ife Hacks for a Little Alien by Alice Franklin is a heartwarming and introspective story about a lonely little girl in southeast England who feels like she’s from another planet. The story follows her journey of discovery after she learns about the mysterious Voynich Manuscript—a book written in an undecipherable language that sparks her hope of finding others who feel the same way she does. Together with her best (and only) friend Bobby, she embarks on a quest that leads to life-changing revelations. Narrated by a unique and unexpected guide, the book offers a rare, deeply empathetic perspective on how it feels to navigate the world differently.

What makes this book particularly compelling is its unique narrative voice. As an autistic reader, I found the narrator’s perspective relatable and refreshing. While it’s not explicitly stated, it’s easy to interpret the little girl as being autistic, sharing her internal experiences in a way that feels genuine and nuanced. This internal lens is a departure from the external assumptions often presented in similar stories, and it added a layer of authenticity that I deeply appreciated.

Sally Phillips’ narration breathes life into the story, perfectly capturing the emotions and perspective of the little alien. Her performance adds depth and vibrancy to the narrative, making the journey feel even more intimate and impactful.

Overall, Life Hacks for a Little Alien is a poignant and insightful read, offering a voice to those who often feel like outsiders in a neurotypical world. It’s a story that will resonate with readers who value empathy, perspective, and the power of hope.

4.5 stars!

This book has so much heart, so much to love. This isn't just a book about growing up as an autistic child, it's about resilience, family drama, mental health, alienation, being misunderstood, being a friend, and following your passion. It truly is charismatic, lovely, and beguiling. The author adeptly took a metaphor about being an alien and brought it home with this young girl who looks at the world as if from the outside, and her fascination with words, language, and the way we communicate highlighted hard-to-understand idioms for someone who lives in a world where everything is literal. In the beginning, she notes that kids are always told to walk, not run, and then they are put in P.E. classes because they don't get enough exercise. Plus it would save a lot of time if people could just run everywhere. This is the kind of humor and astute observation that our Little Alien friend makes throughout the book, and I just gobbled it up.

Highly recommend.

The novel explores themes of self-acceptance, love for literature, and the search for belonging. It resonates deeply with anyone who has ever felt out of place or found solace in the written word.

Life Hacks for a Little Alien is a slow, sweet, compassionate coming-of-age tale of a little girl struggling with an undiagnosed form of neurodivergence. While being written in second person, the narrative follows her perspective so we can directly relate to her difficulty understanding and relating to other people and social norms, as well as other people's inability and/or unwillingness to understand her situation.

This is my first 2nd person narrative, and while I find it a bit jarring tbh, it does give this particular narrative a particular intimacy that helps you really step into the MC's shoes.

Despite it's shorter page count I would still consider it a bit of a slow burn, in that, it's a book whererin not much happens, and the journey is in the time we spend in the MC's head, getting to know how she thinks, her struggles, and spending time within the world she does, moreso than with any intentional endgoal or narrative directive in mind.

Production value guarantees sound is clear and the narrator is top class, really giving believability and life to the story and characters.

ARC provided by NetGalley & Hatchette Audio

This was good, sweet, sad, funny, cringy, hopeful and well written. I feel everyone at some point has felt as if they don't belong somewhere or that they just feel off. I have definitely not felt comfortable in my own skin. I did find my solace in books when I was younger. The worlds one can escape to and the images you can create in your mind from the words that are just written on a page. It is truly wonderful. The audiobook was a pleasant surprise. I was not sure about it, but it was very good.

Our narrator, whose name we never actually get, thinks of herself as an alien. She doesn't understand the people or world around her and struggles to navigate school, relationships, and her mom's own mental illness.

Along the way she discovers a mysterious manuscript that one commenter notes may have been created by aliens. She's spurred on by the thought that just maybe this is a guidebook for alien's to survive on earth and goes about learning everything she can about it, even getting to view it in person!

While the manuscript isn't the solution she hoped for, our little alien does find some kinship through this journey.

I appreciate the neurospicy rep and the slight twist in the epilogue with our narrator true reveal Overall this is a sweet story, especially for anyone who thinks a little differently than the world thinks is normal.

This was sad, sweet, funny and hopeful. We’ve all felt like outsiders/uncomfortable in our own skin at times. It also speaks to those of us who love words, books and the places that revere them. I feel the audiobook is especially delightful thanks to the narrator’s excellent performance.