A Kind of Spark

by Ellie McNicoll

Schneider Family Book Award Honor Book

Publisher: Yearling

Audience: 8-12 years old

Reading Level: Grade 3-7

A story about a young girl with autism named Addie who makes a difference in her little scottland town. She will not be silenced by the smallminded town, who against her when it comes to the fairness of the European witch trails. She speaks up at a town meeting aboout a Memorial for these woman who were unfairly trailled in the past. On her adventure she faces main obstacles not only with facing difficulties not everyone understands, but with friendship, courage, and faith in others.

Story Location

This novel takes place in Scottland which is apart of a different continent and apart of the United Kingdom

Reader Reviews

Key Words

Vocabulary Words

Sensory: Relating to sensation or the physical senses; sensory experiences involve perception through sight, sound, touch, taste, or smell.

Advocate: A person who publicly supports or recommends a particular cause or policy; in the context of the book, Addie becomes an advocate for the memorial she wants to create.

Perseverance: Persistence in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success; Addie's perseverance is evident as she continues to pursue her goals despite obstacles.

Stigma: A mark of disgrace associated with a particular circumstance, quality, or person; in the novel, Addie confronts the stigma associated with being autistic.

Prejudice: Preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or actual experience; prejudice often involves unfair judgments or stereotypes about individuals or groups.

Heritage: The traditions, achievements, beliefs, etc., that are part of the history of a group or nation; Addie's exploration of her town's heritage forms a significant part of the narrative.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.5.3: Compare and contrast two or more characters, settings, or events in a story or drama, drawing on specific details in the text (e.g., how characters interact).

This standard relates to the book as it encourages students to analyze and compare characters' interactions, settings, and events in the story. "A Kind of Spark" features various characters with distinct personalities and backgrounds, and exploring their relationships and interactions can deepen students' understanding of the narrative and its themes of acceptance, identity, and advocacy.

Reading Strategies

Before Reading: Start off by brainstorming and leading discussions with the students. This activity aims to engage students in thinking about the themes and topics related to neurodiversity and advocacy, as well as activating their prior knowledge and generating curiosity about the novel. Begin by introducing the concept of neurodiversity to the class. Explain that neurodiversity celebrates the natural variations in human brains and includes conditions such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and others. Facilitate a brief discussion about what students already know or think they know about neurodiversity. Write their ideas on the whiteboard or chart paper.

During Reading: Have students reflect and respond to the things that they experienced reading the book. Provide opportunities for students to reflect on their reading experiences and respond to the text through journal writing, discussion, or creative activities. Encourage them to express their thoughts, feelings, and reactions to the characters, events, and themes of the book, and to consider the implications of the story for themselves and the world around them.

After Reading: After reading "A Kind of Spark," 6th graders can employ various reading strategies to deepen their understanding of the text, engage in critical analysis, and make connections to their own lives and the world around them. Here are some strategies they can focus on Responding to the Literature. Provide opportunities for students to respond to the novel through written reflections, discussion prompts, or creative activities. Encourage them to consider the author's message, their emotional response to the story, and how the novel has influenced their perspective.