A girl with autism confronts the terrors of sixth grade.Eleven-year-old Tally is fierce, brave, funny, and kind; but she also wants desperately to fit in, so she keeps her autism secret from her new classmates at Kingswood Academy. But the harder she tries to act "normal," the more the bullies call her "weirdo" until even her friends start to pull away. Tally's storybased on Scott (herself 11 and autistic) and co-written with the neurotypical Westcottshines with authenticity. Even the lengthy "Autism Facts" in Tally's interspersed diary entries avoid didacticism via their un-self-conscious honesty. The deceptively simple prose sticks tightly to Tally's point of view, conveying her courage and quirky charm while rendering with painful acuity her struggles with anxiety and sensory overload. It also portrays compassionately the sometimes-stressful effects of her particular needs and odd-seeming behaviors on her loving, supportive family. There are no villains here: Her teachers are (mostly) receptive and sympathetic, and even the bullies come off as more clueless than cruel. Nor is there any magic resolution: Tally's situation may improve but only at the cost of her privacy; and her social relationships remain tentative. Instead, her triumph comes in her resolve to present as her own unique, different "normal."Recommended for readers with autism who will feel genuinely seen and for those desiring to see others more clearly. (Fiction. 9-12) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Starting middle school is a daunting prospect for anyone, but for Tally, who is autistic, it is terrifying. Every day is a struggle for her as she navigates the social structure, tries to decipher idioms that make no sense to her literal mind, and endures overwhelming sensory input. Her best friend, Layla, the only other student who knows about Tally's autism, provides as much support as possible, but Tally's unconventional behavior puts a strain on the friendship. When other students see Tally as "weird" or "crazy," her fragile support system breaks down. A subplot concerning a three-legged dog her family has taken in for a neighbor underscores Tally's troubles. One of the outstanding features of this novel is that the third-person narrative is punctuated by Tally's first-person journal, where she discusses different aspects of autism, such as meltdowns, stimming, and masking, without disrupting the page-turning narrative. Scott, the middle-grade-aged coauthor, has autism herself, and her portrayal of Tally is thoughtful and authentic.

An autistic preteen struggles to navigate the demands of an allistic world in this powerful collaboration between Scott, an autistic 11-year-old, and established author Westcott, who is neurotypical. Funny, self-aware Tally is about to start sixth grade, and that means an overwhelming new school with lots of new people. To fit in, she chooses to keep her autism a secret, avoiding her usual coping mechanisms in order to fit in. Bullying and abandonment by her best friend ensue, but just when she can't take it anymore, people close to Tally--including her sister and a teacher--learn to offer understanding and support in myriad ways. This is a sweetly appealing story of finding oneself in a time of change, and it's heartening to see an autistic protagonist who finds happiness through the growth of those around her and not via learning to hide herself. Occasional first-person diary entries narrate Tally's experiences, offering "Autism Facts" about anxiety, demand avoidance, meltdowns, and stimming, among other topics. Alongside a compelling heroine, vividly accurate portrayals of stressful situations and specific needs offer a rare and valuable window into one autistic point of view. Ages 8--12. (Mar.)