With lovely art style and a story told with compassion, Invisible Differences is about a woman in her late 20's being diagnosed with Asperger's in a country that doesn't give it much credence where misinformation is rife. While Marguerite's story is centred around autism, this is a story that anyone with a form of neuro-divergence can recognise themselves in and find a bit of comfort in seeing Marguerite triumph.

It is also wonderful as an educational tool to explain what living with ASD (or generally being neuro-atypical, or having a chronic condition) is like in a way that isn't condescending or light-footed. It's perfect to evoke an empathy and understanding in others who may not have first hand experience of conditions like this. To those of us who have, Dachez leaves us a heartwarming note at the beginning of the book to remind us we shouldn't hold ourselves to the standards of others and to live our lives without fear. Something we could all do with being reminded of now and then.

I see a lot of myself in Marguerite: sensitive to noise, drained by social interactions and the spoon theory as well as some of the negative interactions she goes through before officially receiving her diagnosis. The uplifting outcome is all the better for knowing this is a true story of the author and her artist friend.

This has been a translation from a French original and I didn't detect any jilted phrases along the way so excellent in every respect.

A graphic novel originally written in French but was later translated into English, tackles the story of Marguerite as she soon discovers she is living with Asperger's syndrome. She works a regular job and has a boyfriend-- though she constantly becomes agitated over small things relating to her behavioral patterns. The story builds up on this and takes me on an emotional ride as Marguerite starts to find peace in herself. This graphic novel was absolutely moving and wonderfully written.

This is an amazing graphic novel! It addresses a really important topic the underdiagnoses of women with autism and Aspersers and the misconceptions held about the people with these conditions. The illustrations are beautiful and it is fascinating to watch the vibrancy change as the story progresses. I learned so much from this book as well as thoroughly enjoying it!

Oh, this graphic novel is beautiful. The illustrations were breathtaking and Marguerite's story really blew me away. I have, in the past, had it suggested to me that perhaps I am autistic. However, I think it's only as I read this graphic novel that I really understood why. I wept while reading this. It was an extremely moving experience for me. I related to a lot of Marguerite's story and I'm sure there will be others out there who have a similar experience. I also feel like this is a really nice, accessible way to present information on autism and to help people understand more about it. This is a book that could be enjoyed by people of all ages.

My only difficulty with the book, and the sole reason I'm giving it 4 stars instead of 5, is because of the use of the term 'Aspergers'. I have heard many people in the autism community describe this term as outdated (I think the correct term is: autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or simply autism) and think there has been a move away from its use in the English language. This could be something that came through due to the translation, or the different stage that France is at in its understanding, however, I'm listening to the wisdom of autistic people I know and flagging it as an issue.

I think this graphic novel left me wanting more; I would have wanted to see more of the character's internal struggles, maybe talk more about the importance of support systems.
I was surprised to read about how far behind France was in terms of acknowledging/treating with respect folks with autism.

First of all, I would like to thank you for the ARC of this book which was kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Invisible Differences is a graphic novel that portrays a young woman named Marguerite with an Asperger's syndrome and shows the day to day situations and people who try to persuade her to be 'normal' by being more sociable and be more like everyone else. However, Marguerite needs to have a routine in order to feel calmer and many social encounters leave her completely emotionally and physically exhausted.
This book does a great job by explaining how overwhelming it can be for people with an Asperger's syndrome to participate in the "normal" life with high societal expectations. Furthermore, it shows how socially conditioned we are to seek for 'normality' and to be like everyone else even we need to change and punish ourselves.
I as a reader could really easily connect and relate to the main character and feel her emotions through the whole graphic novel. Sometimes I felt uncomfortable and it made wonder how can people be so ignorant towards Marguerite.
It is very educational and helps to understand what people with autism need to cope with every day and how important and lifechanging the diagnosis of Asperger's syndrome is. Also, I very much liked the art of this graphic novel. The illustrations are gorgeous.

