The Extraordinary Adventures of Alice Tonks
Alice Tonks is about to start life at Pebblewood School, affectionately known as ‘Pebbles’, like her grandmother and mother before her. Anxious about being away from her grandmother who understands her, Alice is worried about making new friends as others do not always understand her autism and are not always kind or accepting. However, when a seagull speaks to her, Alice learns that she is a Switcher, a human who can talk to, and understand, animals. The seagull- Agent T- tells her that animals are being snatched and the LSPDA (the Loyal Society for the Prevention of Danger to Animals) needs her help. Whilst trying to solve this mystery, Alice must also navigate school life, learning who to trust and who her real friends are.
I loved this story so much! It is one of those books which could easily be spoilt by a careless review revealing too much so I shall proceed with caution!
Alice is a lovely character- so easy to empathise with, particularly as she struggles to be what she perceives as ‘Nice Alice’, a version of herself which is ‘acceptable’ to others, but is so tiring and difficult to maintain. What the reader comes to know is a very kind, loyal and honest girl, a good friend with a great admiration for Beatrix Potter. Her abilities as a Switcher are very well handled as she (and the reader) has much to learn about what she can actually do and her talents are gradually revealed as the story progresses. Alice might be an unlikely hero, but she comes to learn the importance of being true to herself, doing things her way and succeeding.
Friendship is key to the story and Alice makes friends with Ottie, her room mate, and Tim, who was kind to her on the first day. Both of these children are harbouring secrets of their own and Alice’s relationships are further complicated by the unwanted and unpleasant attention of Kelcie and Lexi, girls in their year group. In Constance, the library cat, and other animals, Alice also finds comfort and companionship as she strives to help them and solve the mystery.
The plot has some very satisfying twists and turns and a wonderful setting of school and seaside. ‘The Extraordinary Adventures of Alice Tonks’ would make an excellent class read, not only for having an autistic character centre stage and sympathetically portrayed, but also for being a cracking adventure, sure to cause gasps of ‘noooooo!’ when it is closed at the end of story time as the children will be desperate for more!
The Extraordinary Adventures of Alice Tonks Emily Kenny
Rock the Boat ISBN: 978-0861542055