A Kind of Spark

By Elle McNicoll

A girl fights to honor forgotten witches in her town's dark past.

4.5/5 Goodreads · 11,259 ratings

208 pages

In stock. Also at Amazon or Bookshop.

Bookroo's summary

In a small Scottish town, an autistic girl discovers the tragic history of witch trials. Driven by a deep connection to those labeled 'different,' she embarks on a mission to ensure their stories are remembered. As she battles misunderstanding and prejudice, will her voice be enough to change the town's perspective and honor the forgotten? This stirring tale explores the power of empathy and the courage to stand up for what is right.

From the publisher

Perfect for readers of Song for a Whale and Counting by 7s, a neurodivergent girl campaigns for a memorial when she learns that her small Scottish town used to burn witches simply because they were different. A must-read for students and adults alike. -School Library Journal, Starred Review Ever since Ms. Murphy told us about the witch trials that happened centuries ago right here in Juniper, I can’t stop thinking about them. Those people weren’t magic. They were like me. Different like me. I’m autistic. I see things that others do not. I hear sounds that they can ignore. And sometimes I feel things all at once. I think about the witches, with no one to speak for them. Not everyone in our small town understands. But if I keep trying, maybe someone will. I won’t let the witches be forgotten. Because there is more to their story. Just like there is more to mine. Award-winning and neurodivergent author Elle McNicoll delivers an insightful and stirring debut about the European witch trials and a girl who refuses to relent in the fight for what she knows is right.