Author of major bestsellers, queen of chick lit for adults and teenagers, Catherine Bourgault has chosen to demystify a subject that is particularly close to her heart in her new series for teenagers, On the spectrum. Mother of two autistic boys and a boy who lives with Gilles de la Tourette syndrome, the writer wanted to demystify the world of neuroatypicals. Mission accomplished brilliantly in volume 1 of his new series, Agathe and Victor.
“On the spectrum”: the new youth series by Catherine Bourgault.
Photo ÉDITIONS LES MALINS
The author of the successful series Girls outing, Danger et OMG! therefore makes a dream come true by featuring characters who live on the autism spectrum.
She achieves this by alternating the narration between Agathe, a neurotypical teenager, and her new companion, Victor, who lives on the autism spectrum. This endearing and friendly boy serves as his guide in the richly nuanced world of autistic people.
As Agathe’s mother decides to welcome teenagers suffering from different disorders into their big house, her little world is turned upside down from one day to the next. The rooms are occupied by slightly strange young people, whose parents need respite for a few days.
Agathe finds herself with teenagers who shout, who line up objects everywhere and who never look her in the eyes. Thanks to Victor, with whom she bonds, a great group chemistry will end up developing, while respecting each person’s differences.
Lightness and humor
“It’s a children’s book, but someone who likes what I usually do will like it too: there are adventures, and it’s not a heavy read. We are in the lightness of everyday life. Victor is autistic; but Agathe, no. We are alternating in their heads, and it presents all the complexity of two languages,” explains Catherine Bourgault in an interview.
“We always say that autistic people have a different line of thinking… but it gives such tasty reflections! When we understand and decode their language a little, we realize that they are not that different. It’s super easy to understand an autistic person.”
“It’s my daily life”
Catherine Bourgault knows the subject well. “My oldest has Tourette syndrome, and my two youngest are on the autism spectrum. It really is my life. It’s my family, it’s my daily life. All the anecdotes that we see on the spectrum, for the most part, have been experienced. And they are teenagers now: the romance between Agathe and Victor and the complexity that it sometimes brings, I experienced it. And I still live it.”
She adds that it is natural for her to write on these subjects that she knows. “You really have to be in the bath not to write anything. I didn’t want to talk about it, either, from an educational point of view. I wanted us to see what autism is in everyday life.”
Approved by his son
She also made her son read the chapters, gradually, so that he could confirm that what she wrote was correct. “Sometimes he would say to me: “That, mom, no. I wouldn’t say that.” Or other times: “Yes, in that context, I imagine that yes, he could say that.”
“My son is 18 years old. I’ve known this for 18 years. And I’ve read so much on the subject that I know it like the back of my hand. I went looking for little details that are really based on my children.”
On the spectrum: Agathe and Victor
Catherine Bourgault
Éditions Les Malins
260 pages
- Catherine Bourgault has written several successful novels.
- She has just launched two novels for adults, If one summer was enough… to Éditions JCL and A baby… it’s urgent! at Les Éditeurs Réunis.
- She also participated in the collective A trip to the hotelpublished by Les Éditeurs reunions.
- She also published Atypical familya book in which she talks about her experience with her three sons and the challenges that she and her partner overcome on a daily basis.
- She is followed by more than 35,000 subscribers on social networks.
- She lives in the Chaudière-Appalaches region.
“I’m getting active.
In theory, I’m here for five nights. One hundred and twenty hours.
I really hope there is an opaque web in my
room, otherwise it’s going to be a long week.
–Well, listen, Loïc corrects himself, if it’s really too much
annoying or there’s a problem, call me.
He places my suitcase in front of my feet.
–Are you going to be correct? he assures himself while stomping. I don’t have
time to fool around, I have an appointment at noon.
I nod. Yeah, I guess I’ll be okay.”
–Catherine Bourgault, On the spectrumÉditions Les Malins
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