Panini Schattenspringer

The fascinating story of a not-so-ordinary girl!

Daniela Schreiter, a comic artist, author, and illustrator from Berlin, entertainingly and touchingly describes her childhood and youth in the graphic novel "Schattenspringer." Even as a little girl, she behaved differently from other girls her age, which was incomprehensible to those around her, until she was diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome, a specific form of autism. People with Asperger's sometimes feel as if they come from another planet.

In a format resembling a drawn diary, Daniela Schreiter shares how she experiences the world. She raises awareness about Asperger's autism, which is still little known in Germany, and dispels prejudices. Her illustrated experiences are so charming and pointed that readers are eager to follow her journey into adulthood. Laughter is also allowed as we accompany her in her daily struggle to step out of her own shadow to participate in public life, often stumbling into the pitfalls that human society sets for outsiders.

A fascinating book for everyone and all ages. The author wonderfully manages to educate about a taboo subject in an entertaining way, without slipping into a tale of suffering or coming across as didactic.