Do You Know Me?
About this book
Everyone else in Tally's grade seems excited for their class trip... And she knows she is supposed to be too. Ever since her classmates found out she is autistic, Tally has felt more comfortable being herself. But the end-of-year trip will be an entire week -- her longest overnight trip ever. How will she sleep? What about all the bugs? What will her dog, Rupert, do without her at home?
Though she decides she doesn't want to miss out, bad news strikes as soon as she arrives: She isn't bunking with her friend Aleksandra. Instead, she is rooming with her former friends and two girls from a neighboring school -- who both reject Tally on day one.
Tally isn't sure she'll ever make new friends. And how will she survive for so long away from home?
Told through a mix of prose and diary entries, this authentic and relatable novel is about finding your people, and learning what it takes to be a true friend.
Reviews
Praise for Do You Know Me?:
"Tally is very self aware and conscious of her autism; the lists she includes in her journal entries of how she would like teachers and friends to treat her are fantastic recommendations for anyone. A great fit for any middle grade collection, particularly those wanting to showcase how differences can help people connect with one another." -- School Library Journal
Praise for Can You See Me?:
"This glimpse into the world of a young autistic girl is astonishingly insightful and honest. Tally's struggles to 'fit in' are heart-wrenching, and her victories are glorious." -- Ann M. Martin, Newbery Honor and New York Times bestselling author of Rain Reign
"Tally is smart, compassionate, and she has a superpower: autism. This own voices story is wonderfully authentic and informing. It doesn't portray an 'autistic girl'; rather, we get to meet a well-defined, relatable character who also has autism. I hope this book finds its way into the hands of readers everywhere as a reminder that our perceived weaknesses can also be our greatest strengths." -- Wesley King, bestselling author of OCDaniel
* "Give [this book] to everyone, because a little understanding can go a long way." -- School Library Journal, starred review
* "This is a sweetly appealing story of finding oneself in a time of change, and it's heartening to see an autistic protagonist who finds happiness through the growth of those around her and not via learning to hide herself . . . Alongside a compelling heroine, vividly accurate portrayals of stressful situations and specific needs offer a rare and valuable window into one autistic point of view." -- Publishers Weekly, starred review
"Tally's story -- based on Scott (herself 11 and autistic) and co-written with the neurotypical Westcott -- shines with authenticity. The deceptively simple prose sticks tightly to Tally's point of view, conveying her courage and quirky charm while rendering with painful acuity her struggles with anxiety and sensory overload. Her triumph comes in her resolve to present as her own unique, different 'normal.'" -- Kirkus Reviews
