This was definitely something different, however it just did not really land for me. The main character is trying to find herself through manuscript and what she can learn through books almost exclusively. The element I really struggled with was the lack of support she got to navigate her world. I felt that there was such a focus on neurodivergence and about what set her apart to the point that this book ended up lacking cohesiveness and did not come full circle like it needed to. I liked how quirky this character was and would like to read more from this author in the future. Thanks for the ARC, NetGalley.

While this book is about how an autistic girl encounters the world—and vice versa—it’s relatable for anybody who sometimes feels unseen or unable to fit in or understand the world around them. The lack of understanding is often sad, but the book is also filled with humor and affection. It’s a quick and heartwarming read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Interesting story- told from the POV of a young girl who is most likely on the spectrum and thinks she is an Alien, because humans seem so odd to her. Because the story is told from her POV we have the benefit of her naivety, bringing humor. She cooly observers her world, and when it gets too much she “ makes her noises”, and if that fails she rocks, and if that fails she moves into a fetal position. Her parents love her but unfortunately, her mom is suffering from mental illness, so dad is too distracted. ( Poor dad is just trying to hold it together) . She becomes obsessed with the Voynich Manuscript ( its a real thing) that is from the 1500s and has never been translated. Her obsession leads to an interest in linguistics.
I was really rooting for this little family. I loved this little quirky girl and wanted to giver a hug ( though she wouldn’t have liked it very much)😎

The title misled me a little; I thought it was going to be narrated through a list or maybe with tips as titles. I was completely sure this book was going to be at its core, a comedy. Although it has its moments and it’s not a book that takes itself 100% seriously, it’s a little denser than what I assumed it would be. And that’s completely my fault. I think that as an alien myself, ‘Life Hacks for a Little Alien’ is for an alien from another planet—a planet more human than mine.

I don't quite know how to describe Life Hacks for a Little Alien. It reminds me a great deal of Saint-Exupéry's The Little Prince in its tone and its attention to a child's way of viewing the world. The promo materials describe it as "a love letter to language—how it shapes the world for each of us and connects us all in the end," which is accurate. Little Alien is a bad fit for the UK educational system, is consistently underestimated and over-controlled by teachers, but the book makes it clear she's hugely bright—she just doesn't come in the packaging expected for a child with intellectual promise. A number of readers and reviewers have likened Little Alien's perceptions and confusions as similar to those of a person who is neurodivergent, which strikes me as reasonable.

Nonethless, I find myself a bit uncomfortable with the book. It has a sort of twee approach that I feel is at odds with the issues it's trying to explore—exactly the experience I had with The Little Prince. If you enjoyed The Little Prince, you will almost certainly enjoy Life Hacks for a Little Alien. It also offers an interesting approach to understanding a version of neurodivergent experience. My advice is to look at reviews beyond this one and the promo material and make your own best guess about how you'll respond to the book.

I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions are my own.

Franklin’s insightful debut offers a coming-of-age story from the perspective of a lonely and largely undiagnosed neurodivergent girl who eventually thinks of herself as Little Alien. On catching a television documentary on the very real and intriguing 15th century Voynich Manuscript written in an “alien” language it becomes a hyper fixation that helps further introduce her to the intricacies and quirks of language in general. Her view of her world is both heartbreaking and humorous. It is both a celebration of our differences and of language. Fans of Kevin Wilson, Gail Honeyman, Fredrik Backman should take note.

This was an interesting and compelling read. Our narrator is only a lonely little girl living in southeast England, who doesn’t understand the world the way other children seem to. As the story progresses, we come to understand that she is likely on the spectrum and the way in which she sees and relates to the world is highlighted throughout the prose. Her observations and experiences feel so unvarnished, and it is fascinating seeing the world through her eyes.

I think the thing I liked the most is also the thing that I didn't like the most - the narration never broke character. There are questions raised about her family members and the adults around her that are never answered, likely due to her inability to fully express them. I found this interesting but also frustrating, which *maybe*(?) is part of the point.

Brilliant, poignant, insightful, super weird. I enjoyed and the right audience will love this one.

3 1/2 stars rounded up.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the eARC.

The story was so-so. It wasn't bad, but I can't say that it was really gripping. By the time that I reached the end of the book, I didn't feel like anything really happened.

Thank you publisher, Little Brown & Company,NetGalley,author,Alice Franklin for the delightful coming of age novel,Life Hacks for a Little Alien. It’s the story of a young girl till the age of 18? who is neurodivergent living outside of London. From her early childhood she acts and speaks differently from others her age and her parents and many teachers don’t seem to understand her problems. She has symptoms of autism but also it could be any number of other neurodivergent problems. The way she sees the world and tries to understand it is quite funny. She’s incredibly intelligent but others just don’t understand her. She feels like an alien that was dropped down to earth and it mystifies her. I have never a book like this before and I hope to read many others by this new author.
It will be for sale February 11,2025.

This odd little book won’t be a good fit for everyone but I really enjoyed it. It is told in the second person as if you are the main character (a British child on the spectrum in a dysfunctional family) and your adult self from the future is walking through your childhood with gentle guidance and a bit of dark humor. I related to her as an outsider who is living a very different life than her peers and with a very different perspective, and I really grew to love her. The end felt abrupt and I wish more things were answered, but it is one of those books and characters that will stay with me.

