The Extraordinary Adventures of Alice Tonks

January 2, 2023
Autistic 11-year-old Alice Tonks, who’s been raised by her grandmother since her parents disappeared while vacationing in the Amazon, is ready to hate her time as a legacy student at fancy Pebblewood School. She’s certain that she’ll be friendless among the other year sevens, and even the teachers will think she’s “weird.” But encountering a talking, saluting seagull piques her curiosity, especially when it addresses her by name. Warning Alice that they live in “perilous times,” the seagull reveals that animals are going missing in the school’s seaside town, Pebblehampton, and they need her help. Alice, it turns out, is a “Switcher”—someone with an affinity for animals and an ability to communicate with them. Switchers pledge to serve animals foremost, a task well-suited to empathetic Alice. Witty dialogue seasons the page-turning plot as Alice seeks to find and stop whatever is disappearing the animals, all while settling into the cozily appointed school, navigating her sensory sensitivities, and contending with bullies and interpersonal drama. Autistic author Kenny draws Alice’s experiences candidly and with nuance, while a self-accepting protagonist, clever conundrums, and an abundance of personality-packed talking animals give this boarding school mystery a classic feel. Ages 8–12. Agent: Lauren Gardner, Bell Lomax Moreton.