Many books showcase the accomplishments of people who have done great or noteworthy things, who have set trends, and who have shaped the course of history in everything from politics to sports to fashion and literature. This book, however, is not your typical volume of short biographies. This book is not typical because its subjects are not typical. Everything But Typical shines a spotlight on stars and innovators whose uniqueness partly stems from living with a neurodivergent condition. Many of the narratives in this book are about people who middle grade readers will be familiar with, and some may be less familiar depending on the reader’s interests, but all are fascinating once their story is told. It is likely that neurodivergent readers will find much to love in this book, as they recognize familiar struggles to their own and see people overcome them in a way that is more than simply coping but is actually thriving and turning their unique way of thinking to their advantage. Others who pick up this book out of curiosity will find a wealth of good information. Both sorts of readers will be treated to a treasure trove of entertaining stories about interesting people.

Review Copy provided by Bloomsbury Children’s Books

Content Analysis:

Profanity/Language: None

Violence/Gore: Report of people injured in political insurrection; report of a school shooting; characters compete in pro boxing.

Sex/Nudity: None

Mature Subject Matter:

Discrimination based on mental ability or learning difficulties, religion, race, and gender; racial segregation; mental health issues specifically including ADHD, anxiety, auditory processing disorder, autism, bipolar disorder, depression, dyscalculia, dyslexia, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), synesthesia, and Tourette’s syndrome; the COVID-19 pandemic; climate change; LGBTQ+ issues (including discrimination); bullying (mentioned); political insurrection; school shooting (reported); slavery (mentioned); chronic illness; war (reported).

Alcohol/Drug Use:

None