Fiction for National Autism Awareness Month: 12 Titles for Adults and YAs
By Lisa Jordan, Johnson County Library, Gardner, KS -- Library Journal,03/09/2009
April is synonymous with spring, but for those of us with autism in our lives, it’s also a month for increasing awareness of a condition that affects one in 150 children. Luckily, there’s a rich bibliography of quality nonfiction on the subject (see Corey Seeman’s collection development articles “Sending Postcards from the Airport” and “More Postcards from the Airport”).
Fiction depicting autism is also growing, however, and it can offer comfort, engender acceptance, and even entertain. In addition, it’s a much more palatable means for educating children and YAs on autism and related conditions like Asperger's syndrome. In the past, novelists typically portrayed severe cases, read: Rain Man–esque autistics without verbal skills and totally withdrawn from the world. The focus was on how family members dealt with the situation often during a time when disabilities were not talked about and kept hidden.
More recent fiction features autistic characters who are often verbal, attend school with their siblings, and are functioning members of their family. The dozen titles below focus on the emotions of the parents as they discover that there is something is ‘wrong’ with their child, struggle to obtain an appropriate diagnosis, and work to determine the best therapies. All this while attempting to support their other children and sustain a relationship. There are also works for younger readers about siblings struggling to embrace their "different" sisters and brothers. Read, learn, and enjoy! For more leads, see Sharon Kirkes's Reader's Shelf: Fiction on the Spectrum.
Bauer, Ann. A Wild Ride Up the Cupboards. Scribner. 2006. 288p. ISBN 978-0-7432-6950-6. pap. $13.Jack and Rachel’s "ride" begins when they notice their oldest son, Edward, is no longer able to sleep for any length of time and is withdrawing from the world around him. The journey to find a diagnosis and assistance is an arduous one, with many twists and turns, roadblocks and delays. Rachel’s love for her children and her determination to bring Edward back into the family will break readers' hearts and give them hope. With special appeal to mothers of autistic children. (See LJ's original review.)
Bellows, Melina Gerosa. Wish. NAL: Penguin Group (USA). 2005. 304p. ISBN 978-0-451-21653-3. pap. $N/A.
Bella, eight years old at this novel’s beginning, believes you only get so many chances in life to make a wish, so you had better make them good. Being a bride aside, she wishes not to be ashamed of her autistic twin brother, Bobby. As she grows up, she is often annoyed with her parents for not dealing with her brother or helping her cope. Upon reaching her thirties, her wishes change—she doesn’t want to "fix" Bobby anymore, just love him the way he is. Another take on acceptance, but with a light, chick-lit twist. [Note: This novel is out of stock on Amazon and B&N, but used copies can be found online.—Ed.]
Bernhardt, William. Dark Eye. Ballantine. 2005. c.480p. ISBN 978-0-375-43459-4. $25.95. F
Just for entertainment is this cross between Silence of the Lambs and Rain Man. Darcy, a 25-year-old autistic savant, assists burned-out and depressed police detective Susan Pulaski in solving a string of violent serial murders. During their investigation, Susan is forced to see the crimes from Darcy’s unique perspective—which proves to be the key to solving the crime. Darcy’s insights will amaze readers. The setting is Las Vegas, so the book has a very CSI feel. Bernhardt continues with these characters in Strip Tease, where Darcy and Pulaski team up again to solve another murder spree. (See LJ's original review.)
Cohen, Jeffrey. For Whom the Minivan Rolls. Bancroft. 2002. c.261p. ISBN 978-1-89086-218-3. $19.95.
Cohen, Jeffrey. A Farewell to Legs. Bancroft. 2003. c.288p. ISBN 978-1-89086-229-9. $19.95.
Cohen, Jeffrey. As Dog Is My Witness. Bancroft. 2005. c.280p. ISBN 978-1-89086-243-5. $16.95. F
Aaron Tucker is a stay-at-home dad and freelance writer; he had no intention of solving mysteries in his hometown, yet that’s exactly what he ends up doing. Aaron’s family plays a major part in these novels, especially his son who has Asperger’s syndrome. For mystery readers who enjoy a heavy dose of humor in their mysteries. Asperger’s is more a detail than a point of tension. (See LJ's original review of A Farewell to Legs; As Dog Is My Witness)
Cholodenk, Gennifer. Al Capone Does My Shirts. Putnam Juvenile: Penguin Group (USA). 2004. 240p. ISBN 978-0-399-23861-1. $16.99.
