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Rules for Camouflage
Atypical meets Every Last Word in this relatable and heartfelt coming of age story about a neurodivergent teen navigating school, friendships and first love.
Evvie Chambers is doing her best to skate through the last month of high school to graduation. The only thing standing in her way is a biology report on foxes—and her teacher, Mrs. Audrey Dearborn. The same Mrs. Dearborn who’s been a thorn in Evvie’s side for years, refusing to acknowledge or accommodate her neurodiversity. Evvie would much rather be doing her report on Aretha, the octopus she cares for when she volunteers at the Minnesota Zoo but deviating from the exact assignment isn’t allowed—and Mrs. Dearborn isn’t going to make following the rules easy.
Evvie’s only escape from high school hell is the Lair: a safe haven for kids whose brains need some time away. But when Mrs. Dearborn refuses Evvie’s pleas to finesse the final report assignment to her strengths, and persistent bully Vandal McDaniel directs his harassment toward Lair members, Evvie finds herself more desperate than ever for stability and support.
When a shocking act of violence pushes the whole mess over the edge, Evvie, with the help of her friends and the others who love her, will have to figure out how to find her place in the wide world, while remaining true to herself.
Evvie Chambers is doing her best to skate through the last month of high school to graduation. The only thing standing in her way is a biology report on foxes—and her teacher, Mrs. Audrey Dearborn. The same Mrs. Dearborn who’s been a thorn in Evvie’s side for years, refusing to acknowledge or accommodate her neurodiversity. Evvie would much rather be doing her report on Aretha, the octopus she cares for when she volunteers at the Minnesota Zoo but deviating from the exact assignment isn’t allowed—and Mrs. Dearborn isn’t going to make following the rules easy.
Evvie’s only escape from high school hell is the Lair: a safe haven for kids whose brains need some time away. But when Mrs. Dearborn refuses Evvie’s pleas to finesse the final report assignment to her strengths, and persistent bully Vandal McDaniel directs his harassment toward Lair members, Evvie finds herself more desperate than ever for stability and support.
When a shocking act of violence pushes the whole mess over the edge, Evvie, with the help of her friends and the others who love her, will have to figure out how to find her place in the wide world, while remaining true to herself.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published June 18, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
June 17, 2024
I LOVE THIS BOOK! From the neurodivergent characters and the beautiful support they receive from adults around them to the incredible friendship with an octopus, I was immediately in love with everything about this and the love affair continues even after the last page! SO good!
July 17, 2024
Rules for Camouflage is a wonderful story of self discovery and acceptance! Evvie was a great character and I truly enjoyed getting to know her! The relationship between her and her mother was one of my favorite parts! Reading about her struggles and triumphs you really can't help but feel emotional at times! One of the other things I loved about this book is the love and support that the characters received from friends and adults! This is a great addition to the neurodivergent literature genre and a fantastic read for many young readers! Thank you Novl, Kirstin Cronn-Mills and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for sharing this book with me!
March 6, 2024
Thank you Netgalley and Little Brown Books for Young Readers for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
"Rules for Camouflage" by Kirstin Cronn-Mills offers a heartfelt and relatable coming-of-age story centered around Evvie Chambers, a neurodivergent teen navigating the challenges of high school, friendships, and first love. This book is just so honest and authentic. I absolutely liked Evvie’s perspective and learning more about how her “weird brain” (as she describes it) works as well as the other characters in the book. There is so much diversity within this book, and the author is careful not to include any labels, presumably because neurodivergence can be such a spectrum, and this allows readers to connect with the characters even if they themselves don’t have a label.
