Discussions about autism and women with autism are so rare in graphic format, so I'm very pleased to see this one available and in English. Dachez's journey through sexist diagnostic processes point to a larger problematic medical framework in which most of the things we know about autism and the spectrum are based on male profiles (when women present differently). Tender and eye-opening, this is an important contribution to literature and is vital for everyone to read.

The use of color throughout helps tell the story and educate readers without being didactic.. I especially appreciate how the book shows those with Autism as people first, but people with unique challenges that they can manage with support. It does not sugarcoat difficulties but does not imply Autism is some sort of disease needing to be cured. Above all, it emphasizes education, knowledge, and just talking to people with personal experiences. The informational back matter was also quite worth while.

After over 100 of lockdown this is the first story I have read. Given my passion for books I had expected that reading would be at the forefront of occupying me during the current climate but in fact it has been one of my struggles.

Invisible Differences in many ways felt comforting because Marguerite feelings felt like a reflection of my own. For a disclaimer, I do not have Asperger’s. However very much an introvert who can “pretend” at being social. I assume people mean what they say, I struggle with the unexpected and my life is lived by spoons due to my illness. (This will make sense when you read the book). As such this book felt very emotionally connected at times.

The storytelling of Invisible Differences is straightforward and linear. I especially liked that the narrator engaged with the reader at set points, for example with the repetition of the panels. It made Marguerite experience clear. The artwork of course complimented this, and the use of coloured panels to highlight anxiety was brilliant.

Invisible Differences is beautiful.

This graphic novel is the story of Marguerite and her invisible challenges. When she finds out about Asperger's syndrome, she sets up to find doctors that help her get an assessment. The diagnosis changes her life, explaining all her challenges and differences. And she finds out she's not alone.
I found this story informative, especially because girls often are not diagnosed as criteria are based on men, but also positive and pleasant to read. The illustrations are lovely, neat and expressive, and the text is concise and interesting. I liked the colour accents.
In UK the estimate is 1 child out of 100 in the autistic spectrum - this is a good way to raise awareness and remind ourselves that we should all be kinder to others, we don't know what life they're living.

Invisible Differences by Julie Dachez is a graphic novel, originally published in French and recently translated into English, that tells the story of Marguerite, a French women who struggles to cope with daily life. She finds solace in routines and quiet, much to the chagrin of her boyfriend, coworkers and even friends and family. Often, she feels overwhelmed by noise and craves intimacy but has a hard time achieving it. Even when she goes to the doctor to try and get a medical professional to support her needs after going to HR, she's all but laughed at and told that because she speaks eloquently, there couldn't be anything wrong with her. It's not until she starts researching her symptoms that she discovers the term Asperger's and is tested. Armed with that knowledge, she starts to make positive changes for herself and finds the friends and work-life balance she craves.

As someone who knows someone with Autism, it is enlightening to see the world from the perspective of an individual who is neurodivergent. I found it sad in places, especially when it was obvious Marguerite was trying so very hard to fit into her world and her efforts were dismissed or laughed at. But in the end, it is hopeful, because she finds she is not alone: that she has friends who understand her, doctors who acknowledge her diagnosis and support groups that help her make the changes she needs. I highly recommend this book for everyone but especially those newly diagnosed or family members or friends of those newly diagnosed, especially as the last quarter of the book gives some medical background on Asperger's and how it is handled throughout the world, especially in France.

Trigger Warning: There is a scene where Marguerite is attempting to help her neighbor and he forcibly kisses her. She fights him off and he verbally abuses her and accuses her of leading her on. This scene emphasizes that some neurodivergent people can be the victim of predators because they don't recognize the danger but it may cause issues with some readers.

Note: I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via NetGalley and the publishers.

This was so lovely. The story is told in a pretty straightforward way yet the writer still manages to make you connect and care about the main character. The art is simple yet conveys perfectly the surroundings. I felt like I was there, hearing what the main character was hearing. The story does a great job of showing the aggravating interactions the main character has to deal with on the daily. It manages to be educational while be entertaining. It's sad and it's hopeful and I think everyone could enjoy this.

Excellent own-voices graphic novel exploring the experiences of a young woman with undiagnosed Asperger's, her efforts to understand her neurological status, and her resulting commitment to both live her best life and increase awareness in her native France about autism. The narrative is clean, compelling, and sympathetic. The artwork is appealing, if sometimes overly generic (for example, at times it is unclear which blonde female character is which if they are outside their usual settings). I would strongly recommend this book for teenagers and adults.

I'm not sure what made this graphic novel memoir of a young woman with Asperger's (Autism Spectrum Disorder) special, but I connected with it more than similar graphically told memoirs of navigating a world that doesn't get you. There's something special about it.

The storyline itself is pretty typical -- our protagonist runs into challenging situations with dating and work where people tell her she just shouldn't feel the way she ways and to get over her anxieties. When she Googles her symptoms, gets tested and receives an official diagnosis of Asperger's, she is elated. She finally understands what's been going on all these years and why she seems out of sync with everyone around her. But those around her still don't get it. The reactions of friends, colleagues, and even strangers to her news is frustrating. Her steady persistence, curiosity and desire to help lets the reader feel like they're part of her journey. I love the hope and kindness that permeates the book.

What put the book over the top for me was the appendix-type material after the main story with a bit about the history of Asperger's, strategies for "Aspies" themselves as well as those who interact with them, and important facts, such as that women with Asperger's are at much higher risk of sexual assault because they have challenges recognizing predatory behavior.

Grade: A

#InvisibleDifferences #NetGalley

This graphic novel was an impressive read, and partly educational!
The protagonist takes us into her world and what it is like to live with Asperger, in my case I did not know much about it, but this novel has helped me to know how someone who suffers from it lives it day by day.

Each page keeps your attention since the same protagonist is of great interest, at the same time it is a fun story, and it takes little time to read it completely.

It is an ideal book for those who do not know much about the syndrome and want to know what the life of someone suffering from it is like, a book for adolescents and adults, since it requires certain mental maturity to understand it.

The illustrations were a great accompaniment and made it more unforgettable.

4/5 stars

Thank you to Netgalley for providing this e-arc!

I really enjoyed this graphic novel. The art style was nice and simple. The messages it tried to conveyed were done well. The information at the end was really helpful and very much appreciated

I received this arc from Netgally in an exchange for an honest review.

A must read for everyone! Powerful and compelling story about a 30 year old woman who goes through life without a proper diagnosis making her life more difficult than is actually necessary.
I love reading about strong women, but having our main character in the autistic spectrum doing her best to safe herself from this "normal" society is just so empowering, and it's based on a true story!
Absolutely love the art and the colour usage to give us the idea of anxiety to relaxation, the colour pallet helps to get in to Marguerite emotions. I like how they changed her clothes little by little so we can see how she's changing and feeling more comfortable in her own skin. The delicate soft lines are eye pleasing so you can enjoy this incredible story in just one go!

My only criticism is that at te back of the book where you can find more information about Asperger's syndrome there's no mention of Grunya Sukhareva, which I believe was the very first person to define and identify it. She called it "Autistic Psychopathy" back in 1925!! I know it would probably break the balance of the book as in order to mention her you'd have to also say that Hans Asperger allegedly chose not to mention her name as she was Jewish and he was affiliated with the Nazi party, we might need to leave controversies out of this gem of a book.
Highly recommend as I strongly believe that this book will help bringing awareness of the Asperger syndrome in adults.

The broad premise of Invisible Differences — an adult woman is diagnosed with autism — is the kind of concept that I immediately know is either going to be amazing or horrific. If you’ve read any of my other reviews of autistic media, you know I am incredibly picky about autistic characters and the ways in which they are presented. There are several recent romance novels from autistic authors that I refuse to read because they’re steeped in self-hatred and internalized ableism. I fight that enough in my own life, I don’t need it in my fiction. Even though Invisible Differences was written by an autistic author, I steeled myself the same way I would before I looked at any piece of fiction with autism involved. I was delighted to find out I hadn’t needed to.

The back copy from Invisible Differences:

Marguerite feels awkward, struggling every day to stay productive at work and keep up appearances with friends. She’s sensitive, irritable at times. She makes her environment a fluffy, comforting cocoon, alienating her boyfriend. The everyday noise and stimuli assaults her senses, the constant chatter of her coworkers working her last nerve. Then, when one big fight with her boyfriend finds her frustrated and dejected, Marguerite finally investigates the root of her discomfort: after a journey of tough conversations with her loved ones, doctors, and the internet, she discovers that she has Aspergers. Her life is profoundly changed – for the better.

It’s important to talk about how this book frames autism in its narrative, and to acknowledge that this story has an autistic main character but is also an inherently autistic story. But I want to be clear about something: I love this book on its own merits. It’s an incredible story about a woman who gains self-knowledge that allows her to become a more powerful, more complete, happier person who is living a fuller life. That in and of itself makes the book great. That autism is the lynch pin to her self-awareness isn’t the point of the book — it’s just true for Marguerite.

Trigger warnings: several people make ableist comments regarding autism to Marguerite and they tend to come in clumps, which makes it difficult to get through several pages of the book. If you want to read the book but need to avoid that bit, watch out for pages that are solid text. That’s where the roughest parts are. Marguerite also experiences unwanted sexual advances that progress to the point of an attempt at a kiss. She is blamed for the experience and is shamed for not realizing that the individual was flirting with her.

Marguerite in Invisible Differences
As the back copy says, Marguerite’s life is based around routines. She tries very hard to do what other people do and what other people want her to do outside of her routines, but it is distressing, difficult, and often not worth the trouble. Her boyfriend in particular is always trying to get her to go out after work, go out with his friends, go to a weekend away with his best friends. She tries.

I identified so much with this part of Marguerite. I was diagnosed in my late 30s, at the same time as my daughter. Before that diagnosis, I lived in a world I didn’t understand and was perpetually upsetting, constantly too loud and bright, and where people expected things from me that I did not understand.

The art, especially the use of color, by Mademoiselle Caroline does so much to tell Marguerite’s story. In the beginning of the book, everything is black and white except for the sensory onslaught that Marguerite faces every moment. Noise is red. Talk is red. As Marguerite becomes more and more stressed, the panels shift from a soft pink haze to bright, overwhelming red.

Red background with two black and white figures kneeling on the ground. The text is various apologies from Marguerite
Marguerite panics on the way to a weekend away with Florian.
Every once in a while, when Marguerite is very calm and in a very safe place, the panel immediately around her becomes yellow. But that almost never happens.

What’s familiar about Marguerite?
I suspect that most autistic people, late diagnosed or not, will recognize many of Marguerite’s mannerisms and behaviors. She is often overly formal with her language; she follows a strict routine; she has a limited diet due to food sensitivities and allergies; she has social anxiety; she doesn’t understand a lot of euphemisms and analogies; she has significant hypervigilance (specifically regarding sensitivities to sensory input). Some of the more well-known markers include a difficulty understanding non-literal language and formal speech patterns, because the stereotypes come from somewhere.

What feels fresh about Marguerite?
Marguerite is confused and frustrated by the world around her. She doesn’t understand why she seems to be missing cues or not responding the way people want her to. With her boyfriend, Florian, she tries to do the things he wants her to – parties, nights out, a weekend to visit his best friend – but she is consistently overwhelmed. What’s pleasantly surprising is the complete lack of self-hatred that occurs due to this. She doesn’t know why her life is like this, she doesn’t want it to be like this, but she also doesn’t blame herself for it. It is curiosity, not self-loathing, and that is a rare thing in these stories.

Two panels, both featuring Marguerite who is in black and white.
Marguerite studies herself.
When Marguerite gets her diagnosis, she is so delighted and happy. I found myself remembering Hannah Gadsby’s words, that she was handed “the keys to the city of me.” Marguerite’s cartwheels were a mirror of my own delight at finally, for the first time, getting a grasp on the beauty in the way I think.

I cannot explain how few characters there are in autistic literature that are happy to be diagnosed as autistic.

What happens when Marguerite is diagnosed?
Marguerite’s quest to get a diagnosis occurs after she has a full blown panic attack when trying to go to visit friends of her dirtbag boyfriend Florian for a weekend. She begins to search for information on her level of social anxiety and sensory sensitivity. The internet rapidly leads her towards suggestions of how autism presents in people who are AFAB (specifically white, because the intersection of race and autism isn’t even remotely understood). She begins a quest to get an official diagnosis and is eventually told that yes – she has Asperger’s Syndrome. (Quick note: Asperger’s is no longer a diagnosis in the DSM5. In the context of how autism is viewed in France [poorly] the book’s usage of the term makes sense, but I hate it. More on that down below.)

Marguerite jumps with joy after receiving her diagnosis
Marguerite’s joy (Invisible Differences page 123)
At this point, many stories involve a magical transformation. The character is just automatically better; the people in their lives are accepting of their neurodivergence, they are suddenly socially adept in their own way, and their “special interests” (I hate that term so much I wish I could light it on fire with my brain) are just fine with all their friends.

Invisible Differences doesn’t take the easy way out, and I respect it so damn much for that. Marguerite tries to talk to her work about accommodations; they are barely willing to go through the motions of helping her. There are several pages of the various harmful and stereotypical things people say to autistic people (which are potentially very triggering; proceed with caution through this section), and some of Marguerite’s friends fall away from her life. She struggles to figure out what her diagnosis means in terms of her place in the world.

Marguerite does come through this dark tunnel of misunderstandings and frustration. One of the most delightful journeys is how Marguerite begins to connect with other autistic people, creating a community of people who think like her, who understand her brain, and who accept her for who she is. Yes, that’s an idealistic version of autistic groups, because autistic people are still people and sometimes people are jerks, and sometimes people don’t get along – but it’s also true that my life changed for the better when I started building friendships with people who were also autistic. People who were comfortable having conversations by text, who didn’t freak out when I occasionally went mute, or who understood that sometimes it was impossible for me to leave the house because the world was just too hard. I have also met people who were willing to meet me in the middle, making the kind of accommodations that let me feel safer in other spaces.

Throughout this section, Mademoiselle Caroline’s use of color was so incredible that I will happily put her on the same level as Triona Farrel, a colorist so talented that I will buy a comic I have never otherwise heard of just to see her work. The world around Marguerite gradually begins to color itself in. The shades are faint at first, light and barely there, and then slowly becoming a fully textured world that Marguerite can inhabit with uninhibited joy. While I can’t speak to the process of adaptation, the artistic decisions made here to work within this medium are beautifully executed – this is a use of the medium that few use to any great effect, and here it is spectacular.

What did Invisible Differences get right?
There’s a lot about this book I adore. Marguerite is truly traumatized by what she has lived through as an undiagnosed autistic person, and she has to recover from that as she begins to move forward. She works to connect with new people in ways she would not have done before she was diagnosed. She is a fleshed out person, and while some of her behaviors are familiar to readers of such fiction (and real-life people with similar difficulties), she is a character, not a cipher or a checklist of ASD traits. It’s not that these hyper-literalist language skills aren’t present in some autistic people; it’s that every single damn depiction of us uses these characteristics, so seeing it can feel off-putting when it isn’t treated respectfully – and here, it very much is.

The last 25 pages or so of the book involve discussions of what autism is, and isn’t. At first this seemed a little strange to me – until I read the small section on how autism and autistic people are treated in France. Invisible Differences was originally published in French in 2016; France has been described as “50 years behind” other countries in how it handles autism. That article is a hard, triggering read. Bring a weighted blanket if you’re going to read it. I’m not kidding. The fact that this book was published in France makes it so shockingly important that it takes my breath away.

But the best part of this book? Marguerite dumps her crappy dirtbag boyfriend. She deserved better than him from page 1. I cheered when it happened. Also, that yellow that denoted her joy in the early sections of the book? Yeah, when Marguerite dumps Florian’s bullshit ass, her word bubbles are bright yellow.

Where did Invisible Differences stumble?
No book is perfect, and everyone has a different experience of representation. There were a few places, though, where I got a little frustrated.

