A neurodivergent person is defined as someone whose neurological development is atypical. This can include Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), among others. Brisbane YA author Anna Whateley is neurodivergent herself, with ASD and ADHD as well as Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD), and has drawn upon her experiences to write Peta Lyre’s Rating Normal; a funny, breezy YA queer romance novel with an important message.

Peta Lyre is a 16-year-old girl with ASD, ADHD and SPD. She takes a variety of medication throughout the day to keep her focused, and lives by rules her therapist taught her so that she can pass through life as a neurotypical person.

Peta lives with her aunt, with both parents no longer in the picture, and attends a TAFE-esque college in Brisbane with her best friend Jeb. With her routines, meds and rules, Peta makes it through each day pretty well. That’s until a new girl, Sam, befriends her. Peta is quickly smitten, and discovers that when it comes to love, sometimes it’s better to break the rules.

Peta is such a well-written protagonist. Her inner monologue is blunt and sardonic, but she’s also an extremely caring person who sometimes struggles to understand other people. Anna Whateley has nailed the tone of someone on the spectrum, as well as the anxiety and frustration that comes with trying to appear normal.

With neurodivergent people still misconstrued in media today, a book like Peta Lyre’s Rating Normal is absolutely vital. As a neurodivergent person myself, I wish I’d had a book like this as a teen – but reading it now is just as special.

Reviewed by Max Lewis
Age Guide 13+