"Today I moved to a twelve-acre rock covered with cement, topped with bird turd and surrounded by water." So narrates 12-year-old Moose in this School Library Journal Best Book of 2004 set in 1935 on Alcatraz Island when gangster Al Capone is an inmate working in the prison laundry. Readers learn how Moose and his family ended up on Alcatraz—his father took a job as a prison guard so that Natalie, Moose’s sister, could attend the Ester P. Marinoff School for students with autism. The story addresses how having a sister with autism affects a sibling’s life more than autistic Natalie herself; Cholodenk portrays both aspects of the story well. A humorous treat for siblings of people with autism and an entertaining read for all.
Haddon, Mark. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. Vintage: Random. 2004. 240p. ISBN 978-1-400-03271-6. pap. $13.95.
Christopher John Francis Boone, 15, lives in England and has autism. He likes his world to be neat, orderly, routine, and predictable. Then his neighbor’s dog is found dead, which upsets the balance. As Christopher works to solve the mystery, he discovers a secret that his father has been keeping. As Christopher faces the deception, readers see how Christopher processes information and the feelings that the betrayal bring to the surface. He is truly courageous in this singular mystery/coming-of-age tale (and LJ Best Book of 2003). (See LJ's original review.)
Leimbach, Marti. Daniel Isn’t Talking. Anchor: Random. 2007
. 288p. ISBN 978-0-307-27572-1. pap. $13.95.
The challenges of parenting are many; so are the joys. When a child is diagnosed with autism, both the challenges and the joys are doubled. Melanie fears there is something dreadfully wrong with her son, Daniel. He doesn’t talk, he doesn’t play with toys, and he screams for hours. Melanie tries to talk to her husband, Stephen, about her fears, but Stephen is sure that Daniel will be fine. This is the story of Melanie’s fight to diagnose Daniel and to help him, with or without Stephen. An intimate, wrenching look at how autism can bring out the best and the worst in people and how they survive and triumph. (See LJ's original review.)
Lord, Cynthia. Rules. reprint ed. Scholastic. 2008. 224p. ISBN 978-0-439-44383-8. pap. $6.99.
If the bathroom door is closed, knock! Say "thank you" when someone gives you a present (even if you don’t like it). No toys in the fish tank! These are just a few of the rules that 12- year-old Catherine has written for her autistic brother David to help him navigate the world and look "normal." Yet having a brother with autism takes a lot of "normal" out of life. Catherine loves David but is embarrassed by him and resents the amount of time and energy he requires of her parents. Befriending a boy with a different disability helps Catherine work through her feelings. An honest look at life in a family touched by autism from a rarely-heard-from perspective; an excellent read for siblings affected by autism.
Matiln, Marlee & Doug Cooney. Nobody’s Perfect. Aladdin: S. & S. Children’s Pub. 2007. 240p. ISBN 978-1-4169-4976-3. pap. $5.99.
Fourth-grade queen bee Megan, who is deaf, has invited all of the girls in her class to her "positively purple birthday sleepover"—including new arrival Alexis. Alexis appears to be the "perfect" girl: she’s pretty, smart, and athletic. But as Megan discovers after several rebuffs, Alexis is aloof because of her younger brother, Justin, who has autism. She’s embarrassed of her brother and doesn’t want anyone at school to know about him. Megan reads up on autism and figures out that Alexis’s attempts at perfection are to make up for her brother’s behavior. Megan also helps Alexis understand Justin. A well-rendered lesson for kids.
Martin, Ann M. A Corner of the Universe. Scholastic. 2004. 208p. ISBN 978-0-439-38881-8. pap. $5.99.
The summer of 1960 brings big changes for Hattie Owen. Hattie, 12, is surprised to learn she has an Uncle Adam who was sent away ten years ago. Now he’s coming home in the wake of his school’s closing, upsetting Hattie’s summer routine. You never know what Uncle Adam is going to do or what kind of mood he’ll be in from one minute to the next. Consequently, he teaches Hattie that it’s OK to be different. While the ending is sad and Adam does not have autism per se, the book nicely conveys the idea of acceptance. Told from Hattie’s perspective, it’s good to share with teens about accepting differences.
