What do neurodivergent guinea pigs look like?
Like everyone else, duh.
Of course I’m not talking about real live animals, although I frequently suspect my dog is ADHD. No, what I’m talking about today is a graphic novel I’ve been pitching.
Last month I shared about writing a novel when you’ve discovered you’re neurodivergent. Actually, I summarized the novel that I wrote after discovering I am neurodivergent. It was, and still is, the most difficult creative writing project in my wheelhouse to-date. Maybe one of these days I’ll get it right.
While I’m banging my head against my desk working on that, I’d love to tell you about an early chapter book graphic novel with a full cast of neurodivergent guinea pig characters that I am in love with.
It’s mine, but I’m allowed to love it, right? Absolutely I am.
Last summer I took the beginnings of this project to a local writing conference, where I saw a whole week-long graphic novel class (which I had never seen at any conference before anywhere). After that, I worked and worked and worked on the pitch package. A graphic novel is unique compared to novel, or even picture book, submissions because it requires sample pages, character sheets, and a script. Once I had that all put together, I submitted it to a contest, where I barely made the gallery.
Brixie & The Pigs: The Four Little Guinea Pigs
Once upon a time, there were three neurodivergent guinea pigs: Brixie, Woody, and Strawberry. When they welcome newcomer, Gray, to their abode, they get one repeated response from him: “I’ll hop! And I’ll pop! And I’ll eat all your crops!” While this makes Woody and Strawberry fearful, Brixie patiently observes Gray in order to learn his echolalic language and bring everyone together…to eat, of course.
There’s mischief and mayhem when Strawberry wanders into the cage alone and impulsively tests all the other piggies’ things. There’s adventure and anxiety when a gust of wind sweeps one of their houses away and the piggies set out on adventure to retrieve it (Woody reluctantly in tow). Finally, there’s gloating and great tears when Coco, their bunny cousin, visits and challenges Brixie to a race.
It’s food, fun, and more food in the lives of these four little piggies as they learn how to accept and love each other’s differences.
As a Highly Sensitive Person in a family full of neurodivergents and a community of adults discovering they’ve been undiagnosed, I’ve realized there are so many of us. Which is why I wrote a story with a host of neurodiverse characters for younger kids. It’s not just one kid in any given classroom who reacts to sensory input. It’s not just a few who think differently. It’s not just Autism. It’s ADHD and being highly sensitive. There’s overlap with sensory difficulties and anxiety and feeling like you don’t fit in. My hope is that my guinea pigs showcase a variety of minds and emotions as they work through challenges and have fun.
And being cute. Always cute.
I would love nothing more than to turn this story into a series, but we’ll have to wait and see if anyone falls in love with these characters as much as I have.
Happy almost-summer!
Love, Heidi
P.S. Do you or your kids have any favorite graphic noverls for the younger crowd? Livi and Nate is one I stumbled across recently that I adored. Narwhal and Jelly is one of my forever favorites. Baloney and Friends is also a gas. Please send me recs! I need more adorable graphic novels in my life.