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 … [Read more...]

