Year 9 welcomes best-selling author Elle McNicoll
Author Elle McNicoll gave a fascinating talk to Year 9 students about her books, characters and the importance of representing neurodiversity in the publishing industry.
After the joyous flurry in September 2024 of Year 7 activities based around Radhika Sanghani’s The Girl Who Couldn’t Lie, Year 9 enjoyed an hour with award-winning writer Elle McNicoll on Tuesday.
Hearing how Elle started out on her successful career as an author with an ambition to bring neurodivergent characters into good stories, Year 9 impressed her with their awareness of neurodivergence and their understanding of how unhelpful treating it as merely a business trend is – neurodivergence cannot be switched on and off on whim!
Both Radhika and Elle were able to inspire our students to consider career options as an author, journalist or screenwriter, or in related creative industries such as publishing and television and film. Key pieces of advice prompted by student questions included to read and write as often as possible and to believe in yourself, even when the going is tough.
Elle’s previous books have been hugely popular with our readers and Some Like it Cold – her latest title – proved no exception. We’re sure that Jasper will join Addy, Keedie, Cora and all the rest of Elle’s neurodivergent heroes as firm favourites for years to come.
Helen Stein, Head of Library and Archives
