Role Model

Aeriel is autistic and would love nothing more than to have proper friendships with people at her new secondary school in London, having had to move down from Scotland, which she misses keenly.

When her mum becomes Prime Minister, Aeriel is catapulted into the public eye, with both her school and her Mum’s aides trying to mould her into being an online role model for other children. As Aeriel’s reluctant videos go viral, she tries desperately to control her autistic behaviours and understand why she is still so lonely when she is trying so hard to fit in. It takes being compelled to join a new group, alongside a huge shift in family dynamics, to mend relationships and help her manage her life.

This is a fairly short book at 170 pages, but it packs a real emotional punch. The author states that there is much personal content from her childhood and adult life in this story, and it shows. It’s told in the first person, emphasising Aeriel’s vulnerability and the challenges she faces in her daily life, which are only exacerbated by her mother’s new position as PM. There are themes of resilience, courage, friendship, family and bullying, and Aeriel’s story should evoke a huge amount of empathy for autistic peers; it’s a thought-provoking read and would make a great class read-aloud.