In this unique and brilliant neurodivergent coming-of-age novel, readers follow a lonely girl who dubs herself Little Alien as she tries to navigate the world as best she can. When introduced to the Voynich Manuscript on late-night TV, she experiences hope -- that there are others out there like her -- for the first time. As she delves into the Voynich Manuscript, Little Alien and her only friend Bobby decide that finding the book will give them the answers they seek, but this will actually change everything for Little Alien. Narrated by an unexpected guide and drawing readers in from the first page, readers will love this unique novel’s structure and its ideas about language, belonging, and friendship. Little Alien is deeply relatable and a fascinating protagonist, and her relationships with her parents and Bobby are particularly interesting in their evolution over the course of the novel. Well-written, entertaining, and thought-provoking, readers will love this charming and quirky new novel for its equally charming protagonist, whose relatable questions and hyperfixations will really pull readers into her story. A must-read for its brilliant narrative structure and cleverly complex characters, readers looking to think and question themselves at every turn will love this unexpected and charming new story.

Hoo-boy this is going to be a tricky book for reader advisory. This is an immersive experience of what it might be like to be neuro-divergent. The author uses the second person perspective to let the reader know right from the beginning that this book is going to give us a view of life that isn't common. Added to that, our narrator is a little girl hypothetically on the autism spectrum trying to navigate life. For readers not on the spectrum, this will be jarring as we'll want the depth of emotions and personal connections that we would get from another perspective. Quite well done, but might be off-putting to some readers.

This book was very quirky and refreshing. The narration style did get a little tedious for me after 40% but the quirky and witty writing and fresh perspective had me hooked from the beginning.

I enjoyed the way the author captured some of the inner dialogue of a child that seems to never be illustrated, the things we thought in response to adults but never questioned later and were to young to realize how novel our perceptions of the world were.

Overall, while the story was written well and the concept was lovely, it’s probably not a narrative style I would pick up again- but it’s an excellent choice for another reader, and I do highly recommend.

Unfortunately, I could not get beyond the 2nd person narrative. That always drives me crazy and although I was finding the story somewhat intriguing, that kept annoying me until I had to not finish. Sorry!

I initially was interested in this title because it was being compared to Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine, which I really enjoyed. Going into it, I wasn't sure what to expect and was a little confused at the beginning as to who the narrator was as well as other setting issues. With that said, I found this book highly readable...but I still wasn't sure why. It reminded me a little of Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson, which was quirky and different, but highly compulsive. I can see where the Eleanor Oliphant comps come in, but I enjoyed this book for different reasons, as the mother's character was more background for me. Our main character, who remains a bit ambiguous throughout the book, is endearing in a way that is hard to define. She definitely doesn't live a "normal" life, nor does her home life seem stable, but I couldn't help rooting for her. The way the story is told in second person puts the reader right inside her mind, a mind that operates differently from most people. Though some things were unclear, this didn't take away from the overall connection to the main character and the "readability" of this book. I found myself quickly flipping pages, wanting to find out what would happen next. If you like books that are a little bit quirky and unusual, you will love this one. (As a side note, if you're interested in linguistics, this is definitely a title you will want to check out.)

I found this book both delightful and relatable. Little Alien makes her way through an illogical world that makes more sense if she sets herself outside of it. Hopefully readers will either see themselves represented in the compassionate depiction of Little Alien, or will embrace the opportunity see the world from a different point of view.

Being different can often make you feel like a little alien. This was great representation of being neurodivergent/nuerospicy. This book was unique and different while still having great storytelling.

Life Hacks for a Little Alien by Alice Franklin is a poignant novel about a little girl on the spectrum growing up with her family. Throughout the book, you'll travel with her from her toddler years to teenage years. I truly found it so unique that this story was told in the second person narrative. How empowering to be nestled in this story in such a fascinating and transparent fashion.

