Anybody Here Seen Frenchie?

Leslie Connor's 2022 middle-grade novel is set on the coast of Maine and built around one of the most tender odd-couple friendships in recent children's fiction: Aurora, a self-described 'big old blurter' with ADHD, and Frenchie, a non-vocal autistic boy who shares her love of the natural world. When Frenchie goes missing one school morning the community rallies, and Connor uses multiple perspectives to sustain tension while reassuring readers he is safe. Kirkus, School Library Journal, and Horn Book all praised the book, particularly for avoiding tokenism in its portrayal of Frenchie. The honest caveat is that Frenchie's inner life stays less developed than Aurora's — he's seen more than heard, which slightly limits his characterization. The resolution is notably gentle. Still, this is a warm, skillfully constructed story that handles neurodiversity with real care.