Beautiful artwork and a very well done story about what it is like to have Asperger’s.

A wonderful memoir about a young French woman coming to understand herself and her ASD diagnosis in the face of ignorance and discrimination. A good introduction to some of the experiences of autism and a heartwarming story about finding community.

It was an interesting and informative read. I think it's a great book to help people understand what Asperger's is like and how they can perhaps help someone on the spectrum. Moreover, it can be great for someone on the spectrum to read about a protagonist who encounters similar issues in their daily life.
The downside of this book is that I did not really connect with the main character. While I understood her struggles and could somewhat relate to some of the situations, I did not develop a deep love for her. This might be due to the fact that the story is relatively short (since it's a graphic novel) and because there are quite some time jumps in the book which make the book quick paced, but also makes me feel a bit distanced from the main character. I was hoping for a more personal connection with the main character but this seems to be more of an educational read. As an educational read it's great though.

In short:
+ Informative
+ Quick read
- Felt distanced from the main character

“For Marguerite, getting around is a real ritual; she hates unforeseen events, she hates them”.

That just flew by....
This comic was first published in France and only translated to English this year.
It's written by a Julie who was diagnosed with Aspergers as an adult; as part of her awareness campaign for Autism and Aspergers.

Truly enlightening!

I love how the art starts out all dull and brightness up as the MC becomes more comfortable with herself.

*I received this copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*

It’s an interesting and intelligent way to get people to think about how some people were in our society live in a different way and that is totally fine. Good idea.

So thankful for this ARC from Netgalley to read and review! Invisible Differences is a beautifully illustrated graphic novel about 27 year old Marguerite who is just a bit different from everyone around her. The struggles she goes through and the process of self discovery she goes on is satisfying and hopeful. I think there are a lot of misconceptions about Aspergers and the Autism spectrum, and as a teacher it's important for me to have a deeper understanding about these things. I highly recommend this book for everyone. The story developed at a steady pace, and I wish it was a little more in depth some places, but I still enjoyed it. The use of color was brilliant! I love the illustration style, and it was a joy to look at.

With lovely art style and a story told with compassion, Invisible Differences is about a woman in her late 20's being diagnosed with Asperger's in a country that doesn't give it much credence where misinformation is rife. While Marguerite's story is centred around autism, this is a story that anyone with a form of neuro-divergence can recognise themselves in and find a bit of comfort in seeing Marguerite triumph.

It is also wonderful as an educational tool to explain what living with ASD (or generally being neuro-atypical, or having a chronic condition) is like in a way that isn't condescending or light-footed. It's perfect to evoke an empathy and understanding in others who may not have first hand experience of conditions like this. To those of us who have, Dachez leaves us a heartwarming note at the beginning of the book to remind us we shouldn't hold ourselves to the standards of others and to live our lives without fear. Something we could all do with being reminded of now and then.

I see a lot of myself in Marguerite: sensitive to noise, drained by social interactions and the spoon theory as well as some of the negative interactions she goes through before officially receiving her diagnosis. The uplifting outcome is all the better for knowing this is a true story of the author and her artist friend.

This has been a translation from a French original and I didn't detect any jilted phrases along the way so excellent in every respect.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for offering an ARC (Advanced Readers Copy) in exchange for honest reviews.

You can also read this review on my external blog, Aspects of Me: https://aspectsof.me/2020/05/15/read-invisible-differences/

Finalmente consegui ler esta obra traduzida. É adorável.

Je me souviens pas d'avoir lu un aussi bon livre depuis un long moment. Un livre sur le respect mutuel, et ce, peu importe nos différences. Tout est calculé, tout est réfléchi (notamment la graduation des couleurs des illustrations). Pendant la lecture, je me sentais tellement révoltée et frustrée des comportements de l'entourage de Marguerite. Un rappel qu'il faut s'aimer et s'apprécier tous et chacun, dans nos similarités et nos différences.

Absolutely magical and charming book which gives a really good insight into what it's like to be autistic - it details the journey from pre-knowing to post-diagnosis and captures so well the ableist responses of people as she shares her diagnosis with the people around her. A brilliant read and would recommend highly!