Throughout the book, we never discover "Little Alien's" name, instead we are given the ability to see how her parents treat her, how adults react to her, and how her intelligence is underestimated. I love that Franklin also layered in "Little Alien's" obsession with the Voynich Manuscript, as this was so unique yet so common to some who lives life on the spectrum.

All around, Little Alien is an engaging and unforgettable narrator. She just has a way of stating this in a blunt, yet charming fashion that can leave you to woner their interpretation. Reading this book, feels almost like a play at times with yourself set in the central character, making you wonder how you would react to the situations Little Alien finds herself in.

This is an unique debut that is both compelling and profound. If you enjoyed Eleanor Oliphant, this will be for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and Little Brown and Company for the chance to read and review this book.

I went in solely by title. I was instantly in love with our MC. They don't know why they feel the way they do. They just know it's a bit alien. And I never connected more with a character. It's so reflective on growing up neurodivergent without the term/diagnosis. Being a kid is hard, not knowing things, but your parents also not knowing things is even harder.
Heartfelt throughout it all. I loved this

This Debut novel really, really tugged at my heart strings! I loved getting to know the main character, Little Alien. She is so tough and observant and getting to live her perspective was truly eye opening. This story had moments of strive, where I wanted to wrap little alien up in my arms and run away with her, and also profound moments of hope, kindness, and humanness.

I really enjoyed reading this one immersively, the audio really captured the story beautifully.

With LIFE HACKS FOR A LITTLE ALIEN, Alice Franklin drops the reader into a fantastically well-developed universe of a differently wired child making sense of the world around them, drawing us into what they see and how the world feels to them--an utterly charming and unique take on books, c0ming of age, and finding your own place in a wild, weird world with a friend by your side. I laughed, swiped away tears, and came away delighted to have made the acquaintance of a talented writer in this lovely story. A terrific book club read destined for deep, wide-ranging discussions. I received a copy of this book and these thoughts are my own, unbiased thoughts.

Life Hacks for a Little Alien is such a unique novel. While I am almost never a fan of second-person narration (“you”), it really works here for placing the reader right into the shoes of the main character, who has autism.

You will viscerally experience her confusion, discomfort and uncertainty—as well as her passion when she finds something that ignites her interest. Your heart will break when adults (even teachers) mistreat her, and you’ll cheer as she finds a friend.

(Speaking of adults—there are so many who fail the main character in this story! From a mother with severe mental illness to heartless teachers to a rude librarian, our poor main character goes through the wringer.)

Read if you love:
📚Quirky novels with unique features like footnotes and related reading
📚 Books that put you right in the character’s life circumstances
📚Stories that increase empathy and understanding in a smart, sometimes humorous, way

I’m sure this could be a hard read for parents of children with autism, so if you’d like a small spoiler, keep reading:

***

Our main character finds a passion that leads to great opportunities for her, and you get the sense that she is going to be okay. More than just okay, really—her attributes and interests are uniquely valuable and open up some doors for her.

What a weird and poignant book.

I enjoyed the structure of the book, the unnamed, neurodiverse main character, the 2nd person narrative.

I enjoyed the glimpses at several points in Little Alien's life.

I enjoyed the strange Manuscript tangent, and the prospects it holds.

I LOVED the Extra Reading bit at the end of each chapter. They were both hilarious and clarifying.

Two quibbles: 1) I would have loved more with Bobby and 2) No (good) librarian would deny a known child access to books.

Looking forward to more from this author.

LIFE HACKS FOR A LITTLE ALIEN by Alice Franklin

Pub date: Feb. 11th, 2025
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Rating: 4 / 5


Have you ever been most assuredly convinced you're from another planet?

Little Alien is not like other children. She doesn't speak like they do (she hardly speaks at all); she doesn't understand what adults want (they really should be straightforward); she just isn't normal. When Little Alien learns about the Voynich Manuscript, which might be an extraterrestrial artifact, she decides it must have the explanation for her differences. In her manuscript research, Little Alien learns many things about language, history, and people. And yes, Little Alien learns a lot about herself too.

