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.

Life Hacks for a Little Alien by Alice Franklin is an experimental and literary tale about a young human girl growing up thinking she is an alien. Starkly different from the world around her, she doesn’t quite know how to communicate her wants and needs in a way that is effective or conventional. It is not until she watches a documentary covering the conspiracy belief that the famed Voynich Manuscript might be unbreakable due to its alien language, that she sees herself represented.
This novel is a daring and extremely heartfelt read. The unnamed protagonist lives with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), but no one in her life seems to connect her experiences and expressions to this disorder, leaving her with little resources and opportunities to communicate in the ways she needs to. Every adult in her life is either disinterested in her success in development, marks her as mentally “slow,” or is simply in denial about her very obvious differences between her and her peers. Some early parts of this novel are hard to read, as the reader feels the need to advocate on behalf of the protagonist, who cannot advocate for herself, especially in school situations, where she is constantly shoved into the wrong classes for the wrong reasons.
As someone who grew up on the autism spectrum myself (and who, like the protagonist, slipped through the cracks of diagnosis due to a myriad of reasons), I found the identity shaping and making in this novel to be a fantastic representation of my own experiences. I think every child feels this to some extent, but I imagine neurodivergent children feel this alien identity even moreso. For several years of my life, I was convinced that I couldn’t be the same as all these “normal” people, because my priorities and interests were so divergent; I was convinced I was actually a fictional character come to life, and that each book I read was a stepping stone in finding out with book I actually belonged in.
The most notable and most effective choice that Franklin employs in her writing is her use of the second person narrative structure. The narrator is actually the protagonist from the future, who has come to her past self to share her experiences and provide hope for her as she matures into her interests as a linguist and researcher. This small bit of magic frames the whole story, and leaves the reader with the impression that magic (and/or alien technology) may in fact be real. It is not only a woman reflecting on her experiences of growing up on the spectrum, but is also a cry of hope and resilience to the reader; we know she makes it through.
I truly enjoyed this read, and found myself aching for more time with our protagonist. I wanted to sit down with her and listen to her gush about linguistics and manuscripts, and be her friend in the same alien way that I know she would be mine.
It’s tough for us aliens out there, and Alice Franklin does an incredible job making us feel like we’re not really alone.

Before she becomes Little Alien, our narrator is just a lonely girl from southeast England who feels out of place, like she doesn’t quite fit into the world around her. One night, while watching a TV special about the mysterious Voynich Manuscript, something shifts—maybe she’s not as alone as she thought. Believing this strange book holds the answers, she and her only friend, Bobby, set off on a journey that will change everything.

Life Hacks for a Little Alien by Alice Franklin is a heartfelt debut—tender, bittersweet, and full of unexpected humor. This story follows Little Alien as she tries to make sense of a confusing world, one where people often don’t say what they mean and tend to misjudge her. Though others label her as “stupid,” she’s anything but. She’s sharp, curious, and sees the world in her own profound way.

Franklin beautifully portrays Little Alien’s intense focus on what truly fascinates her, something that will resonate deeply with anyone who has experienced or understands neurodivergence. In the end, it’s her love of books, the refuge of libraries, and the friends who really see her that help her navigate her path.

This novel is not just heartwarming—it’s a celebration of being different, of seeing the world through a unique lens. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys stories that make you laugh, think, and feel deeply.

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company.

I like books about neurodivergent people. I like books that send me down rabbit trails like researching the Voynich Manuscript. I like books that include libraries. I liked this book. But the epilogue left me confused. Don’t let that stop you from diving into the autistic world of a young girl, who comes of age through linguistics. Life Hacks for a Little Alien is a poignant tale about a girl who has a lot stacked against her but still manages to, well… I won’t spoil it by spilling the plot. The descriptions of her thinking processes are spot on for someone who is wired differently than most. The secondary characters are also typically trying to do what’s best but fumbling at every turn. Except Bobby. Gotta love Bobby.

I don’t like leaving Little Alien. It’s too soon. I earnestly request a sequel, Alice Franklin. Thank you to NetGalley for the prepub opportunity in exchange for an honest review.

This book is just beautiful. I could not put it down. A unique character study of a "Little Alien" - a young girl who feels different from everyone, this book hit home for someone who is also neurodivergent. Though it isn't a typical story, and feels very much like it could be meandering, the narrator walking us through Little Alien and her feelings is a complex, subtle, and deep explanation of what it means. to feel different. I was emotional reading this novel, feeling both hope and anguish at different moments. This is an important insight into how different minds work, and a reminder not to judge what you see on the surface.

The exploration into language and what gives words meaning is a nice layer on top of the narrative.

While not for everyone, I still highly recommend this book, and applaud Franklin on a wonderful debut.

An interesting concept about a neurodivergent child growing up. There were very few people in the community around the protagonist that treated her with respect. It felt sad, but also indicative of a larger societal problem. Because the book was written in a second person narrative, I struggled to connect to the story. It felt like I was on the outside, as an observer instead of being immersed in the lives of the characters. Overall, the writing was interesting, but the characters felt a little two-dimensional.
Three stars!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This novel is a quick read that is humorous, heart-warming, and serious. I cheered on the “little alien” as she learned, and found herself in the world. I think all readers can relate to this book. I look forward to reading more from Alice Franklin.

This was great! Parts of the coming of age themes reminded me of Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime by Mark Haddon . I could see this book becoming popular with book clubs, definitely purchase a copy for your library patrons!

This was really charming.

If you love the magic of language and words this book feels like a lover letter to them, wrapped up in a heartwarming story told through the eyes of a neurodiverse child.

A celebration on difference and being okay in our own skin, I can see this being a big hit.

Life Hacks for a Little Alien was a delightful and quirky read that had me chuckling throughout. The concept of an alien trying to navigate the complexities of human life was both humorous and heartwarming. I loved the witty observations and the fish-out-of-water scenarios, like when the alien tries to understand the concept of "small talk" or figure out the proper way to eat a banana.

Franklin's writing is lighthearted and engaging, making it an easy and enjoyable read. The alien's perspective offers a fresh and often hilarious look at everyday human experiences, prompting readers to question their own assumptions and habits. The book is filled with charming illustrations that perfectly complement the text.

However, while the humor is spot-on, I felt that the plot could have been a bit more developed. Some of the "life hacks" were quite simple and obvious, and I would have loved to see the alien tackle more complex or unexpected challenges. Overall, Life Hacks for a Little Alien is a fun and lighthearted read that will leave you smiling.

This is such a cute and funny book! This story is relatable to anyone who has ever felt like that didn’t fit in and are desperately looking for someone to relate to. The main character of this book reminded me of Tina from Bob’s Burgers as an awkward and eccentric child that feels out of place due to her neurodivergence and views herself as an alien. One of my favorite parts about this book were the footnotes with each chapter that added to the concept of this book being a guide for the main character as the books walks through memorable moments of her childhood and adolescence. I did feel like the last part of the book was a little rushed, but overall I really enjoyed it and would recommend this book! Thank you to the publisher and author for exchanging this ARC with me for an honest review!

As a Brit living in the US, I loved this very ‘British’ book, the language and the setting of the story is spot on. I must admit that it took me a few pages to get into it and the writing style, but I was soon really enjoying reading about ‘little alien’ and her family and life. It is at turns funny and heart wrenching as it becomes clear that there are mental health issues through the family which seem to be dealt with in the worst ways.
Having said that the book has good heart as we navigate the life of the little girl (her name is never revealed).
I very much enjoyed learning about ‘little alien’ and I am now also very interested in the Voynich Manuscript!

This was a tough book for me to fully engage with although I did enjoy the “little alien” perspective. I think it is quite informative about how a child who is different and doesn’t fit in might view things.

Thank you so much for allowing me to advance read Life hacks for little alien! I thought it was quirky and fun! I especially loved the footnotes at the end of each chapter . What a clever idea. I found the way in which the book was written to be fascinating . At times I felt very sorry for the narrator and her life. Overall I will be recommending this book to my friends and fellow book junkies! Congrats Alice Franklin !

This book was hard to get into, I think mainly because of the perspective it was told in. However, the overall premise of this story was compelling and while I was unable to finish this book, I think that there is certainly an audience for this book and while it wasn't me, that doesn't mean that I didn't feel anything while reading this book.

I liked this book, but I didn't love it. I feel like the story wasn't fully fleshed out enough for me to really feel connected.

This was a solid story and compelling read. The main character is referred to as 'little Alien' throughout the book and we watch her struggle with fitting in and understanding both her family and her peers. Throughout the story we know that she is loved and supported by parents struggling to cope with their own challenging issues.

The Little Alien character also highlights how children who are different - in this case non verbal and with stimming behaviours - can be misunderstood and thought to be slow or unable to learn. Little Alien just trudges on and finds a way to make it work for her. Observing and adjusting as she needs to.

I liked that in the end it would all be okay for our Alien, her years of studying words and language and the manuscript made connections for her with a linguist from the university and a job as her assistant. A niche that would give her a safe place to be as an adult.

This is also a love story for librarians and libraries - places that are welcoming to all and full of interesting things. Reading books is a core part for the Little Alien, as well as her mother, and the suggested titles at the end of each chapter are cute.

"When the teacher is gone, you stand with your arms at your sides while you sway, wondering if 'Henry' is the collective noun for a group of feral children."

'Maybe you are not alone in the universe after all, Maybe you are just alone on Planet Earth.'

'So many people would kill for such a story, so many would love to know which years are going to be bad, which people are going to turn up and when and why.'

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