The Asparagus Bunch

Adrian Mole meets The Rosie Project, this is a warm and funny middle-grade debut, exploring themes of neurodiversity and dyslexia.

It's often said that the first day at a new school can be nerve-wrecking, but for 13-year-old Leon Crothers, joining his seventh new school, simply raises the question of who or what will be the reason for his departure. A funny novel exploring themes of neurodiversity and dyslexia.

A fresh and irreverent comedy starring a cast of neurodiverse characters – guaranteed to be one of the funniest novels you'll read this year.

Leon John Crothers is 4779 days old (thirteen years and one month, if you're mathematically challenged). He has been 'moved on' from six different schools and most people think he has an attitude problem. Leon doesn't care for the label, in the same way that he doesn't care for Tim Burton, supermarket trolleys, train fanatics or Bounty bars.

This time, however, things may turn out differently, as help comes from where he least expects it – Dr Snot, a physician at pains to help Leon navigate 'normal' and classmates, Tanya and Lawrence, who both face their own challenges. When school bully Glen Jenkins humiliates Leon in the school canteen and almost destroys Lawrence, Leon very reluctantly agrees to the formation of a club, The Asparagus Bunch.

How Leon manages to navigate school woes and family drama – and astonishingly ends up with not one but two friends – is nothing short of a miracle, or maybe just simply down to being different.

Shortlisted for the AN Post Irish Book Awards 2022
Shortlisted for the Juniper Book Awards 2023