As one of the judges of the Scholastic Asian Book Award 2023, I was delighted to see Living with Adi on Duckbill’s list! Even when I was reading the draft, I enjoyed the story and the pace, as well as the way it tackles difficult themes.
A sensitively told story about a neurodivergent boy, Living with Adi is a vivid portrayal of complex family life. Employing a range of narrative voices, Zarin Virji tells an engaging story. The book is peopled with well-rounded characters, and Adi’s grandmother Shirin’s voice was my favourite! I love her no-nonsense attitude and her humour, even though she is the least accepting of Adi’s neurodivergence.
Living with Adi tackles ASD both gently and realistically. The author portrays a range of attitudes to neurodivergence, from Adi’s mother Delna’s sense of isolation when she seeks help to deal with Adi, to the bullying Adi faces in school. Each character is distinct, and the balance between living with Adi and living an individual, independent life is beautifully drawn. Adi’s sister Jasmine and her boyfriend Sid, Adi’s father Krishnan and his new partner Geetha – each one emerges as believable and complete.
One thing that I would have liked to see more of is Adi’s voice, particularly in the second half of the story. We hear from his friends, his sister and even the bully Mohit, but very little from Adi himself, which I think would have made for a more wholesome addition.
Having said that, Living with Adi was still an enjoyable read, one that touches upon a range of difficult themes with ease and grace.
| Title | Living with Adi |
| Author | Zarin Virji |
| Tags | Middle-Grade, Realistic Fiction, Neurodivergence |
| Rating (out of 5) | 4 |
| Ages | 10+ |
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