Evvie's inner world is portrayed as a wonderful and glorious place, providing you with a unique glimpse into her mind. Despite facing obstacles, including a power-tripping and challenging teacher, Mrs. Dearborn, Evvie remains resilient as she strives to find her place in a world that often fails to accommodate her neurodiversity. The book beautifully captures Evvie's struggles and triumphs. Her journey is one of self-discovery and acceptance, as she learns to navigate the complexities of school, friendships, and bullies like Vandal. There is just so much acceptance and love throughout the book, like with Evvie’s friend Hugh (also known as Blue) as well as Evvie’s mother, who is also neurodivergent. I especially love the relationship between Evvie and her mother as they are both neurodivergent and similar in many ways, so they are able to understand one another. They communicate, they give each other space, and I just loved their mother-daughter relationship. I would also love to give a shout-out to the cat, Popcorn, who was also given an (imagined) voice that felt very authentic for a cat. As a fellow cat owner, I just loved the addition of Popcorn and her inner voice.
As the story unfolds, you are taken on a rollercoaster of emotions, from moments of joy and camaraderie within the Lair, a safe haven for neurodivergent students, to heartbreaking acts of violence that push Evvie to the edge. There is a powerful message in the book that, unfortunately in today’s society, there are still moments where you have to mask, where you have to put on your camouflage in order to simply survive, but it’s completely acceptable and encouraged to act as your authentic self when in a comfortable environment surrounded by those who love you and understand you. I am so thankful that this book explores this message with having the Lair in a school space, which is something I think all schools should have in order to make life bearable for anyone at school. While the actions of Mrs. Dearborn seemed a bit too extreme at times as well as some of the acts of violence depicted in the book, I know that there are teachers just like her in the real world, that there are those in power who take advantage of and break down those who aren’t neurotypical. With the support of her friends and loved ones, Evvie is able to find the strength to remain true to herself and carve out her own path in the world.
"Rules for Camouflage" is an absolutely necessary addition to the genre of neurodivergent literature, offering a refreshing perspective and reminding readers of the importance of acceptance and understanding. Cronn-Mills' storytelling is both relatable and impactful, making this book a must-read for anyone seeking a coming-of-age tale with a neurodivergent perspective.
"Rules for Camouflage" by Kirstin Cronn-Mills offers a heartfelt and relatable coming-of-age story centered around Evvie Chambers, a neurodivergent teen navigating the challenges of high school, friendships, and first love. This book is just so honest and authentic. I absolutely liked Evvie’s perspective and learning more about how her “weird brain” (as she describes it) works as well as the other characters in the book. There is so much diversity within this book, and the author is careful not to include any labels, presumably because neurodivergence can be such a spectrum, and this allows readers to connect with the characters even if they themselves don’t have a label.
Evvie's inner world is portrayed as a wonderful and glorious place, providing you with a unique glimpse into her mind. Despite facing obstacles, including a power-tripping and challenging teacher, Mrs. Dearborn, Evvie remains resilient as she strives to find her place in a world that often fails to accommodate her neurodiversity. The book beautifully captures Evvie's struggles and triumphs. Her journey is one of self-discovery and acceptance, as she learns to navigate the complexities of school, friendships, and bullies like Vandal. There is just so much acceptance and love throughout the book, like with Evvie’s friend Hugh (also known as Blue) as well as Evvie’s mother, who is also neurodivergent. I especially love the relationship between Evvie and her mother as they are both neurodivergent and similar in many ways, so they are able to understand one another. They communicate, they give each other space, and I just loved their mother-daughter relationship. I would also love to give a shout-out to the cat, Popcorn, who was also given an (imagined) voice that felt very authentic for a cat. As a fellow cat owner, I just loved the addition of Popcorn and her inner voice.
As the story unfolds, you are taken on a rollercoaster of emotions, from moments of joy and camaraderie within the Lair, a safe haven for neurodivergent students, to heartbreaking acts of violence that push Evvie to the edge. There is a powerful message in the book that, unfortunately in today’s society, there are still moments where you have to mask, where you have to put on your camouflage in order to simply survive, but it’s completely acceptable and encouraged to act as your authentic self when in a comfortable environment surrounded by those who love you and understand you. I am so thankful that this book explores this message with having the Lair in a school space, which is something I think all schools should have in order to make life bearable for anyone at school. While the actions of Mrs. Dearborn seemed a bit too extreme at times as well as some of the acts of violence depicted in the book, I know that there are teachers just like her in the real world, that there are those in power who take advantage of and break down those who aren’t neurotypical. With the support of her friends and loved ones, Evvie is able to find the strength to remain true to herself and carve out her own path in the world.