Meet Marguerite, she has Asperger Syndrome. She likes animals, sunny days, chocolate, vegetarian cuisine, her little dog and the purring of her cats. Translated from French for the first time, Invisible Differences shows the life of Marguerite as she is trying to live but struggling with everyday productivity at work and keeping up appearances with friends and family.
I loved this graphic novel. I don't know a lot about autism or Asperger Syndrome but this has definitely shown me how hard it is for people who do have it to live a ‘normal’ life. There is so much that they struggle with and there is a lot that we can do to accommodate them but not everyone takes it seriously.
We see Marguerite on her daily routine, until one day after a fight with her boyfriend she decides to do an internet search of why she feels the way she does and why she struggles; she wants to get to the bottom of her discomfort. There she finds some answers and after a while she is officially diagnosed with Asperger's and then her life changes, for the better.
I felt the story was especially strong in the area of the design. The way the graphics are laid out was so beautiful and enticing. Mademoiselle Caroline does a beautiful job of bringing Marguerite and her world to life. I loved the little quips about how repetitive her routine is but how important it is for her. I was excited when she got her diagnosis but it was horrible to see that she still had to deal with people who did not take her seriously but she did not let that bring her down. She turns her life around and is now helping millions with their diagnosis as well. The biggest appeal for me was that this is a true story and it is based on Julie’s life.
If you have no idea what Asperger's is or how it affects peoples lives, then this is a wonderful way to start looking into it.
Thank you to NetGalley for gifting a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Invisible Differences is about a girl in France, who didn't know she has autism and more specifically....Asperger's syndrome. I really enjoyed the storyline and learning more about Asperger's as the graphic novel progressed. I feel like the artist did really well to portray the emotions that Margaret goes through. I personally don't know anybody who has this type of autism, but now I am aware how to understand the person more.

Thank you #netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

We start by getting introduced to Marguerite, a 27 year old woman who's always felt different from the people around her, as well as disconnected from social settings. Later on, she discovers being on the autism spectrum. What a lovely yet informative way to bring awereness to Asperger Syndrome. As a medical student myself, I had background knowledge about the syndrome, but the story was very touching nonetheless. I really appreciated the use of specific terms, such as "neuroatypical" to refer to people diagnosed with autism, and how the story shows just as much of the diagnosis process as the misdiagnosis that, unfortunately, happens frequently.

This is my first ever NetGalley review so thank you NetGalley and Oni Press.

Invisible Differences by Julie Dachez & Mademoiselle Caroline (Illustrator), in collaboration with Fabienne Vaslet. Originally published in French in 2016, it will be published in English in August 2020.

Based on Dachez’s own experiences, Invisible Differences is a graphic novel about Marguerite, who at 27 is diagnosed with Asperger’s after difficulties at work and in her relationships come to breaking point. Her diagnosis is a turning point and we see her adapt and grow happier as she is empowered by her diagnosis to take the right steps for herself.

I think this novel is a great, accessible introduction to learning about Asperger’s and the experiences of people with Asperger’s. Although it does make it clear that there are as many types of autism as there are autistic people and everyone will have different experiences.
We learn about Maguerite’s challenges and anxieties, her difficulty in actually getting tested and getting professional people to believe her. I was shocked by the amount of misinformation and stereotypes that people believed and laughed about, and the unwillingness of others to make practical, helpful changes. The making of this book itself is a brilliant example of how people with and without autism can work well together by understanding and creating space for each other.

While the illustration style isn’t my personal favourite I do think it is drawn well and does the story justice. I particularly liked how the colour scheme gradually changes from stark black, white and red to vibrant, happy and colourful as Marguerite blossoms. The transition is so smooth that I only realised after I’d finished and reread the end of the subtitle “Living a Life in Full Color”.
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Finally, what makes this book even more special is the information section at the end about autism and Asperger’s, and the full page dedication at the start to all who don’t fit into society’s definition of “normal”.

This was one of the most recognisable stories ever for me. I took screenshots of some of the images because they're 100% a direct representation of me and my life and how I often feel.

Some of the exact sentences in this book were said to me at a certain point, and it just feels so comforting to know that its okay. That I'm okay. Just the way I am.

As an educator who works a lot with students who have some form of autism this is also a very good resource to use when having conversations with them and getting them to express their feelings.

La Différence invisible was originally published in French in 2016 and is about the journey of a woman discovering, and being diagnosed, as having Autism Spectrum Disorder (previously referred to as Asperger's Syndrome) as an adult. I found this whole thing really interesting, particularly reading about the attitudes towards autism in France. This is a rather quiet story, and reads as very informational (particularly in the second half) which works for what it is, but is also what stopped me from emotionally connecting with the story fully. I still really enjoyed it and think it could be a great resource for people that don't know much about autism. I enjoyed the illustration style, and the use of colour worked really well in tandem with the story.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of the ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

This graphic novel is a memoir of a 20something woman being diagnosed with autism. The art style goes really well with the story telling, it's simple, to the point, seemingly understated but once you pay attention and think about it, there are so many layers you might have missed.