LIFE HACKS FOR A LITTLE ALIEN is a creative and heartfelt debut about journeying through life as a young neurodivergent person. Told in a unique second person narration, Little Alien's story unfolds from her preschool to preteen years. Little Alien is an endearing protagonist and her struggles are deeply complex. In addition to battles with miscommunication, social isolation, and personal failures, Little Alien's family also navigates her mother's declining mental health. Though Little Alien does not always understand the issues around her, readers get insight into the context of her situations through footnotes and interjections from the narrator. This structure helped develop the narrator as a character and made Little Alien feel all the more like a galactic specimen. Another highlight of the story is Little Alien's developed love for her local library and the beauty of language. LIFE HACKS is a must read for anyone wanting stylistic narratives, oddball characters, and hopeful endings.


(Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!)

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 4 stars

If you are someone who has ever felt like you don't belong, or if you have ever felt "lost" or misunderstood, this book is for you.

Life Hacks for a Little Alien is an exploration and examination of a young, neurodivergent mind, as told through the voice of an omniscient narrator.

Little Alien is just trying to navigate the complexities of life while dealing with familial and worldly obstacles at every turn. But Little Alien has found solace within the stacks of the library, and a sense of purpose at the discovery of the Voynich Manuscript.

This story is funny and refreshing, while also heartrending and sincere. A must have for libraries; and a must read for anyone who seeks, or advocates for, understanding and acceptance.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for this digital Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review.

Life Hacks for a Little Alien by Alice Franklin ⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was a unique, short read combining a stand-out neurodivergent character with a love for language and learning.

I really enjoyed the second-person voice in this story. I found it clever and it really worked to experience the world like the main character. I also loved the humor in this one. I literally laughed out loud several times.

I found it slowed down in the middle which stifled the enjoyment a bit. I wished for more relationship building with the characters.

Fans of Emily Austin’s books, quirky characters, and books that celebrate libraries will enjoy this one.

If you've ever felt like everyone in the room is in on a joke you don't understand, you might relate to this book. Told in the second person ("You do this, they laugh at you. Your dad tells you to act normal." etc), it's easy to sink into the unsettling place of the nameless main character. There are laugh-out-loud bits of observational humor, broken up by a lot of heartrending misunderstandings and details about the little alien's family life (which is turbulent at best). This is about neurodivergence, mental health, family, friendship, and finding a place for yourself in a vast universe where everyone else seems to intuitively know where they fit. It seems less like fiction and more like memoir. It's the kind of book that hurts to read but you can't put it down.

I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

CWs - Ableism, Mental illness, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Paranoia, Bullying, Cursing, Animal cruelty, Gun violence, Blood, Medical content, Stalking, Death of parent

I had a difficult time with the writing. It was dry and slow. All in all, the book left me feeling discouraged because I never felt that I really understood what the book was trying to say. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital ARC. this review is my own opinion.

Thank you to #LittleBrown and #NetGalley for the DRC of #LifeHacksforaLittleAlien. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

I love the premise of this book - the "little alien" is the neuro-divergent main character and the second-person narrator is teaching her how to interpret the world she finds so confusing. I really liked the main character and empathized with her struggles. I enjoyed the footnotes explaining the things she found so confusing and the suggested reading that tied back to whatever happened in that chapter. And I'd never heard of the Voynich Manuscript so I learned something completely new to me (win!).

But overall, this book fell a little flat for me. I wanted more about her family and her friend Bobby.

I received a free copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company; all opinions expressed are exclusively my own.

Trying to think of how to review this book, and finding it somewhat difficult. It's written in the second person POV, which is unusual in and of itself, and consists of a narrator describing the life events of our nameless protagonist to... our nameless protagonist, it seems, who is definitely autistic and struggles to understand the world around her. I'd definitely recommend it, but I'm struggling to say exactly why or to who.

For sensitive readers, this book contains depictions of mental illness (not to be conflated with neurodivergence), neglect, abuse, and injury to children.