Ava Spark by Alex Field

Ava Spark: Hello, I’m Here! by Alex Field, illustrated by Joanna Bartel

New Frontier Publishing

Guest author post by New Frontier Director Sophia Whitfield, who writes as Alex Field about  Ava Spark and the life of her much-loved son Luke for ‘Joy in Books’ at Paperbark Words

Ava Spark is largely inspired by my son’s life, a life cut short but one that was full of determination to make the most of every moment. Luke had cerebral palsy and used a communication aid to speak.

Luke’s friendships and his relationships with his siblings grew and flourished because he was able to communicate despite being non-verbal. He first started using a communication aid aged six and quickly became proficient at using on onscreen keyboard, first with a head switch and then with eye gaze technology.

This allowed Luke to interact with his friends and siblings. Every day in primary school Luke would come home with a communication book which had been written in by his teacher’s aide outlining his day at school. Gradually, with encouragement, Luke was able to tell me himself how his day had been at school, and this then moved on to him planning and initiating activities.

Luke had none of the distraction and disruption that comes with using social media. Communication was slow and took enormous effort from him, so there was no time for other distractions. In many ways this helped him to form good and life-long friendships.

He lived in two countries, Australia and England and both feature in Ava Spark. When Liv arrives from Australia at Ava’s London primary school, Liv is nervous and full of anxiety at starting a new school in the middle of the term. Liv is quiet and speaks only occasionally, and when Ava is asked to be her buddy she is delighted and discovers ways to help Liv integrate into school life.

Communication for children of all abilities can be difficult at times. In Ava Spark, this is highlighted by the different challenges that both Ava and Liv face in their school and home life. Liv has moved to London without her parents who will join her in a month’s time, and Ava is non-verbal and navigating home and school life in this space.

During Luke’s life, planning and being involved in activities allowed for integration with his peer group. In Ava Spark it is the process of planning a Sports Day event that assists with Liv’s feeling of being accepted into school life.

Writing Ava Spark was for the most part a joyful experience, it was a reflection of my son’s early childhood, his achievements and the impact his life had on others around him.

I wrote the book as Luke’s health was declining in the last few months of his life, and in the early stages of my grief. It was a cathartic process. I had got to know my son through his communication but not just through his communication aid. He had such an expressive face that his emotions lived large on his features, and he was easy to read.

There are so many different ways children can communicate today but the face-to-face interactions are by far the most emotive and lasting. At a time when there are so many distractions for children, I wanted to highlight that through positive communication good friendships are formed. It’s less about the quantity of friends and more about the quality of friends. I have seen how important this is in my children’s childhoods and now their adult lives.

Ava Spark was an important book for me to write. It encapsulates everything that was good in my son’s life. I wanted it to be a positive portrayal of Ava Spark’s life. The world of disability can at times be characterised by negativity towards both children and adults, but it was rare that Luke or I experienced this.

Luke fought so hard to stay alive all his life but particularly at the end of his life. He would not have battled so hard if he hadn’t had a life that he so cherished. The best times for him were days spent surrounded by friends and family. This added so much to his ability to get through the difficult days. As Luke lived with me all his life, I was able to witness first-hand the way he interacted with his friends and siblings. He would chat with them on his communication aid and go out and enjoy their company.

There is nothing like a good friend and a sibling to support you when life is tough, and Luke had all of this support. I hope some of this is reflected in Ava Spark and children take from the book the value of communication and good friendships.

About the book: Ava Spark: Hello, I’m Here! by Alex Field and illustrated by Joanna Bartel.  rrp: $16.99 paperback. Available now at all good bookstores and online.

https://www.newfrontier.com.au/books/ava-spark-hello-im-here