Novel “Unique Children” Offers Nuanced Portrayal of Adolescent Love and Disability
PARIS – Gabrielle de Tournemire‘s debut novel, unique Children (Flammarion, 224 p., €19, digital €14), published September 18, 2025, presents a tender and insightful story of first love between two adolescents with disabilities, challenging conventional narratives and offering a refreshing outlook on connection and individuality.
The work draws inspiration from de Tournemire’s own experiences. After graduating from the École Normale Supérieure and pursuing a degree in letters,the 1998-born author shifted away from academia in 2021,undertaking a civic service year at a Belgian home for disabled individuals.This experience became the foundation for Unique children, a fictionalized account born from observing and honoring the lives of those she encountered.
De Tournemire deliberately avoids explicitly defining the specific disabilities of her protagonists, Hector and Luz. Hector, a quiet and introspective boy of 12 or 13, communicates primarily through essential data, punctuated by “lightnings of sensitivity that had crossed, uncontrolled, the thick barrier separating his thoughts from his reality.” Luz, in contrast, possesses a “impetuous inventiveness“ and struggles with verbal expression, her words frequently enough outpacing comprehension.
Their meeting at a birthday party held at a Medico-educational Institute sparks an immediate connection,profoundly impacting not only their own lives but also those of their families. The novel is praised for its delicate approach,avoiding both sentimentality and intrusive observation,and instead focusing on the authentic experiences of its characters.
