A Kind of Spark

This moving debut follows a neurodivergent girl determined to give voice to the forgotten.

When twelve-year-old Addie learns that her small Scottish town once put women on trial for witchcraft, she can’t let it go. The witches weren’t magical—they were different. Different like her.

Addie is autistic. She notices what others overlook, hears what others tune out, and often feels the world all at once. The story of those silenced women lingers in her mind, and she resolves to make sure they are remembered. But in a town where few people understand her, Addie must find the courage to speak up, even when no one seems to be listening.

Tender, powerful, and unflinchingly honest, Elle McNicoll’s A Kind of Spark shines a light on history, empathy, and the bravery it takes to stand out—and stand up—for what is right.