Review Detail

Everything But Typical features 23 neurodivergent people who are noteworthy in their given professions. This nonfiction book intentionally features people of various races, ages, genders, professions, and neurodivergent diagnoses so that there is good representation.
Each biography describes the challenges and successes that have come from thinking differently. Some key takeaways are the support each person had from family to overcome and learn to adapt in a world that is not always easy. Many of the people also received therapy and tutoring to help adjust to physical and behavioral challenges. Terms that may be unfamiliar are explained in sidebars.
There is one black and white illustration at the beginning of each person’s biography. If you use the book for research and are only reading about one person, then the short chapters give a good introduction. However, I can see some readers who might want to read all the biographies. At that point, I would emphasize that more illustrations to break up the wall of text would be helpful.
Overall, the people featured are names Middle-Grade readers would know, like Simone Biles, Daniel Radcliffe, and Billie Eilish, to name a few. The tone is positive without negating the challenges that these people faced.