The way this book handled the topic of autism and the process of diagnosis is very good and reliable. I think this would definitely be a good starting point for people who want to learn more about autism, especially the first-hand experiences of autistic people.

I will be recommending the purchase of this graphic novel to our library HQ, so that we can add it to our autism collection.

The book begins with a note that it is dedicated to the deviants. I'm intrigued.
Towards the end of the author's note, she writes, "Your difference isn’t part of the problem, it’s part of the solution.
It is a cure for our society, a society obsessed with normality"

The book lives up to this empathy as it traces the story of how Marguerite's life changes after her Asperger's diagnosis. As someone deeply interested in disability awareness, this book presents itself as a great resource towards this goal.
In her case, the diagnosis empowers her to live her life more authentically. That of course, changes her relationship dynamics, her friendships, and even her career path.
"She went through her friends, keeping the ones who accepted her difference -- however invisible."

5/5 to the book for the honesty and authenticity it exhibits in the storytelling and empathy in its narrative.

This book appealed to me as a woman with anxiety and some of the issues Marguerite deals with (being sensitive to loud noises, find it hard to make small talk). I was really intrigued to hear her story and find out how she was diagnosed with Aspergers and how her friends and family supported her.

The artwork is stunning and the story is fast-paced and informative. It's heart-warming and frustrating in equal parts. I highly recommend it to anyone - even if you don't have Aspergers or know anyone who is, it's so interesting to learn more about the condition. And this is a really nice way to do that.

An insider’s look at discovering her autism spectrum disorder and finding a lifestyle that truly fits, rather than trying to change herself to fit the world around her. Clean art style and very readable text make it an informative and illustrative look at a frequently misunderstood condition.

This book... WOW! Where do I even begin? The graphics and illustrations throughout the book are breath-taking. They transport me into the novel and cause me to (somewhat) feel Marguerite's pain. This book, in my opinion, provides the adult-perspective that the world tends to ignore. Instead of seeking to understand why someone may not "fit in" or meet society's "social norms and expectations," this book shows how we tend to be guilty of not doing such. I cannot recommend this book enough. (It's also worth noting that I am not a fan of reading graphic novels, but in this case, I am so happy that I did.)

If you miss the nuance in every facial expression or turn of phrase, if you miss every conversational “subtext” and cannot remember the "normal" response to “normal" chit chat… then you will find yourself misunderstood day in and day out. Meet Marguerite. The most comfortable part of her day is in her comfortable (non scratchy) clothes sitting on her sofa in the quietness of an evening when her work day is done. This graphic novel is beautifully illustrated; the day begins with simplicity and quiet and clean black and white images. As the voices of her colleagues fill her open plan office, the colour in the illustrations deepens to a boiling red hot temperature. Asperger’s syndrome might be misconstrued as a “choice" to live with routines, structure and reduced social contact. However, this graphic novel helped me to understand that there is often a sensitivity to all the senses; for Marguerite, hyperacusis left her exhausted after every work day and parties were to be endured not enjoyed. I really appreciated hearing about Spoon theory and its’ application not just for Marguerite but in some ways for all of us who need to learn how to balance our energy levels.

This is my first Aspergers Book/ Graphic Novel. Being on the spectrum myself I was curious how much I can relate to Marguerites story. I felt very strongly connected from the moment I started reading. The situations in her work space and all the noise and chatter got really under my skin. I really felt the discomfort. Also when she told people her diagnosis and the disrespectful comments were also really felt by me. It is an insightful, heartwarming and uplifting tale of a woman finding I wish there are more books on this kind of diversity.

Published in French in 2016, in Brazil the following year, and just now in the USA, 'Invisible Differences' talks about a girl with Asperger syndrome. We follow Marguerite through her daily routine: house, bakery, passing by in front of a bookstore, job... and the way back; her relationship with her boyfriend, with her family, with her neighbor, with her friends, with her coworkers - none of them being easy, and in none of them the people really respect Margueritte as she is. Furthermore, Marguerite discovers that she has Asperger's - nowadays the name is Autism Spectrum Disorder and not Asperger's syndrome.

The graphic novel is delicate and at some points kind of didactic, which I like, because before this reading I knew almost nothing about the autism spectrum, now I could say I know a few things.

About the drawing, at first, it could be seen as simple, but I found it beautiful, with details in the scenes and a captivating form to conduct the story, as the color pallete, of grey to colorful, following the specter of Marguerite's life. From judgemental people who did not accept her to a new perspective of reality full of love and respect and happiness.