Role Model
Elle McNicoll
Knights Of

Thirteen year old Aeriel Sharpe, the book’s narrator is neurodivergent. Recently her mother has been elected Prime Minister and the family has moved from Scotland where Aeriel loved the snow and wind and the way they made her feel; she’s now struggling to adapt to a very different way of life. At her new school, Aeriel is eager to fit in and is assigned a buddy, Ana, on her first day. Ana has two close friends and maybe Aeriel could become part of their group.

It’s not that simple though, and then Aeriel is put in an uncomfortable situation and faints during a school assembly. This has been secretly filmed and the video goes viral. The PM’s press team step in to ‘help’ and Aerial films a response but this results in her getting even more attention from the media and her being called an inspirational role model for young people. Anything but inspirational is how Aeriel feels though: she’s followed by paparazzi, asked to formal dinners with Royals and more but all she yearns for is an ordinary life and true friends. Eventually she finds everything too much.

One person who does understand Aeriel however, is her older sister, Fizz ,who is also neurodivergent. She does her best to encourage her sibling to find a way to embrace and love herself and in so doing to become the main character in her own life story. Along with some friends from her school SEND department, Aeriel begins to do just that.

Just as every neurotypical person is different, so too is every one who is autistic. As a protagonist, Aeriel does a terrific job of showing that far from being a cliched ‘superpower’, her neurodiversity is integral to the unique, powerful and very special girl that she is. Her story is one that should be read widely by parents, teachers and those around Aeriel’s age.