Freya Harte is not a Puzzle

Freya's always felt different, so when she learns she's autistic she doesn't want anyone to know. All she wants is to fit in. But does she really need to change herself or can she find friends who like her just the way she is? A novel about friendship, discovering who you really are -- and being ok with that!

About the Author :
Méabh Collins is a writer and scholar from Dublin. She holds an M.Phil in Children's Literature from Trinity College Dublin, where she is currently pursuing a PhD. In recent years, she has worked as a primary school teacher and in children's and Irish language publishing. She lives in Dublin with her husband and their rescue greyhound. This is her first novel.

Review :
Neurodiversity is the focus of several new titles this month with a standout being Meabh Collins’s debut, Freya Harte Is Not A Puzzle. Collins has a background in both education and children’s literature and blends these skills beautifully in an account of being a newly diagnosed autistic teenage girl who very firmly does not want “special treatment in school. I don’t want to be singled out for being different. If I could just figure out how to be normal, then I wouldn’t have to worry about this stuff.” Although the protagonist, Freya, has a supportive adult in school, there is also an utter wagon of a teacher who gets cranky when her errors are pointed out and says things like: “Sure, half of them are diagnosed with something these days. You’d be hard pressed to keep up.” Freya is also conscious that despite the oft-trotted- reminder that everyone is more concerned with themselves than anyone else, “the beady eyes of bored schoolgirls” are utterly terrifying. The hopeful ending is an earned one with a shrewd eye on the unspoken “rules” of female friendships a school-based exploration of a young teen’s diagnosis as an autistic person … This book does a great job of showing how the language and terminology we use matters deeply, and the enduring power of friendship and acceptance I was up late last night finishing this beauty … Freya is a beautifully drawn character and it’s a funny, heart-squeezing, kind and honest book about an autistic young person and her family and friendship dramas … I hope this book has a wide readership. Yes, it’s an exploration of how the world looks and feels to Freya, an autistic teen, but it’s also a darn great friendship and family story, with lots of humour and drama. Her Irish college experiences are brilliantly drawn This own-voice autism novel is perfect for readers who like friendship/family stories with plenty of humour and drama brilliant … empowering story about friendship and being yourself Irish debut with positive representation … about finding your place in the world, in an unmistakably Irish setting, this is the book that I would have wanted to read when I was a 12 year old … Great for fans of Aoife Dooley and Frankie’s World Awareness and understanding are at the heart of her book and Méabh’s respect for her readers comes over throughout too in a story which is thoughtful and sensitive from beginning to end … presenting readers with a real character they will like as well as understand, in a book full of drama, development and the kind of laughter that teenage girls specialise in. Everyone should read it’ for me the real highlight is the way these and some other aspects of the book highlight to us that language and terminology matter … an honest, heart-warmingly genuine story and it left me with a better understanding of autism and a warm glow ‘illuminating and compelling look at the challenges of adolescence … A heartwarming story about friendships and embracing ourselves as we are a very good insight as to what it is to be an autistic person - review by Líadan, Gaelscoil Eoghain Uí Thuirisc, Ceatharlach  Children's Book of the Week a personal favourite of the year so far … As a debut author, Collins writes an incredibly authentic story, with believable characters and dialogue. We spend a lot of time in Freya’s head and become intimately familiar with her thought process and her identity as an autistic person … This book is a welcome opportunity to see everyday moments through a different lens … Freya is also surrounded by an incredible support system that adds to the book’s overall feel-good tone … It is assuring to see space being given to small but incredibly important stories like this in Irish publishing. This is a book that should be in every school, suitable for 12+ years At 14, Freya’s diagnosis has come at a time when almost every young person struggles to figure out how they relate to the rest of the world and as such her social anxieties will be readily understood by most young adult readers. By presenting that world as seen through Freya’s eyes, however, Meabh Collins offers a remarkable insight into the thinking processes and intense emotions experienced by some people with autism and which are usually invisible to others. Collins deals sensitively with the subject of eating disorders, one of many issues Freya is at pains to conceal and deny, and reveals much about the intolerable strain that efforts to function in so-called ‘normal’ society can place on someone with autism. The often unsuccessful attempts to read social cues, interpret sarcasm and jokes, and process strings of multiple statements are concepts we may already be familiar with, along with the possibility of sensory overload. It is Freya’s personal perception, her awareness of these challenges and how she might deal with them, that provides teenage readers with an accessible and very human perspective on what can otherwise seem an abstract concept … will resonate with readers across all age groups a fantastic debut novel which shows readers the importance of self-acceptance through Freya’s messy and heartwarming journey … a touching coming-of-age story about discovering who you are and the joy of true friendship and family Chapters Bookstore's 'best children’s books of the year' 2023 Editor’s Choice. With a convincing Irish setting, authentic characters, and a good mix of humour and drama, this is a strong debut from Collins – a heartfelt friendship and family story that celebrates difference, understanding and self-acceptance Freya has always felt different to her classmates, but things have become increasingly difficult since starting secondary school. With a recent Autism diagnosis that she would rather keep private, a trip to the Gaeltacht could provide the perfect opportunity to make friends, but is it worth changing yourself to fit in? Written with sensitivity and care, this book will have readers cheering Freya on as she learns the true meaning of friendship and how to be not only comfortable in her own skin, but also proud of who she is