m now craving croissants but hey, I’ll settle for the cookies I just made (YES, at 11PM, don’t judge.)
And I saw your post your post of autism and thought it was super-informative!! 🙂
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SAME THOUGH. I really want to go to France.😂 I have an unreasonable amount of interest in it haha. (Pfft do you see me judging midnight snacks? Absolutely not. Just share some with me.😂)
(Aww thank you for reading my autism post!! I was really nervous about it but everyone’s reactions and interest was so encouraging. <3 )
Ooh, this books sounds really good! As someone on the autistic spectrum myself, I LOVE reading books that have characters with autism in them, but it’s so often misrepresented. It sounds like it was really well done in this book. OH NO, now I’m going to have to add this to my TBR!
Have you ever read What To Say Next by Julie Buxbaum? It’s a contemporary about an autistic boy, called David, who suddenly finds himself friends with a girl at school. I really loved that, and could connect a lot with David. I would definitely recommend it 🙂
Thank you for sharing this book review! <3 <3
Oh I absolutely agree, Mattie. It’s actually super depressing how badly autism gets represented in books?? Like I maybe read ONE good ASD book in 10 and that’s awful statistics. *howls* But really pleased this one exists and was proud of autism!!
Oh I haven’t read that one by Julie Baxbaum but I’m totally going to go look it up right now. Thanks so super much for recommending it!
Oooh this sounds very good! The redwall books by Brian Jaques feature all sorts of sylvan feasts and make me hungry. I have been to the very South of France and I did eat pastries and go to a graveyard, and then walked across the Pyrenees to Spain.
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I’ve heard people talk about the Redwall books SO MUCH and I desperately want to read them. Just for the food haha.😂
This book sounds excellent! I’d love to go to France, but I’d probably spend the whole trip eating. I’d disappear into a bakery and never be seen again. I’d become one with the croissants.
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Honestly becoming one with the croissants and bakeries is the best idea I’ve heard all day.😂
Stoked to read Kids Like Us. It’s been taunting me from my Want-To-Read list on Goodreads.
I am gluten-free, so when I go to France, I shall be morose because alas, croissants are not gluten-free. WHY IS THE WORLD SO CRUEL???
I’m gluten-free toooooo SO DO YOU WANT TO CRY TOGETHER? LET’S CRY TOGETHER.
Hi, Cait! Well, erm… I live in France so, if you’re still looking to be adopted, HELLO THERE. Fair warning: my room and, since I’m spreading everywhere, my whole house, is currently overflowing with books, so… I think you’ll feel right at home?!!
I’m so, so glad to hear this book felt authentic when it comes to the French setting and all. I might be a harsh judge when it comes to that (see previous sentence a.k.a me being French and bitter about people romanticizing France and making it shitty and not like it really is?!), but I am so, so curious to read this book now and see that setting and everything else.
Because obviously, EVERYTHING ELSE about this book sounds interesting!! (I’m not that selfish and French-proud, I promise ahah). I’m so, so glad about that GREAT autism representation, I’ve been looking for more books to add to my TBR with that kind of rep, I’m so, so glad you mentioned that one. Martin sounds adorable.
Also, this cover is so pretty? I’m in love. Adding this to the TBR right away! Thank you for the lovely review! 🙂
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OVERFLOWING WITH BOOKS? JUST A SECOND I’LL PACK MY BAGS.😂
And I totally get that you’d be tough on books set in France! Because I feel the same way about reading about autistic characters…I’m very tough on the rep.😂 The author lives in France though (or lived? I can’t remember) so I think that’s how she was able to put detail in it like that. But obviously I’d love to hear how it is from someone who is actually French, hehe. So I’ll look out in case you ever read/review it! 😀
This sounds like such an interesting book! I really like books that cultivate topics such as racism, sexism, cultures, and disabilities. We need more of them!
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We do! Books are a fair representation of the world unless they talk about ALL types of people.
Awww, this book sounds so sweet!!!! I’m glad you found a book that represents autism well! I have lived in France since I was six years old and to be honest, by now I don’t really like croissants!!! (please don’t kill me!!) I’ve had them so often but I can definetly understand enjoying them a first. Harry Potter makes me hungry EVERY SINGLE TIME THEY HAVE A MEAL. Like the amount of food they eat!!!! Thanks for the epic book review! so glad that you do them
EEeep, it was really special and lovely to read that’s for sure. 😍 And omg haha I can’t even really eat croissants because I’m gluten-free but I LOVE THE THOUGHT. So that’s what counts. 😂 Also I would seriously like to go to a Hogwarts feast!? That would be amazing.
It sounds like a really nice book. To my TBR it goes.
Yayyy! So glad I convinced you!
Sounds like an adorable read. I took 4 years of French when I was in High School. That is now over 10 years ago so I know only remember the basics. I do agree that learning French is very different from actually speaking it. That is a whole other learning process! The biggest struggle is getting the pronunciation right.
Wonderful review! 🙂
I think French is AMAZING. I did 2 years teaching myself in highschool and that went horribly.😂I could read a bit but couldn’t speak it AT ALL.
I haven’t heard much about this book but now I’m definitely adding it to my “keep-an-eye-out-for” TBR list because it sounds incredible and there’s so much about it that seems to be positive, accurate and necessary. I love the sound of it AND that cover is just way beyond beautiful.
It IS so incredible and really such a refreshing read!! SO MUCH LOVE FOR THE COVER THOUGH.