Frankie's World: A two-colour graphic novel about standing-out and fitting-in when you feel different. Perfect for fans of Raina Telgemeier: 1

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Some of the data that are collected include the number of visitors, their source, and the pages they visit anonymously. The three way chats, in which they are joined by other animals, about web spinning, themselves, other humans—are as often informative as amusing, and the whole tenor of appealing wit and pathos will make fine entertainment for reading aloud, too. Based off her own experience, Aoife provides an authentic insight into what it’s like being autistic. A heart-warming story about friendship, family and standing out and fitting in when you feel different.

Plus the artwork is so vibrant and cool - it reminds me a bit of Tracy Beaker, which I used to read a lot when I was younger. After all, there are the questions from Doctor Moran, and then the meetings between her mum and Principal Daly.

With her new found karate confidence, her friend’s help and the courage they give her, Frankie finally learns she’s not even a little bit alien – but autistic like her dad. When her mom's heart condition leads to hospitalization, Frankie and her friends go on a quest to locate Frankie's birth father. Lizzie Huxley-Jones “A fun and relatable read about awkwardness, self-acceptance, family and friendship.

Very excited to read a middle grade graphic novel from an Irish creator, and Aoife Dooley's Frankie's World brought the kind of freshness and dark humor I'd expect, with a sweet undercurrent of loyal friendship holding together a plot that felt a little disjointed at times. At its core, it really does have a wonderful message and I love that there's autism rep (from an autistic creator). It is well-done and a welcome addition to stories of neurodiversity, and is particularly unusual in being written from a female perspective.The author uses this as a device for dark humor, which is common in many stories, but please be aware of it in case the middle grade reader is currently experiencing grief or raising many questions about death. Those who struggle to fit in might see themselves reflected in the pages, and those who do not might learn to understand those who do.

Frankie believes she is an alien; she is the smallest person in her class – and she is accused of talking too much! The artwork is playful, the dialogue is perfect for preteens, and the topics raised are modern and relevant.

For example though she tries to blend in with her class, who are either ‘girly’ or ‘sporty‘ somehow it doesn’t work. Similar to any young person who feels like they don't fit in, Frankie has to learn to recognise that her differences make her special, and that the world is a much better place for her, and her unique ways of seeing and interacting with the world.

But I like Aoife Dooley and I like her work, so I just bought it, and it was a nice fun light read to have with tea and toast on a sunny Sunday morning, with some great positive messages about being different. I liked how the friendships with Sam and Rebecca were portrayed, they always saw the best in Frankie. This is something she wants to stay secret from her classmates – especially the injections in her bum!Aoife Dooley is an illustrator, author and comedian Ireland whose first Children’s book was published in 2019 by Little Island Books. She feels out of place, partly because she is unusually small for her age and is obliged to take remedial growth hormones.