"Rules for Camouflage" is an absolutely necessary addition to the genre of neurodivergent literature, offering a refreshing perspective and reminding readers of the importance of acceptance and understanding. Cronn-Mills' storytelling is both relatable and impactful, making this book a must-read for anyone seeking a coming-of-age tale with a neurodivergent perspective.
June 17, 2024
**This book was sent to me by Little Brown and NOVL.**
There was so much I wanted to love about this book. I love books that feature neurodivergent characters and I think they are much needed in a diverse bookshelf. I liked the inclusion of Evvie's special interest being octopus and I liked learning about them through her character. I also though the Lair was such a cool concept and a really necessary safe space for young people in real life.
What did not click for me in this book was the protagonist, Evvie. I understand that the story was told through her perspective, but I felt that at times it lacked some detail to really help the reader understand her motivations. For example, she has such an aversion to completing Dearborn's assignment just...because she doesn't want to? She begins the story absolutely hating Dearborn and there didn't seem to be any reason behind it until the end and I'm not sure that it was fully realized for the reader until that point either. Also, the fact that Evvie skipped sophomore year was just glossed over and I would have liked that part to be more fully developed because I really think it would make Evvie's decisions and rules of engagement in school during her senior year much more clear.
Overall, the premise for this book was interesting and had a lot of elements I could have liked, but the main character was not one that I connected with. Maybe I am not in the target demographic for this book, being mostly neurotypical myself, but, being a general education teacher with experience with all types of students, it will definitely be something that I share with them in my classroom library.
There was so much I wanted to love about this book. I love books that feature neurodivergent characters and I think they are much needed in a diverse bookshelf. I liked the inclusion of Evvie's special interest being octopus and I liked learning about them through her character. I also though the Lair was such a cool concept and a really necessary safe space for young people in real life.
What did not click for me in this book was the protagonist, Evvie. I understand that the story was told through her perspective, but I felt that at times it lacked some detail to really help the reader understand her motivations. For example, she has such an aversion to completing Dearborn's assignment just...because she doesn't want to? She begins the story absolutely hating Dearborn and there didn't seem to be any reason behind it until the end and I'm not sure that it was fully realized for the reader until that point either. Also, the fact that Evvie skipped sophomore year was just glossed over and I would have liked that part to be more fully developed because I really think it would make Evvie's decisions and rules of engagement in school during her senior year much more clear.
Overall, the premise for this book was interesting and had a lot of elements I could have liked, but the main character was not one that I connected with. Maybe I am not in the target demographic for this book, being mostly neurotypical myself, but, being a general education teacher with experience with all types of students, it will definitely be something that I share with them in my classroom library.
June 17, 2024
Evvie is just trying to get through the last few weeks of her senior year, and she doesn't understand why Mrs. Dearborn insists that she deliver her final biology report about foxes instead of her beloved octopus. Who cares that an octopus isn't a mammal? Evvie's favorite creature is Aretha, the super-smart octopus from the Minnesota Zoo, where she volunteers, and she doesn't understand why everyone wouldn't want to learn about her.
Evvie finds safety in "the Lair," a quiet space one of the teachers has cleared for her and other students who need a timeout sometimes, and in addition to navigating the challenges life and school throw their way, the students must also navigate bullying from other students on campus. But they navigate the challenges together, finding strength in their community and themselves.
I loved the representation of neurodivergent students, but the portrayal of the adults in the novel felt really unrealistic. Perhaps I have been lucky in working at schools that have a more empathetic attitude toward neurodivergent students, but I found it hard to believe so few adults were willing to step in and help these kids with the blatant bullying (from teachers and students). I also feel uncomfortable recommending the book to my audience (teachers who recommend books to students within their classrooms) because of the amount of profanity (including the oft-repeated motto "Hop off my wang").
Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
Evvie finds safety in "the Lair," a quiet space one of the teachers has cleared for her and other students who need a timeout sometimes, and in addition to navigating the challenges life and school throw their way, the students must also navigate bullying from other students on campus. But they navigate the challenges together, finding strength in their community and themselves.