Moon, Elizabeth. The Speed of Dark. reprint ed. Del Rey: Random. 2005. 384p. ISBN 978-0-345-48139-9. pap. $7.99.
With this book, set in the near future, the author, a parent of an autistic child, addresses the questions "What is normal?" and "What happens to those who aren’t ‘normal?’" The main character, thirtysomething Lou, must decide if he wants to participate in an experimental treatment that may cure his condition. Lou steeps readers in his life, showing how he sees his autism versus how others see him. A powerful, thought-provoking story of soul searching that provides insight into outsiders.
Tobe, Keiko. With the Light: Raising an Autistic Child. Vols. 1 & 2. Yen Pr. 2007. 527p. tr. from Japanese by Satsuki Yamashita. ISBN 978-0-7595-2356-2. pap. $14.99.
In this Japan-set graphic novel, Sachiko and Masato Azuma welcome their first-born child, a son, Hikaru, with open arms and dreams of a bright future. However, motherhood for Sachiko is nothing like what her friends with newborns are experiencing. Hikaru cries constantly and will not sleep; he doesn’t like to be held either. What could be wrong? As Sachiko searches for answers, Masato withdraws from his family. A diagnosis of autism creates more distance between wife and husband until they both come to understand autism and the challenges Hikaru will face as he grows up. The institutional system that Sachiko uses to get help for Hikaru is very different from what is found in the United States, but the emotions and difficulties of raising a child with autism are the same and beautifully expressed. (See LJ's original review.)
Information specialist (and MLS candidate) Lisa Jordan is the mother a teenage autistic son. Along with Corey Seeman and Elizabeth Safford, she makes up LJ's crucial autism reviewer triumvirate. Go, Lisa!
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| Submitted by: | Kathleen Griffith 3/22/2009 8:17:28 AM PT |
Well done, Lisa!
| Submitted by: | Christopher Tremblay (goldenrampress@cox.net) 3/20/2009 12:43:53 PM PT |
| Location: | Woonsocket, RI |
| Occupation: | Children''s Author/ Sports Writer |
This is a great list of books. I would also like to announce that I have published a sports themed children’s book, “Beyond The Dragon”. Written from the perspective of a child with Aspergers Syndrome, this book was written to create a medium which promotes autism awareness in an entertaining and enriching manner for children and adults alike. I am honored to say that “Beyond the Dragon” has been praised by Doug Flutie, Co-Founder of the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism, as another ‘Hail Mary’ story!
“Beyond the Dragon is another ‘Hail Mary’ story. Robbie is an inspirational character that gives all kids with Aspergers as well as parents, coaches and teachers the hope that they can achieve their goals if they work hard and are surrounded by a supportive team. This story is also an important lesson for kids to accept and encourage all teammates no matter what their abilities are”.
- Doug Flutie, Co-Founder The Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation for Autism, Inc.
This one of a kind story takes you through the trials and tribulations of Robbie as he learns the ropes of participating in a team sport for the first time. Robbie teaches us that Autistic children may have to work harder to reach their goals and succeed, and though the road may be bumpy, they can succeed and tremendously boost their self-esteem. It also provides in opportunity to educate others on the characteristics, mannerisms and attributes that define Autism in hopes that education leads to understanding and acceptance.
Although the key focus of “Beyond The Dragon” promotes Autism Awareness, Robbie, the main character of the story, is viewed as an inspiration for any child interested in participating in a sport or any challenging endeavor and encourages their families to allow their children to pursue their dreams, no matter what limitations may be holding them back, to allow them to have their moment in the sun – moment to shine.
I would also like to mention that a percentage of sales will be donated to Asperger/Autism related charities.
To find out more information about this book please visit:
www.goldenrampress.com
By
Christopher Tremblay Sports Writer at GateHouse Media New England
| Submitted by: | Loretta Whipple (rackball10@aol.com) 3/19/2009 8:47:19 PM PT |
| Location: | New York |
| Occupation: | retired teacher |
Dear Lisa,
I am so proud of your work. I enjoyed reading your article and thanks for the list of books on autism.
I am going to copy them for the special education teachers and the librarian at my old school. I still have a big connection there, and think they will be enlightened with your work.
Aunt Loretta
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