A History of My Weird
Chloë Heuch
Firefly Press

For Mo, the narrator of this story, things are changing way too fast. She’s just started secondary school where one of the teachers in particular doesn’t understand how to work with what they call her disruptive behaviour, sending her out of the classroom frequently. Mo is neurodivergent and has trouble making real friends; they tend to be bemused by her stimming and annoyed by her tendency to correct factual things when others, teachers included, get them wrong. Add to this, the fact that her body is developing she hates the ‘rubbery blobs that have appeared seemingly overnight’, on her chest.

Then Mo meets Carys, preferred name Onyx; who appears to like her; could this be the true friend she’s been hoping for. She certainly encourages Mo to go to drama club.

During history the class hear of a disused Victorian asylum in the locality. This sparks Mo’s interest but Dad tells her Denham is private property and exceedingly dangerous. However after school one day she and Onyx manage to get in, albeit only for a short while. So, despite Onyx’s father having told his daughter that Mo’s a bad influence they resolve to make another visit, at night this time, fuelled by the possibility that her great uncle had been kept there. Meanwhile rehearsals for the drama club’s forthcoming production take up some of Mo’s time and energy.

When Halloween night comes the friends keep their promise to each other and return to the asylum. There Onyx opens up to Mo about the issues she’s dealing with, but as they proceed disaster strikes: the floor and Onyx vanish down into blackness. What will be the outcome of the accident?

Mo is a very endearing character and her friendship with Onyx/Carys is really well portrayed, which is no surprise as the author, Chloë Heuch is herself neurodivergent, a part-time teacher and a parent. Highly recommended for older readers.