Jennifer Gold (2)

Reviewed for Netgalley. As a mum to an Aspie I was totally biased when I selected this book to review about a teenage girl and her autistic brother. Imagine my surprise then, when the first few chapters are totally devoted to Clara and her famous ballerina mother and their respective eating disorders (orthorexia and anorexia) and Alasdair and his autism is barely mentioned!
Turns out the brother lives in Paris with Clara's father and his new wife and it is only when Clara flees to France to escape a twitter scandal over the Summer break, does the book finally go where it promised.
There are a number of issues handled deftly by Gold in this book - bullying or social ostracism / pressure to conform to society's norm being the main theme running through. I didn't give this book 5 out of 5 because I felt Clara was just a teeny bit too perfect in her answers to her younger brother, in her arguments with her father's wife and with her mother's gay friend. I know some teenagers are that quick witted but she contradicted her words with her actions....not saying things to shield people's feelings (ie tact) and then she launches a full scale verbal attack on the adults around her.
Nevertheless, the story is great, moves very well and will engage teenage girls immediately. Clara is clever, vulnerable and funny and very likeable and her half brother is a perfect representation of a well loved and curious Aspie who wants to make sense of the world around him. The bit characters are wonderful too, Clara's Mum and Dad and Mag the wife have flaws but genuinely think they are doing the right thing, Michele the boyfriend is great as all-knowing at somethings and hopelessly niave at others ( the mistakes he makes on the date night at the fancy restaurant are excrutiating to read) and the descriptions of Clara's school mates and teachers and all their foibles read exactly like your typical high school.
Highly recommended and don't forget your tissues for the end.👍👍👍… (mere)