I read a digital copy of this book for review.

I guess the plain fact of the matter is books about the neurodivergent just generally don't work for me. I have yet to find one that rang true for me - I always feel like they are condescending or patronizing, and the odd writing style (and footnotes) of this one just compounded that feeling. I couldn't get into this one at all.

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.

Life Hacks for a Little Alien
A Debut by Alice Franklin

Thank you @netgalley and @littlebrown for an e-ARC of this debut!

Our main character is a neurodivergent girl that appears to be on the spectrum navigating childhood amongst so many people that don't understand her. The story captures her struggles early on as a toddler through to her teenage years. She feels so disconnected and different from everyone around her that she believes herself to be an alien from another planet.

This book will not be for everyone as it is quite odd. It is told in 2nd person narration, with footnotes on word meanings and suggested reading. Once I got used to the writing style, I consumed it. The emotion around the "alien" not being able to verbally communicate for others to understand was heart breaking. I enjoyed the parts on etymology.

I recognize the manuscript as a way to show the aliens sole focus and obsession of a topic but didn't care for it. Seemed to drag in that part of the book.

What a strange book. I confess I walked away from it after reading about 20%, put off by the mannered writing style. So contrived I couldn’t continue. I tried again and plowed my way through but really didn’t enjoy it. The alien ( no spoiler) is a kid on the autism spectrum with a dysfunctional family. The plot is perfunctory and the conclusion barely satisfying. There is an occasional funny observation by the narrator who is either the subconscious of the unsocialized girl or, if you prefer, a mentor from an alien planet,, but aside from that, it is generally frustrating. I do not recommend.

Being autistic can definitely feel like you’re a little alien sometimes. This book had so many wonderful aspects and it was spectacular to see neuro-spicy representation - this book made me feel seen in so many ways.

I think the use of second person narration was such a powerful aspect and was probably one of my favorite parts about this novel. I can’t count the number of times I (as an autistic person) have heard things like - “you’re too loud” - “you’re too much” - “you did this wrong” “you’re not acting like a [insert age] person should” - “why is your face like that” - “you aren’t listening to me” - and so on - the use of second person and YOU to tell the story, seems like the perfect way to deliver this narrative. It puts the reader directly in the shoes of this little alien.

This is a short, heartwarming read - a must read for anyone who wants a peak at what it’s like to grow up a little different.

What’s I loved…
- ASD / neurospicy representation
- unique story-telling
- a love letter to being different
- books, libraries, and love of words galore

What I didn’t love…
- personally could have done without the footnotes but my brain doesn’t like anything the interrupts the flow of a book and footnotes do that to me. I will say they are quite quirky and fun - just not for me personally
- this dragged a bit in the middle
- I would have liked a little more on the relationship development

Thank you NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for sending this book (eARC) for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

This was such a cute story about a girl struggling to fit in and feeling alien in her world. We never learn the protagonist's name, but she comes across as a sweet, thoughtful girl trying to make sense of the big changes and challenges around her. I absolutely loved the narration—it made the story even more endearing.

While I was rooting for "little alien" the entire time, I found myself a bit lost when it came to the parts about the Voynich Manuscript. The focus on linguistics appealed more to the protagonist than it did to me. When I started this book, I thought it might be a 5-star read because of the engaging narration and the delightful reading lists at the end of each chapter. However, the heavy emphasis on linguistics left me a little bored, so I can’t quite give it 5 stars. Still, it’s a good book overall and a worthwhile read.

I liked reading the story from the perspective of a child with neurodiversity. I think the story was muddied by the mother's mental illness. I would have liked to read more about her interactions with others and how she coped in other subjects within the school environment. I liked the fun footnotes at the end of each chapter. I believe teachers of students with neurodiversity might find this book helpful so that could better learn how they are seen from a student's perspective.

A thank you to the publisher and netgally for the advance copy of this book.

I really wanted to like this one. I tried to read it, but only got two chapters in before it became too much. I think its the way it is written that stopped me from going on with this one. I will try again later with audio, because the description of this one is so good

Another reviewer described this read as "a reflection on a massively misunderstood childhood from the view of a person who DOES understand - the adult child themselves," and I could not find better words to explain it myself.

We follow an unnamed protagonist who is referred to as Little Alien through various stages of her life. We watch her struggle to fit in and understand both herself and her surroundings. Little Alien represents neurodivergent children, she highlights how children who are different can be misunderstood and thought of as being incapable.

One of my favorite parts about this book were the footnotes with each chapter and how the book is formatted to be like a little guide for the main character. I felt that the end was a little rushed, but that could just be me wanting more. I enjoyed this read and would highly recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this quiet book about a woman on the spectrum looking back at her younger self and trying to help that self make sense of her world. The main character struggles to understand and co-exist with people, both adults and children. It's not until she accidentally discovers the existence of a mysterious manuscript that she finds something, and someone, to connect with. If the manuscript was really written by aliens, as many believe, then perhaps she, feeling like an alien herself, could translate it. Eventually the manuscript helps her find her place in the world. It's a cute story, at times it's laugh-out-loud funny, and I loved the main character.