Tornado Brain
by Cat Patrick (Author)
In this heartfelt and powerfully affecting coming of age story, a neurodivergent 7th grader is determined to find her missing best friend before it's too late.
Things never seem to go as easily for thirteen-year-old Frankie as they do for her sister, Tess. Unlike Tess, Frankie is neurodivergent. In her case, that means she can't stand to be touched, loud noises bother her, she's easily distracted, she hates changes in her routine, and she has to go see a therapist while other kids get to hang out at the beach. It also means Frankie has trouble making friends. She did have one--Colette--but they're not friends anymore. It's complicated.
Then, just weeks before the end of seventh grade, Colette unexpectedly shows up at Frankie's door. The next morning, Colette vanishes. Now, after losing Colette yet again, Frankie's convinced that her former best friend left clues behind that only she can decipher, so she persuades her reluctant sister to help her unravel the mystery of Colette's disappearance before it's too late.
A powerful story of friendship, sisters, and forgiveness, Tornado Brain is an achingly honest portrait of a young girl trying to find space to be herself.
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School Library Journal
Gr 6 Up--In this heartfelt coming-of-age mystery, Frankie is a 13-year-old twin from a sleepy, Washington state beach town who has one friend. Or rather, had one friend. Now Colette only wants to be friends with Frankie's sister, Tess. Tess is nice and sociable; Frankie is neurodiverse and struggles to read people. She works hard to moderate her behavior without taking medication, but noises are distracting, emotions are confusing, and even the sensation of clothes can easily irritate her. To Frankie, her brain twists and skips around like a tornado, so she loves learning about them. Tornado Alley is her favorite TV show, and the text is full of facts about tornadoes. Frankie has her routine and she is comfortable with it but then, just before the end of seventh grade, Frankie's world is shaken when Colette goes missing. Despite their falling out, Frankie is determined to extricate the truth from the clues left behind. The writing style in this novel is a bit jarring. It successfully mimics the way Frankie's brain works. The narration feels disjointed and jumps around in order to express the turmoil of Frankie's mind. While it helps the reader understand her, it can be challenging to read. Between this and the length, this is not a book for reluctant readers, which is unfortunate because the appeal is there. The characters are a strength in this story. Being a twin means that, even though Frankie is telling the story, there are two unique points of view presented: her own and Tess's. The different ways in which people can experience anger, hope, fear, and loss are beautifully explored. VERDICT This is an important book for readers and it will be a good general purchase for most libraries serving a middle grade population.--Claire Covington, Broadway High School, VA
Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.Review quotes
An Apple Most Anticipated Book of Spring 2020
A Junior Library Guild Pick
A 2021 Texas Lone Star Reading List Pick
★ "Frankie's first-person narration is spot-on as she describes her feelings about her attention-deficit and sensory-processing disorders and her Asperger's syndrome as well as her distaste for the medications that impair her thinking. . . This moving account of Frankie's emerging maturity—with extra challenges—is perfect. . . An intriguing mystery embedded within a richly insightful coming-of-age story." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review ★ "Patrick...has done a remarkable job of creating an unforgettable character in Frankie, who tells the story in her own idiosyncratic first person voice, which takes readers inside her head as she struggles with her many challenges. The result is a tour de force that readers will remember long after they have finished the book." —Booklist, starred review "Much of this upper middle grade novel's success is thanks not just to Frankie's nuanced portrayal, but to all the characters, who are written to be both beautiful and flawed, doing the best that they can under difficult circumstances. Author Patrick is adept at developing a seamless blend of genres, and this title is at once a coming-of-age tale, a family drama, and a mystery. . . Elementary and middle school librarians should recommend this title to fans of Rain Reign, John Green, and anyone who might see themselves reflected in Frankie." —School Library Connection, recommended review "Frankie's narration is solid and plausible, remaining credibly and creditably unyielding as she deals with the world in her own way rather than mapping onto neurotypical emotions . . . A brisk yet moving story that will satisfy lovers of friendship tales and hard-won growth." —The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books "A clever and suspenseful mystery where, in time-honored tradition, kids defy authority and solve the puzzle themselves. . . Frankie joins other memorable protagonists who are not neurologically typical, such as Willow in Counting by 7s and Rose in Rain Reign. . . The detailed setting and a strong cast of supporting characters, including the twins' exhausted mother and a kindly boy who like likes Frankie, make this a satisfying reading experience." —The Horn Book "The characters are a strength in this story . . . The different ways in which people can experience anger, hope, fear, and loss are beautifully explored. This is an important book." —School Library Journal
JUV028000 - Juvenile Fiction | Mysteries, Espionage, & Detective Stories
JUV039150 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Special Needs
Families
Family life
Missing children
Washington (State)
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder
Best friends
Asperger's syndrome
Sensory disorders
