Tender, life-affirming and full of humour, Life Hacks for a Little Alien is the story of a young girl growing up in the nineties and noughties, trying to navigate a world that makes her feel like she´s from another planet. It´s about the wonder of libraries, the power of language and finding a path that fits when you yourself do not. ´Wise and playful and tender and beautiful´ Bobby Palmer ´So brilliant, so original and lovely and funny, that it reminds you of the point of reading´ Rebecca Wait Perfect for fans of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine and Remarkably Bright Creatures, this is a charming, witty and moving novel about what it feels like to grow up neurodivergent. From her first words to her first day at school, Little Alien can´t help but get things wrong. She doesn´t understand the world the way others seem to, and the world doesn´t seem to understand her either. Her anxious mum and meticulous dad, while well-intentioned, are of little help. But when Little Alien sees a documentary about the Voynich Manuscript - a mediaeval codex written in an unknown language and script - she begins to suspect that there are other people who feel just like her. Convinced that translating this manuscript will offer the answers she needs, she sets out on a journey that will show her a delicious taste of freedom. So begins Little Alien´s story, told from the perspective of an older, wiser linguist, whose guidance will help Little Alien navigate a world that makes her feel like she doesn´t belong. ´Unique and thoroughly engaging. It is insightful and funny and gently poignant. By telling the story of one little alien, Alice Franklin has told the story of many´ Pip Williams, author of The Dictionary of Lost Words ´Totally addictive and brilliant . . . Life Hacks for A Little Alien is sure to find its place as one of the best loved works of fiction´ Aimée Walsh, author of Exile ´Immersive, moving, and fizzing with humour, I couldn´t put this book down and I still can´t let the character go´ Paula Lichtarowicz, author of The Snow Hare ´A rare energy lights this wonderful book: a unique recipe of humour, heart, frankness, and an unstoppable fascination with language´ Han Smith, author of Portraits at the Palace of Creativity and Wrecking ´Witty, bold, heart-warming and entirely delicious. I devoured it´ Jyoti Patel, author of The Things that we Lost