ADHD cozy fantasy novel: ADventures Heading up and Down
Warm family, weird creatures, wild imagination: a rollercoaster of magic and feelings in a story as offbeat as its characters
ADventures Heading up and Down (#ADHnD) is an upcoming ADHD-centered, cozy adventure fantasy.
The book will debut on Kickstarter in October 2026 – make sure you don’t miss it!
Warm family, weird creatures, wild imagination: a rollercoaster of magic and feelings in a story as offbeat as its characters
ADventures Heading up and Down (#ADHnD) is an upcoming ADHD-centered, cozy adventure fantasy.
The book will debut on Kickstarter in October 2026 – make sure you don’t miss it!
What is ADHD cozy fantasy?
Welcome!
I’m Adva Shaviv – an expert in responding absent-mindedly while secretly reading.
Growing up, I felt a nameless “something-wrong” with me, but following a late ADHD diagnosis, the wonders of my mind – messy, fuzzy, flickering – ventured into the lit side of my brain, and began to form a story.
Words swelled into sentences, expanded into scenes and chapters, and brought to life magical worlds and stories encompassing the thorns of me and of others like me.
With my head in the clouds, I see a whole enchanting world that others miss! ADventures Heading up and Down brings the whimsy, fantasy and wonder directly to you. Come and join me!
What beta readers have said:
“Original and fresh”
“Unique characters”
“Worlds coming alive”
“Great pacing”
“Brilliant imagery”
“An exciting read”
What is ADHD cozy fantasy?
Welcome!
I’m Adva Shaviv – an expert in responding absent-mindedly while secretly reading.
Growing up, I felt a nameless “something-wrong” with me, but following a late ADHD diagnosis, the wonders of my mind – messy, fuzzy, flickering – ventured into the lit side of my brain, and began to form a story.
Words swelled into sentences, expanded into scenes and chapters, and brought to life magical worlds and stories encompassing the thorns of me and of others like me.
With my head in the clouds, I see a whole enchanting world that others miss! ADventures Heading up and Down brings the whimsy, fantasy and wonder directly to you. Come and join me!
What beta readers have said:
“Original and fresh”
“Unique characters”
“Worlds coming alive”
“Great pacing”
“Brilliant imagery”
“An exciting read”
What is ADHD cozy fantasy?
Welcome!
I’m Adva Shaviv – an expert in responding absent-mindedly while secretly reading.
Growing up, I felt a nameless “something-wrong” with me, but following a late ADHD diagnosis, the wonders of my mind – messy, fuzzy, flickering – ventured into the lit side of my brain, and began to form a story.
Words swelled into sentences, expanded into scenes and chapters, and brought to life magical worlds and stories encompassing the thorns of me and of others like me.
With my head in the clouds, I see a whole enchanting world that others miss! ADventures Heading up and Down brings the whimsy, fantasy and wonder directly to you. Come and join me!
What beta readers have said:
“Original and fresh”
“Unique characters”
“Worlds coming alive”
“An exciting read”
“Great pacing”
“Brilliant imagery”
Is this book for you?
You’ll love ADventures Heading up and Down if you enjoy whimsical worldbuilding, quirky characters and heart-warming relationships. A hot drink and a beloved pet are optional when you cuddle with this imaginative cozy story, where the stakes are soft and the minds are sharp.
- If you've ever been made to feel like you're "too much," you'll find yourself in this book, together with a different perspective.
- If someone you love finds it difficult to sit still, be quiet, concentrate, or fit into molds, you might recognize some of the magic from this book within them.
- If you hardly know anything about ADHD, this story will sweep you on an immersive ride through the ADHD mind!
If you loved:
- The whimsical adventures of Alice in Wonderland
- The emotional journey of Inside Out
- The coziness of Legends and Lattes
- The warmth of The House In the Cerulean Sea
- The magic of Tress of the Emerald Sea
You’ll love ADventures Heading up and Down!
“This book doesn’t really fit into a neat category or box. It can be an enjoyable fantasy read, but also a self-help book. I would definitely recommend this book to my friends whose children have ADHD or who have been diagnosed themselves. I think for a lot of teens it will help feel like they are not alone and would be a fun read.”
– A beta reader for ADventures Heading up and Down
✨ Take me to ADventures Heading up and Down! ✨
What’s wrong with turning your world
upside down every now and then?
– ADventures Heading up and Down, Adva Shaviv
Back cover description: ADventures Heading up and Down
Alice in Wonderland meets Inside Out in an ADHD cozy fantasy
School is clipping the wings of Tom, Alice, and George, all with ADHD. Their mom, fighting her own unruly brain, is at a loss. But one stormy afternoon, among swaying piles of books, tumbleweeds of pet hair, and rampaging thoughts, Banjo enters the scene. Purple, furry, and slightly irresponsible, he tips the siblings’ course.
Thrown into a world of magic, imagination, and confusion, they encounter vicious stairs, a derailed train of thought, an insect elevator, and even cake.
Will they find their way back home? What is Banjo planning for them? And did anyone remember to turn off the oven?
No squirrels were harmed in the making of this book.
All characters are quite unique and I don’t think I’ve read or watched another piece of media that had similar characters.
The imagery and descriptions really came alive and the worlds described were unique and interesting.
It is very eye-opening to read about how different people experience the same ‘ADHD.’
– Beta readers on ADventures Heading up and Down
All characters are quite unique and I don’t think I’ve read or watched another piece of media that had similar characters.
The imagery and descriptions really came alive and the worlds described were unique and interesting.
It is very eye-opening to read about how different people experience the same ‘ADHD.’
– Beta readers on ADventures Heading up and Down
Why do you use "ADDED" instead of "ADHD"?
ADHD stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.
Phew! That’s a mouthful! Also, not correct. We certainly don’t have a deficit of anything, least of all attention – quite the opposite: we’re attentive to everything.
It is much more accurate to say that we have… ADDED attention. We also have ADDED distraction, so to speak, being very easily distracted! Energy? Yes, that’s pretty much what hyperactivity means: ADDED energy. Daydreaming, ideas, imagination, emotions, sensitivities – we have ADDED amounts of so many things!
It’s not necessarily a superpower.
It’s not necessarily a disability.
It certainly makes us different, and it makes us work harder than others just to get through life, but it’s who we are, and if we can’t beat it, we should most certainly embrace it.
Some people say we are too much. I strongly disagree. I just say that we’re #ADDEDnotADHD!
Too many thoughts to speak. Tom’s whole life—every punishment he’d ever had—every giggle behind his back—every impatient remark, and at the same time, every bright idea, every burst of creativity, every hearty laugh at his jokes, or honest truths he never meant as jokes—all passed before his hazy eyes. But rather than an end of life, this felt like a rebirth.
He was ADDED. They all were. He wasn’t disordered.
– ADventures Heading up and Down, Adva Shaviv
Too many thoughts to speak. Tom’s whole life—every punishment he’d ever had—every giggle behind his back—every impatient remark, and at the same time, every bright idea, every burst of creativity, every hearty laugh at his jokes, or honest truths he never meant as jokes—all passed before his hazy eyes. But rather than an end of life, this felt like a rebirth.
He was ADDED. They all were. He wasn’t disordered.
– ADventures Heading up and Down, Adva Shaviv
What genre is ADventures Heading up and Down?
ADventures Heading up and Down is a fantasy novel; more specifically, it is a cozy, ADHD, contemporary, adventure, portal fantasy.
What does this mean?
- Cozy fantasy: character development, imagination, magic, and wonder take center stage.
- ADHD/ neurodivergent fantasy: the main characters have ADHD, their ADHD struggles create and drive the plot, and the very fantastic world is inspired by ADHD.
- Contemporary fantasy: the story takes place in our own time.
- Adventure fantasy: readers get to follow the characters through fantastic quests and journeys.
- Portal fantasy: two different worlds exist simultaneously in the story – our own world and a fantastic world, which are connected by a portal.
On top of this, there are some charming retellings of FFFs (fairy tales, folktales, and fables, and yes, I made up this acronym), as well as many delightful references and Easter eggs. While reading, see if you can find them all!
What perspectives can I find in the book?
ADventures Heading up and Down takes the readers on an an immersive ride through the ADHD mind. Multiple points of view help bring various perspectives to life:
ADHD representation
Each ADDED person is different, in real life as in the book.
Emma helps shed light on the life of a mother with ADHD, raising boys – Tom and George, and a girl – Alice, all with ADHD, each with their own personality, which shines through the book through each of their own eyes.
Some minor characters, too, present other faces of ADHD, whether explicitly (like the main characters) or not.
See if you can guess which of the characters I wrote as implicitly ADDED!
Jewish representation
This is a “Jewish joy” book, where being Jewish means the freedom to enjoy a wealth of cultures while going through life.
The main characters are Jewish. One secondary character comes from the little-known Beta Israel community (Ethiopian Jewish).
Positive homeschooling representation
I cannot give any details without committing a spoiler offense!
Is this an "own voices" book?
Absolutely!
“Own voices” means writing from one’s own experience and perspective, or in one’s own voice.
I’m a late diagnosed ADHDer and wrote ADventures Heading up and Down based on my lived experience as a person with ADHD, as well as that of many other ADDED people I know, and a lot that I’ve read and learned about the ADHD experience as a whole.
On top of that, I’m Jewish, and love to discover various Jewish cultures from around the world!