I loved the representation of neurodivergent students, but the portrayal of the adults in the novel felt really unrealistic. Perhaps I have been lucky in working at schools that have a more empathetic attitude toward neurodivergent students, but I found it hard to believe so few adults were willing to step in and help these kids with the blatant bullying (from teachers and students). I also feel uncomfortable recommending the book to my audience (teachers who recommend books to students within their classrooms) because of the amount of profanity (including the oft-repeated motto "Hop off my wang").
Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
June 14, 2024
This was a great (mostly) and a hard (TW- bullying from kids and adults and alcoholism in a teen, plus a fire related attack) read that I absolutely flew through and loved Even when my heart was breaking.
Evvie is a neurodivergent teen who's a senior in high school. After not being able to attend for over a year, she combined her sophomore and junior years to catch up. She has to deal with a teacher bully who will not bend towards the way that Evvie learns. She has to see a fellow ND new injured in a horrific way but when she stands up for it to those in "power"....chills! It's a powerful thing that she does.
I was so extremely mad at this teacher, the principal and their relative (like a great grandnephew or something) teen who is the bringer of harm. My absolute favorite part of this was the LAIR and the teacher Rachel who implemented it. The LAIR let kids whose brains work in different ways take a break/reset there and I think all school need a place like this.
And Aretha- the blue day octopus that Evvie spends her time volunteering with 🤩🫶 love! I'm glad she got close to Blue (real name Hugh) while working there too and that their brains worked in different ways from each other even but they still found ways to form a relationship that better was aiming for previously.
Evvie is a neurodivergent teen who's a senior in high school. After not being able to attend for over a year, she combined her sophomore and junior years to catch up. She has to deal with a teacher bully who will not bend towards the way that Evvie learns. She has to see a fellow ND new injured in a horrific way but when she stands up for it to those in "power"....chills! It's a powerful thing that she does.
I was so extremely mad at this teacher, the principal and their relative (like a great grandnephew or something) teen who is the bringer of harm. My absolute favorite part of this was the LAIR and the teacher Rachel who implemented it. The LAIR let kids whose brains work in different ways take a break/reset there and I think all school need a place like this.
And Aretha- the blue day octopus that Evvie spends her time volunteering with 🤩🫶 love! I'm glad she got close to Blue (real name Hugh) while working there too and that their brains worked in different ways from each other even but they still found ways to form a relationship that better was aiming for previously.
June 9, 2024
This definition of neurodivergent comes from the Cleveland Clinic:
Neurodivergent isn’t a medical term. Instead, it’s a way to describe people using words other than “normal” and “abnormal.” That’s important because there’s no single definition of “normal” for how the human brain works. (https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health...)
Evvie is neurodivergent. She struggled and missed her sophomore year of high school, but through the next two years, she has been making up lost ground and will soon be graduating. She hopes. She believes.
I think it is safe to say that high school is rough on nearly everyone, but it is a special challenge if your behavior and/or talents lie outside the norms. Teen angst surges to become debilitating. This novel focuses on Evvie, but we learn how the people around her, neurodivergent or not, impact Evvie’s life. And when she needs to don her behavioral camouflage. FWOOSH.
Neurodivergent isn’t a medical term. Instead, it’s a way to describe people using words other than “normal” and “abnormal.” That’s important because there’s no single definition of “normal” for how the human brain works. (https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health...)
Evvie is neurodivergent. She struggled and missed her sophomore year of high school, but through the next two years, she has been making up lost ground and will soon be graduating. She hopes. She believes.
I think it is safe to say that high school is rough on nearly everyone, but it is a special challenge if your behavior and/or talents lie outside the norms. Teen angst surges to become debilitating. This novel focuses on Evvie, but we learn how the people around her, neurodivergent or not, impact Evvie’s life. And when she needs to don her behavioral camouflage. FWOOSH.
