A GLIMMER OF CHANGE is such a heartfelt prequel to A KIND OF SPARK. Highly relatable, this book saw right into my autistic heart and once again healed parts of me I didn't think could be healed. Keedie (and Elle McNicoll), you are so loved.

Keedie is autistic and sees the world a little differently than her twin Nina. As they grow older they are growing more apart. Finally, things come to a head when Nina starts hanging out with the popular kids, kids who bully and call others names. Keedie takes it upon herself to deal with the bullies for other kids. A introspective look at an autistic character and how they see the world. An emotional sister story. Highly recommended.

loved this one. a quick and easy read, but full of heartfelt moments, quotable passages, and unforgettable characters. from a teaching or parent perspective, I feel like this should be required reading or at least included in every classroom library. the protagonist is a wonderful character and role model both in general and when it comes to autism representation. Keedie's journey is universal (outcast/misfit in a school of popular bullies) and the book lends itself easily to discussing general themes of what it means to be a hero, what is bullying, what does it mean to be an other, how do we deal with peer pressure, how do you decide when to speak up, how hard is it to speak up, what kind of masks do people wear and are they always necessary? why or why not? what makes a true friend? what's hard about having siblings? what's great about it? I could go on and on ☺️

Keedie is autistic and so are some of her friends. She has always been labeled as too loud and too much. The world wants her to conform to their rules, but she knows she has to stand out and stand up for those being treated unfairly.
What a beautiful book about being yourself and standing up for others.
I love the sister relationship in this too. I loved Keedie and Addie and how Keedie really took the time to understand her.

A middle grade read for everyone so that they can learn that it's okay to be different.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC.