This one was terrific, and a surprise read for me! I haven’t read anything else by this Australian author, but this is her fifth book. I found her writing style so easy to read and I was completely drawn into this story and these characters. It was fun to have some Australian words thrown in that I had to go look up!

There’s a mom, Julia, that I could so relate to with a husband who travels a lot and three busy kids along with a house to organize. Her teen daughter Milla has her first boyfriend and youngest child Ruby loves to dress up. And how can you have a great relationship with your husband when he’s gone so much?

The star of the book though is Jackson, the unusual boy. He’s 11 and has never been diagnosed. This brings up some interesting dilemmas and the desire by a lot of people that you need a label/diagnosis. It made me think more about how I would feel with a child like Jackson. He sometimes struggles to find the right words to express himself and can act out and he has some physical tics. You can imagine how many of the kids at school treat him.

There’s a situation at school with another boy that goes horribly wrong and my heart just breaks for the family. The police clearly do not know how to interact with Jackson and the school is very dismissive. The whole family is impacted, and I had my fingers crossed that things would somehow work out. There was a twist at the end that I did not see coming but makes perfect sense now that I think about it! I also really liked how Julia’s relationship with her mother-in-law developed throughout the book.

I really grew to care for Jackson and hoped that he could find happiness and that his whole family could continue to embrace how special he really is, what a great character! I think if you are a fan of the book/movie “Wonder” you would also enjoy this book.

Eleven year old Jackson Curtis is indeed an unusual boy. He has a phenomenal memory but thinks in a literal and linear way, often having trouble finding the words he needs to communicate. Labelled as 'neurodiverse' by the doctors who can’t quite diagnose his condition, he has trouble making friends and often has meltdowns when life gets too much for him. His mother Julia is a good and patient mother who finds parenting Jackson challenging and exhausting, particularly as she has also two other children, a part time job and a husband who is often absent, travelling overseas for work.

Having recently moved to a new suburb, Julia is pleased when Jackson makes a friend called Digby at his new school and is invited to his house for a play date. However, Jackson experiences something disturbing at Digby's house while the boys are playing a game on the internet and later at school when a serious incident involving both boys occurs the police are called in to investigate.

This a wonderful story, heart warming and often humorous with a range of well depicted characters, including Julia’s mother-in-law Nana Pam who helps the family and Dead Granny who Jackson talks to on his shoe phone. Jackson is a delightful child and it is easy to feel anxious for him as he struggles to tell the police and his mother what happened, while trying to keep his promise to Digby not to tell. Fiona Higgins’ sensitive treatment of Jackson is a reminder to all of us that there is no such thing as a 'normal' child and all children and their parents need to be treated with respect and compassion no matter what their ‘differences’. As Nana Pam says to Jackson's sister "Normal doesn't exist, darling" "It's just a cycle on the washing machine."

I am fumbling for words to describe how good this book is. I had not expected An Unusual Boy to be such a riveting read.

It is a novel about a special child in a world that prefers 'normal'.

Jackson is a special child, wise beyond his years and extremely intelligent but unable to articulate his thoughts sometimes. The book lucidly conveys his unique perspectives on the world and sensitively portrays the challenges encountered by children like him and their families.

Higgins has created a masterpiece in the form of the Curtis family. She brilliantly portrays the dynamics of every relationship in the family resulting in a character-driven story. Julia's unflinching support for her son, Jackson, Milla's support for her brother and mother, Andy's (Julia's husband) reluctance to deal with the difficult situations arising due to Jackson's special needs, and the frosty relationship between Julia and her mother-in-law—every minute detail kept me glued to the book.

In the first half of the book, Higgins sets up the scene for the disaster to occur on a particular Monday morning. It is the events that unfold after that Monday morning that elevate the book to a higher level.

Higgins maintains the tension throughout the novel. With Jackson being a character of interest in the said events, I had no choice but to be patient and wait for him to reveal what happened in his own time. Meanwhile, I (along with Julia) had my stomach in knots and was praying fervently for Jackson to have the courage to speak out. This is a testament of Higgins' writing prowess - she had me invested in the characters to such an extent.

An Unusual Boy by Fiona Higgins is a gripping, well-written, smoothly flowing tale of mystery. It is taut with suspense yet so heart-warming and inspirational.

The book arrested my attention from the first page and did not leave me until the last. Consequently, I read it in two days straight. It is also insightful and thought-provoking. It implores us to think differently about the 'different' people.
Highly recommended for lovers of mystery everyone.

Review To be published on my blog post publication of book.

An Unusual Boy by Fiona Higgins was an extraordinary story from the point of view of both this unusual boy, Jackson, and his mother. Seeing the world from Jackson’s point of view was eye opening. As a mother myself, it was a hard book to read due to the crisis that occurs and the misunderstandings that follow. You just want to reach in and explain the situation to the characters or to put a stop to the crisis in the first place. I would definitely recommend this book, but the content may be a trigger for those who have experienced sexual abuse.

An Unusual Boy was a such an emotional read for me. It took me a little while to get into it at first but then when the incident happened at school, I couldn't put the book down and needed to know how it was going to end.

The book focuses on two points of view, one from the mum Julia and the second from Jackson, the unusual boy in the story. Having Jackson's perspective helped me to understand how literal Jackson thought process was and how he ended up where he did. At times I was getting frustrated that no one was asking him the right questions but I had the benefit of knowing what had actually happened in the school toilets. I felt so much empathy for Julia and the emotions she went through, it was heartwrenching to read at times but really was such a powerful part of the book.

The side characters were all really likeable too, everyone in that family really understood Jackson (maybe not the dad as much but he was getting it towards the end). I thought Jackson was fortunate to have/had fantastic grandparents that really got him. And boys like Riley, do they really exist? Emotionally mature beyond their years if they do!

Great book and would highly recommend, loved it!

I’d like to thank Boldwood Books and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘An Unusual Boy’ by Fiona Higgins in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Eleven-year-old Jackson is different, his actions are unpredictable or as his mother Julia describes them ‘not quite right’. The experts are unable to give a definite diagnosis although neurodiversity has been suggested. His sisters Milla and Ruby adore him as does Julia, but everything is made so much harder with his father being overseas on business for weeks at a time. When an incident occurs in the girls’ toilets is Jackson responsible or is he a victim of his own honesty?

When I started reading ‘An Unusual Boy’ I found the first 25% slow-going and thoughts of giving up did enter my mind, but I’m so glad I didn’t as this is one of the most uplifting and heart-warming novels I’ve had the pleasure to read. I loved every single character, from Jackson, his mum Julia and sisters Milla and Ruby, to Riley and Miss Marion, all unique and fascinating. This book is exceptional, the story is compelling, it’s been written with sensitivity and compassion, and it has a lovely ending. I can wholeheartedly recommend it.

An Unusual Boy is an extraordinary story of a charming young boy, Jackson, who has a unique outlook on the world. A beautifully written novel, that touches on special children with extraordinary abilities. Wonderful and well described and thought of characters, make this an exceptional read.

Julia, Jackson's mum struggles, without the help of her husband, Andy, who is overseas for work, to keep the family together and maintain as much normality for Jackson as possible. Jackson's sisters, Milla and Ruby love him to bits and try their best to help.

Out of the blue, Jackson is accused of being involved in a disturbing incident at school, a serious crime..... Is he a victim or a perpetrator ??



Summary:
An interesting and brilliantly written book, a definite page-turner, that is bound to tug at your heart.

After Jackson visits a friend and is exposed to an online game in the alt-world things begin to happen. He takes a sensory break followed by Digby that is life-changing for him and his friend. His mother, already overwhelmed by caring for her diverse family is befriended by the trusted coach while her husband Steve remains out of town working making her parenting difficult. Jackson's two sisters provide charming interlude and boyfriend Riley is the best of the good guys. This book's complicated plot is ripe with interesting characters. Jackson, talented as a dancer is given a lead in the dance contest. His dance teacher is dedicated to her student. Grandmother Pamela remains a rock of support and dead grandmother is there thru the shoe to provide inspiration. Amazingly all these characters come together in the end to tell the true story of what happened in that restroom and who was responsible. Jackson's neurodiversity is finally diagnosed and the mysteries are solved. Thanks to #AnUnusualBoy#NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this exceptional book

jackson is an unusual boy

his mom and dad and his two sisters are use to him and his funny ways, but for others its a struggle and one that jackson has every day of his life

its hard for him to make friends as children can be nasty and make fun of his little ways....and he is quite a challenge for his teachers...

but all that changes when jackson follows his friend into the toilets and what follows is forever going to have repercussions to their lives....

i thought the author did brilliantly in this book highlighting in all the ways how children on the spectrum are treated and how challenging it can be having a child like jackson in the family

a well thought out story that will bring a tear to your eye...will be keeping an eye out for more of this authors works

I love this book! thought provoking and empowering, and really gets to grips with what it’s often like for a family dealing with an unusual child or
sibling.
But omg at times my heart was in my mouth reading this, worrying about the poor boy and his family and how his words were being misinterpreted.
(I’m struggling to remember names today, the brain fog is bad, they’ll come to me in a minute, hopefully)
There are some amazing characters in this and some unexpected twists, but it definitely reiterates the whole innocent until proven guilty, thing.
Having an unusual child of my own, ( Kye, has Aspergers and CU,) I found this really easy to relate too. I felt sorry for his mum, as she was still in that stage where she knows something is wrong with her boy but isn’t quite sure what. And then when the accusations are made, and she’s left questioning just what her boy is capable of, just heartbreaking!
But it also shows how good things can come out of the bad and makes us think about how we look at others and the misconceptions we form unfairly.
And it’s so beautifully written, it’s so easy to lose yourself in the story.
I could talk about this book for hours, but I’m not in the best place pain wise and fog wise right now, so I’ll keep it short and just say that this boom is definitely worth a read, and I’ll definitely be looking for more from this author in the future.

‘We’re not a normal family, are we?’

Meet Julia Curtis. Her husband Andy is often overseas for work, so most of the parenting of their three children falls on Julia’s shoulders. Five months ago, they moved from Erskineville to Queenscliff, to a house that needs doing up. Milla is fourteen, Jackson is eleven and Ruby is nine.

Jackson sees the world quite differently from his sisters and although he’s been described as ‘neurodiverse’ he does not have a definitive diagnosis.

The story shifts between Julia and Jackson. From Julia’s perspective, we see the challenges of parenting, of trying to balance the quite different needs of her children while trying to keep the family intact. From Jackson’s viewpoint, we have a unique perspective of the world. Julia is happy when Jackson makes friends with Digby from his soccer team, but Digby has his own challenges. And an incident in the school toilets changes everything. Different accounts of an incident lead to Jackson being removed from school and while finding the truth is important, it will be challenging.

There are several different strands to this story and I really enjoyed the way in which Ms Higgins draws them together. While Jackson and Julia are at the centre of the story, Milla and Ruby are well defined as is Nanna Pam (Julia’s mother-in-law).

I liked this novel for a number of reasons but particularly because of the way in which Jackson and his world are depicted.

‘Normal doesn’t exist, darling. It’s just a cycle on the washing machine.’

Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

The cover and blurb for this book really intrigued me so I had to give it a read!

I really liked how the author didn’t jump straight into the incident in the toilets, we are given chance to meet the characters, to learn a bit more about them and become invested in the outcome. I also enjoyed how the book alternated chapters between Julia and Jackson’s viewpoint.

I really enjoyed this book for it’s perspective on what it is like to live with, and as, a neurodiverse person. There are so many small things that you just wouldn’t consider, and this book helps to shine a light on some of these important issues. It was a gripping read, and I did not see the twist coming!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

An Unusual Boy is a moving, emotive and heart stopping read. It slowly sinks it's grip in you and doesn't let go, as you become deeply imbedded in the characters lives and their story. Absolutely fantastic read.

'Normal doesn’t exit darling, it's just a cycle on the washing machine'

An Unusual Boy is a story that is beautifully and sensitively written, I could not put this book down!

I absolutely fell in love with the character of this extraordinary little boy Jackson, who has an unique perception of the world. Jackson is different to other children and for mum Julia Curtis it is a daily challenge living with his neurodiversity but she loves him dearly and so does his siblings, Milla and Ruby. Jackson’s dad Andy is overseas a lot for work and Jackson misses him terribly.

Out of the blue Jackson is involved in a disturbing incident at school, a serious crime! Is he a victim or a perpetrator?

This is a story of a mother and her struggle to hold her family together not matter what happens. It is also a story of hope and loyalty and the dangers of children being unsupervised on the internet.

Wonderful characters, an exceptional read! One of the most moving and thought-provoking books I have read.


I wish to thank NetGalley & Boldwood Books for an advanced copy in return for an honest review

How have I never heard of Fiona Higgins before!? Such a brilliant storyteller. This story tore my heart out and stomped all over it. Such an emotional story. It is told from two points of view Jackson and his mother, Jules. This was a fantastic read. Not necessarily the subject matter but the writing and story-line itself. I found myself still reading till the middle of the night. This book made me appreciate how good I had it with my boys.

As a mother I could feel the panic, pain, sadness, etc that Julia was going through. It was emotionally taxing to read, but I could not put the book down. It is a very well written story and I was desperate to get to the end, while at the same time not wanting to leave Jackson, Jules and their story behind. I couldn't stop reading this this one...that's a sign of a great book. Highly recommend. All the stars.

This book is definitely one of my top ten reads of this year. Not my usual genre but WOW what a read. A slow starter but I could not put this book down. The story is about the Curtis family Julia the mother, her daughters Milla and Ruby and her son Jackson. Jackson has a very unique condition which sets him apart from everyone else. He is different. A tale of a mother's love for her special son. How she tries to keep her family together while dealing with remarks and actions of her son's teacher and many more. At times it was hard to read. I love Jackson a very special little boy. Beautifully written, poignant and really well researched. Jackson will stay in my thoughts long after I have turned the last page.
Thanks to Boldwood Books and Netgalley for the ARC in return for giving an honest review.

Jackson is an unusual boy 💕
I loved this book! When I started it I didn’t really know what to expect. It’s fairly slow to start but it kept me engaged throughout and I loved Jackson!
People don’t always fit into “the box” you expect and Jackson shows this perfectly. The content isn’t always the easiest to read but I loved how this came together!
I’ve just finished this at 1.13am as I couldn’t put it down.

Oh WOW. This may well be the best book I’ve read this year (as I’ve read over 100 books this year that is no small compliment) This novel spoke to me on so many levels. First as a neuro-diverse mother of two neuro-diverse children and also as a mother who has lived through the nightmare that no one can imagine ever happening to them.
The characterisation is glorious with Jackson leading the pack but also minor characters like Riley, Miss Marion and Pam who affect so many other characters in different ways and who you can literally see and hear throughout the novel.
The novel is a beautiful portrayal of maternal love and of the bonds that siblings have. How Julia pours out love to all three of her children despite being physically and mentally exhausted and having to deal with things no mother should have to deal with and how Milla, wise beyond her years is able to offer her mother emotional support and show unwavering love to Jackson.
The portrayal of Jackson’s neuro-diversity was so relatable for those of us who are diverse or are parenting a diverse child. Sadly the behaviour of Jackson’s 5th grade teacher and the headmistress of the grammar school is something we come up against all the time but funnily enough, our main support was a music teacher which isn’t far off a dance teacher like Miss Marion! Naturally creative people don’t need to ‘understand’ diverse minds, they just see them as part of the patchwork of humanity and celebrate the differences and the unique skills.
I know this is a one off novel and not a television series but I’d love to know what happened after we leave them.
5 stars isn’t enough for this book!

What an amazing book about Jackson, a young boy who is neurodiverse. The story is told by Jackson and his mother. Jackson has two sisters and a dad who works away a lot. When an incident happens at school it affects not just Jackson but his whole family.

I couldn’t put the book down and found Jackson’s story took me through so many emotions. His mother was incredible in her love and support for him. I think everyone should read this book perhaps then the world would be a better place for kids like Jackson.

This book was fantastic. I’ve not read anything like this before and thoroughly enjoyed it. Well researched and brilliantly written on a difficult topic.