Life Hacks For A Little Alien by Alice Franklin

 

Little Alien has always known she was different, particularly when she doesn't fit in at school. She often wonders if she really is from another planet. Could a six hundred-year-old manuscript that has never been translated give her the answers she's always looked for?

Life Hacks For A Little Alien by Alice Franklin is one of those quirky titles that caught my attention. Reading the synopsis only cemented my need to read this unconventional story.

We meet Little Alien as a toddler. From this early age, it's very obvious that she's different. Where Little Alien is convinced she must be from another planet, the reader quickly discerns that she's neurodivergent. We see Little Alien and her family struggle with unmet needs in mainstream education, leading to an unsuccessful attempt at homeschooling. I was filled with empathy as we followed Little Alien trying to cope with an education system that simply wasn't fit for purpose and reinforced her feelings of not belonging.

By chance, Little Alien sees a documentary about a manuscript that has never been translated although many people have tried. This sets her off on a quest to learn as much as possible about the origins of language and ciphers. Having promised so much at the start of the story, it was at this point that I felt the plot lost its way a little, leaving me feeling as if the quest to solve the riddle of the manuscript was padding for the greater issues at the beginning and end of the novel.

The final section of the story focuses on mental health and as with the section on education we see a commentary on how the current system fails the people in desperate need. I did feel that the conclusion where Little Alien found her place in society and similar people was a fitting one, reminding us that there is a place for every person if they are lucky enough to find it.

Life Hacks For A Little Alien by Alice Franklin will be published on 13th February 2025 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Quercus Books for a review copy.

Author Details

Alice Franklin lives and works in London. She has an MA in Creative Writing from the University of East Anglia. Life Hacks for a Little Alien is her debut novel.