The use of Asperger’s Syndrome instead of autism. Asperger’s was removed from the DSM5 along with several other conditions that were consolidated into autism. Some doctors still offer a diagnosis of Asperger’s, though, feeling like it’s “less serious” than “real autism.” Some people still hold to their identities as Aspies. Personally, I detest the term because it gets used by the same people who use “high-functioning” as though it were a capstone of personal achievement, and because Hans Asperger was a Nazi who promoted his little professor stereotype as part of a eugenics program. (Check out Neurotribes for more information).
When Marguerite is diagnosed, she is delighted by her diagnosis. Yay! She envisions herself as a puzzle piece falling into place. Ah, damnit. The puzzle piece image has been used as a symbol of Autism Speaks, a group that has proclaimed itself the High Imperial Council of Autism for decades and is more interested in removing autistic people from the world than creating an accepting, accommodating world for the autistic people in it. The puzzle piece has become associated with negative ideas about autism, such as us having a piece missing, or that we are something to be figured out by others instead of being our own individual selves. The autistic community is not unified in its hatred of the puzzle piece, but I’m comfortable saying that the vast majority of autistic people at least dislike it. I’ll gladly take the rainbow infinity symbol, please and thank you.
And that’s it. Any book about an autistic character where I have two nits to pick is incredibly rare, especially when the two concerns I have make sense within the conversation the book is having.

About the creative team

This is an ownvoices book by an autistic author, which is still a rare beast in the world. Julie Dachez is an author, an artist, and has even had a TedTalk about autism. Until I read this book, I was completely unfamiliar with her work parce-que je parle un peux de français, mais c’est très, très un peu. Désolé, Papa (because I speak a little French, but it’s very very little. Sorry, Dad). She makes me want to get back to fluent French just so I can watch her channel.

I had more trouble finding details to share about Mademoiselle Caroline, the brilliant artist on Invisible Differences. Her webpage showcases fantastic cartoons and she’s done a great deal of lovely work…in French.

I’m glad this book exists, and I’m so glad I got to read it.

Preorder Invisible Differences in English at Amazon and IndieBound.

I received a PDF copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was an amazing book! I absolutely loved it! It dealt with the difficulties of being autistic and having aspergers's syndrome in a great way. I enjoyed reading about Marguerite's journey into discovering she has asperger's and how she dealt with it. The artwork was charming and the story was heartwarming. Overall this is a fantastic read for anyone and I would highly recommend it!

The society has not been kind to Marguerite. She knew she was different and when she found out she has Aspergers, this has become a great news for her.

The story felt very personal to me. But this book wouldn't be as great as it was if Mademoiselle Caroline wasn't able to show Marguerite's feeling through her art. I can feel all the emotion of the main character on every page.

The graphic novel was very interesting. I learned about autism but also about Asperger. I really loved Marguerite as a character!!
Thank you yo Netgalley for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review

This was interesting due to the fact that it is set i France, which has lagged behind many countries on their treatment of neurodiverse individuals. The art is excellent, but the story is straightforward. It would be interesting to read this in French to see if the translation has affected the voice of the book.

This graphic novel was so sweet. I loved seeing my sister being represented on the page of this book. I think that it showed what it is like to be autistic very well and all of the attributes and emotions that come with it. My sister has experienced a lot of what this character dealt with and I think the representation was very well done. I think this is an informative and cute graphic novel.

The illustrations are not only innovative but something new. The build up is very engaging and how the main character finds herself and Asperger's issue is dealt with a new perspective with the help of graphic novels. The black and white combo with colour coming in later brings in the new style of graphic novels. This is such a good read for young children and for adults falling in the bracket of 20-30 years old. I find it to be a necessary catalyst to keep its point across. The illustrations just take my breath away and truly our the life and soul of the graphic novel. Do read this one

This was a well written book and I enjoyed it. I picked this one because I have a daughter that was diagnosed at 14 with Autism Spectrum disorder which is a lot older then usual and my biggest worry is her living with this as an adult. This book is so much more then Autism and adulting it is seeing yourself for who you are.

This was a really beautiful graphic novel about the reality of living with Asperger's Syndrome / high functioning autism. Marguerite is 30 - she loves her cats, she has a boyfriend and a job. She finds social situations really uncomfortable and exhausting. She doesn't really understand what people mean when they talk sometimes. After being laughed at by her GP, she finally gets a diagnosis of Asperger's Syndrome and everything changes.

I found Marguerite's story heartbreaking but ultimately uplifting. It's so sad that so many people, especially women, go for so long thinking that there's something wrong with them. The story is straightforward and the artwork was really clean and clear and gave the script more impact.

The ARC of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.