What themes are prevalent in the book?
ADventures Heading up and Down is, first and foremost, a magical and fun read. Part of the fun is finding yourself – in the midst of the action! – pondering questions of imagination and reality, the power of imagination, otherness, autonomy or authenticity.
Do not be surprised if you find yourself contemplating self-perception, self-understanding, and self-acceptance, or pondering questions of growing up and remaining true to oneself.
The story and world revolve around reframing ADHD, or neurodivergence in general, as part of our identity rather than a deficit. It does so while exploring family relationships (parenthood, siblinghood, couplehood) and friendship.
Is this book suitable for younger readers?
ADventures Heading up and Down is delightfully layered. Younger readers will relate to George (11), Alice (13), and Tom (15). If dealing well with longer reads and strong emotions, they will thoroughly enjoy the whimsy and magic of ADventures Heading up and Down. Nothing in the book is unfitting for them.
Is this book a good fit for book clubs?
ADventures Heading up and Down is a perfect book club read.
With its complex, captivating characters facing distinct, yet highly relatable challenges, and its nuanced approach to thought-provoking themes, it is sure to spark lively debates spanning viewpoints and perspectives.
Last but not least, it goes extremely well with coffee, tea, and cake!
Is this book part of a series?
ADventures Heading up and Down makes for a great stand-alone book. However, if you find yourself missing the charming characters and the fantastic world by the end of it, don’t worry! Book Two is already in the works. Hop on The ADDED World Roller Coaster to be the first to know when it’s available!
Where can I get the book?
ADventures Heading up and Down will be available from October 13th to October 29th on Kickstarter.
Is Kickstarter not your thing? No worries! The book will be available everywhere from late spring 2027. Stay in the loop to make sure you don’t miss it!
I have a different question
I’d love to hear it and reply to it!
Add ADventures Heading up and Down to your "To Read" list:
On GoodReads
On Fable
On The StoryGraph
On LibraryThing
On Hardcover
Or find it on your favorite app via ISBN:
E-book: 978-90-837356-2-7
Paperback: 978-90-837356-0-3
Hardcover: 978-90-837356-1-0
Find it on your favorite app via ISBN:
E-book: 978-90-837356-2-7
Paperback: 978-90-837356-0-3
Hardcover: 978-90-837356-1-0
Get involved!
Would you like to play a part in the launch of ADventures Heading up and Down?
Join my Inner Circle Team and let’s help this ADHD cozy fantasy novel spread its wings! 
I’m recruiting members for my Inner Circle Team (street team/ launch team/ Kickstarter team/ ARC team)!
As the Kickstarter campaign approaches, and with the general launch awaiting, I’m faced by the daunting task of bringing the book to life – finalizing all the details and letting the world know about this book.
I need your input and point of view!
Here’s a taste of what you can do:
- Help me choose my rewards for the Kickstarter campaign
- Give feedback on my back cover description, this website, and other texts and designs
- Spread the word about the upcoming launch
- ARC read (= read a free e-copy and post about it or review it)
- Request your local bookshop/ library to order the book
- Mark the book as “Want to read” on your favorite reading tracking app
Would you like to participate in this exciting process of shaping the launch?
Fill in this form, with zero commitment of course. Once you register your interest, I’ll let you know when you can step in, and you can choose whether you want to!
Magic, imagination, and confusion overflowed in the up-and-down place that was Emma’s mind. Piles of books swayed, tumbleweeds of pet hair rolled about, thoughts rampaged through the blue space.
– Opening lines of ADventures Heading up and Down by Adva Shaviv
Hop on The ADDED World Roller Coaster to stay in the loop:
☆ Join the waiting list for my ADHD fantasy novel, ADventures Heading up an Down
☆ Read my FREE ADHD fantasy fairy tale, Distracted Magic
☆ Receive monthly behind-the-scenes peeks and perks
Adva Shaviv
: Hebrew for magic, charm and enchantment.Hold on to your sense of wonder!
ADD AT THE BOTTOM OF THE KICKSTARTER PRELAUNCH PAGE:
Can you think of anyone who would love ADventures Heading up and Down? Make them happy – share this project with them! 
Other ways to make more people aware of this project:
- Posting about the upcoming launch
- Marking the book as “Want to read” on your favorite reading tracking app
- Requesting your local bookshop/ library to order the book using its –
ISBN:
- E-book: 978-90-837356-2-7
- Paperback: 978-90-837356-0-3
- Hardcover: 978-90-837356-1-0
Would you like to join my Inner Circle Team?
Participate in the exciting process of shaping the upcoming campaign, and if you like, also the later launch!
Fill in this form, with zero commitment of course. Once you register your interest, I’ll let you know when you can step in, and you can choose whether you want to!