June 27, 2024
Neurodivergent Evvie has had a rough trip through high school - she missed most of freshman year because of struggles with the way her brain works, but she made up the missed year and is on track to graduate on time. The support of her neurodivergent mom, counseling, and a teacher who has created a reset haven for students like Evvie in a small storage room at the high school help to keep Evvie on track until she can finish school and take a gap year working with the octopus at the local zoo where she has been volunteering. Through lists, texts, and narration, readers will empathize with Evvie through friend struggles, a budding romance, and a terrifying hate crime. Neurodivergence is rarely this vividly represented in YA lit; s must read, EARC from Edelweiss.
July 19, 2024
This was such a good read... a coming of age story of a young girl named Evvie. Giving us a window into the world of a neurodivergent person. We follow her through the obstacles of school, friendship, and even first love (with a boy named she accidentally gave a nickname to!)
At school, she had such huge obstacles to overcome, but had a "safe-haven" to go to when feeling overwhelmed or just needing an escape... honestly, I wish I had that kind of thing when I was in school! One solace she found was also always in an octopus named Aretha, which she was able to help care for. Sometimes, people need that support and a bit of understanding.
Through all of this, she learned to stay true to herself and fight for herself. So recommended!
At school, she had such huge obstacles to overcome, but had a "safe-haven" to go to when feeling overwhelmed or just needing an escape... honestly, I wish I had that kind of thing when I was in school! One solace she found was also always in an octopus named Aretha, which she was able to help care for. Sometimes, people need that support and a bit of understanding.
Through all of this, she learned to stay true to herself and fight for herself. So recommended!
July 22, 2024
4+
I love books like this, that show adults how to support the kids around them. I was a teen in the 90s and we sort of made our own way around surviving high school. Some of us getting in a lot of trouble in the process. The writing & characters aren’t similar to I Kissed Shara Wheeler but the underlying kids vs shitty adults and their conformity requirements were reminiscent, only from an ND standpoint vs lgbt+, complete with graduation in the balance.
I hope the band teacher was independently wealthy or something. All those clif bars sounded expensive.
I love books like this, that show adults how to support the kids around them. I was a teen in the 90s and we sort of made our own way around surviving high school. Some of us getting in a lot of trouble in the process. The writing & characters aren’t similar to I Kissed Shara Wheeler but the underlying kids vs shitty adults and their conformity requirements were reminiscent, only from an ND standpoint vs lgbt+, complete with graduation in the balance.
I hope the band teacher was independently wealthy or something. All those clif bars sounded expensive.
July 24, 2024
This was a GREAT YA coming of age story featuring two neurodiverse teens, both volunteer at the Zoo and love aquatic invertebrates, especially the octopus. I loved how the main character, Evvie identifies with the way the octopus is able to camouflage (aka "mask") to fit in with their environment.
This book does an excellent job describing what it's like to be neurotypical, the bullying and ableism that is rampant from other neurotypicals (fellow students and teachers alike). Highly recommended for fans of authors like Elle McNicoll, Jackie Khalilieh and Calyssa Erb.
This book does an excellent job describing what it's like to be neurotypical, the bullying and ableism that is rampant from other neurotypicals (fellow students and teachers alike). Highly recommended for fans of authors like Elle McNicoll, Jackie Khalilieh and Calyssa Erb.
July 18, 2024
I loved the way they talked about neurodivergence in the book and all of the different characters relationships with their own neurodivergence. All of the octopus facts were super cool and I found myself very invested in Evie’s time at the zoo. A quick and easy read!
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March 6, 2024Reading neurodivergent books is always such a special experience. I am so grateful I got to spend time inside Evvie's mind; it is a glorious place.
June 28, 2024
What a great read. The characters are amazing, I want to hang out with them. This book gave me all the feels, cannot wait to share it with my preteen.
July 1, 2024
This was one of my Goodreads Giveaways, sponsored by the publisher, and it was great. Two neurotypical young people meet and fall in a messy, authentic and genuine love story.
July 9, 2024
For all the freaks and geeks out there!
July 22, 2024
Is it a sign of something if I relate so much to a neurodivergent protagonist?? 😅
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews