What do you think?
Rate this book
Wild Orchid #3
The White Bicycle
The White Bicycle is the third stand-alone title in the Wild Orchid series about a young woman with Asperger's Syndrome. This installment chronicles Taylor Jane's travels to the south of France where she spends a summer babysitting for the Phoenix family. Including flashbacks into Taylor's earliest memories, along with immediate scenes in Lourmarin, a picturesque village in the Luberon Valley, The White Bicycle results in a journey for independence both personal and universal, told in Taylor's honest first-person prose.
198 pages, Paperback
First published October 30, 2012
9 people are currently reading
921 people want to read
About the author
Beverley Brenna
19 books23 followersBeverley Brenna calls Saskatoon, Saskatchewan home base, and loves to travel (both for real, and through reading)!
She published her first poem in The Western Producer at age seven. From this point, she was hooked on writing!
Much of what she writes contains autobiographical scenes, such as the "friendship soup" in The Keeper of the Trees, and the care and keeping of a pet tarantula in Spider Summer.
She has worked as a babysitter, home daycare mom, clerk steno, draftsperson, caregiver for orphan lambs, teacher, and university professor as well as a writer and storyteller.
She published her first poem in The Western Producer at age seven. From this point, she was hooked on writing!
Much of what she writes contains autobiographical scenes, such as the "friendship soup" in The Keeper of the Trees, and the care and keeping of a pet tarantula in Spider Summer.
She has worked as a babysitter, home daycare mom, clerk steno, draftsperson, caregiver for orphan lambs, teacher, and university professor as well as a writer and storyteller.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews
September 29, 2013
I had some major problems with this book.
1) Taylor Jane has Asperger Syndrome. Because of difficulty with social interaction, people with Asperger Syndrome are often perceived as annoying by neurotypical people. This makes for a difficult protagonist.
2) This book is meant to be Taylor's private journal. NO ONE writes like this in a journal. I would have been a lot more satisfied with the voice of the book if it had simply been a first-person narrative.
3) I appreciate the lengths to which the author goes to illustrate difficulties people with Asperger Syndrome often face in normal life. A big show is made of Taylor's inability to comprehend figurative language, like common idioms. Yet, after all this, she describes Stanley as "a man whose fears have beaten down his choices." .....what?! A great line, but....what?!
4) This book was thick on exposition and short on plot. Taylor spent the majority of her time writing about past events. We could have learned so much more about how she deals with her life by hearing about every day events in a foreign land. When I read that the narrative picked up a full month into the trip, I was astonished. What a missed opportunity! I wanted to read about how Taylor adjusted to her new surroundings. Instead I got stories about things that happened to her in childhood. Again, no one writes like this in a journal.
5) The plotline with Adelaide was ridiculous and underdeveloped. I understand the purpose of it, and I understand what Taylor (and the reader) learned from it. Still. That's all you've got?!
1) Taylor Jane has Asperger Syndrome. Because of difficulty with social interaction, people with Asperger Syndrome are often perceived as annoying by neurotypical people. This makes for a difficult protagonist.
2) This book is meant to be Taylor's private journal. NO ONE writes like this in a journal. I would have been a lot more satisfied with the voice of the book if it had simply been a first-person narrative.
3) I appreciate the lengths to which the author goes to illustrate difficulties people with Asperger Syndrome often face in normal life. A big show is made of Taylor's inability to comprehend figurative language, like common idioms. Yet, after all this, she describes Stanley as "a man whose fears have beaten down his choices." .....what?! A great line, but....what?!
4) This book was thick on exposition and short on plot. Taylor spent the majority of her time writing about past events. We could have learned so much more about how she deals with her life by hearing about every day events in a foreign land. When I read that the narrative picked up a full month into the trip, I was astonished. What a missed opportunity! I wanted to read about how Taylor adjusted to her new surroundings. Instead I got stories about things that happened to her in childhood. Again, no one writes like this in a journal.
5) The plotline with Adelaide was ridiculous and underdeveloped. I understand the purpose of it, and I understand what Taylor (and the reader) learned from it. Still. That's all you've got?!
November 28, 2012
"The White Bicycle" is written in first person so that the reader has a front row seat into how a teen with Asperger's Syndrome thinks, feels and responds to the world. The story is Taylor’s private daily journal. Beverley Brenna has a gift of getting into the mind of her character so that the reader experiences Taylor. Her characters are well-developed and you find yourself cheering for Taylor on her journey. Secondly, this is the first series I have read where we actually follow a teenager with Asperger’s Syndrome, graduating from high school, going to college, getting a job, leaving her comfort zone and traveling to a foreign country, transitioning from adolescence to adulthood before our eyes and struggling to gain independence from her mother. This is a typical response, but even more powerful from a young woman with Asperger’s. With so many children in the Autism Spectrum who will be making this transition in coming years, the Wild Orchid trilogy this is an important story for families, teenagers and teachers. I enjoyed watching Taylor’s steady growth and strong spirit in the series.
Another point of interest point is the beautiful cover art for The White Bicycle. It was done by artist Taylor Crowe, who was diagnosed at a young age with autism. His artistic talent was nurtured by family and therapists. Today he lectures about autism to educators, behavioral therapists, and families – a real success story.
Another point of interest point is the beautiful cover art for The White Bicycle. It was done by artist Taylor Crowe, who was diagnosed at a young age with autism. His artistic talent was nurtured by family and therapists. Today he lectures about autism to educators, behavioral therapists, and families – a real success story.
February 12, 2013
This book, the third in a series examining the growth of Taylor Jane Simon, paints a moving portrait of a nineteen-year-old striving for independence. Taylor, who has Asperger's Syndrome, is delighted to have been hired for the summer as a personal care assistant rather than babysitter for the son of the man her mother is dating. He's staying in France with his two sons, and Taylor and her mother travel there for the summer. Watching the two Canadians navigate the French culture and language is interesting, especially when Taylor seems to find it easier to take some risks that her mother does. She uses the English/French dictionary while her mother struggles to make sense of the language at all. While all is not smooth sailing for either of them, and temper tantrums are thrown, the author makes Taylor's journey realistic, recognizing that while Taylor still needs her mother's help at times, she also needs to make her own mistakes, just like any other adolescent. The flashbacks and ruminations in her journal and her attempts to manage her own behavior reveal just how far she has come and how far she may be able to go. I will definitely seek out the earlier two titles to get to know Taylor even better. I was really touched by her friendship with the elderly painter Adelaide and impressed by the author's ability to distill Taylor's voice so perfectly.
June 7, 2013
Just a lovely voice. Very enjoyable.
December 7, 2016
The White Bicycle is the third book of the Wild Orchid trilogy. It is about the journey of a young woman named Taylor Jane Simon with Asperger’s Syndrome as she becomes more independent. Taylor and her mother, Penelope, take a trip to France from their home country of Canada, along with Penelope’s fiance Alan Phoenix and his two sons, Luke and Martin, the latter of whom has Cerebral Palsy. Taylor is hired by Alan Phoenix as a personal care assistant for Martin. Taylor highly depends on this summer job so she is able to list it on her resume. During the summer in France, Taylor encounters many uncomfortable circumstances that may seem to be easily defeated. Taylor relates familiar items that are a constant in her life, such as her alarm clock, to the new experiences in France. These help her cope with unfamiliar surroundings, different spoken languages, and her overbearing but well-meaning mother.
In this book, Taylor discovers a white bicycle that she frequently rides down an old path. The terrain at the end of the path is unsuitable to ride the bike, so Taylor must carry it alongside her. I liken this to the journey of self-discovery and independence. The rocky terrain symbolizes rough patches in somebody’s life; carrying the bike symbolizes pulling your own weight and figuring out what one must do to overcome an obstacle; and continuing on to the next path symbolizes a new beginning. This is easily relatable to because this is the reality of life, and everybody will encounter setbacks in their lives that ultimately changes their outlook and perspective.
The White Bicycle was an interesting book to read. I personally did not read the first two books in the trilogy, and I was able to follow the plot without hiccup. My favorite part of the book was when Taylor meets with her mother at a dinner that Penelope prepared. It was at the very end of the book, and Taylor finally spoke out and made her mother realize she is not a child anymore and that she has to accept the fact that she’s grown up now. It made me proud to read this because throughout the book Taylor is somewhat withdrawn, and only outspoken when she is confused and there is too much stimulation.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a quick read. It has a very existential viewpoint, so that was different but very welcoming to read. This book is mostly written in Taylor’s perspective in the style of a diary, so it may not be for everyone if they enjoy reading outsiders’ perspectives.
In this book, Taylor discovers a white bicycle that she frequently rides down an old path. The terrain at the end of the path is unsuitable to ride the bike, so Taylor must carry it alongside her. I liken this to the journey of self-discovery and independence. The rocky terrain symbolizes rough patches in somebody’s life; carrying the bike symbolizes pulling your own weight and figuring out what one must do to overcome an obstacle; and continuing on to the next path symbolizes a new beginning. This is easily relatable to because this is the reality of life, and everybody will encounter setbacks in their lives that ultimately changes their outlook and perspective.
The White Bicycle was an interesting book to read. I personally did not read the first two books in the trilogy, and I was able to follow the plot without hiccup. My favorite part of the book was when Taylor meets with her mother at a dinner that Penelope prepared. It was at the very end of the book, and Taylor finally spoke out and made her mother realize she is not a child anymore and that she has to accept the fact that she’s grown up now. It made me proud to read this because throughout the book Taylor is somewhat withdrawn, and only outspoken when she is confused and there is too much stimulation.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a quick read. It has a very existential viewpoint, so that was different but very welcoming to read. This book is mostly written in Taylor’s perspective in the style of a diary, so it may not be for everyone if they enjoy reading outsiders’ perspectives.
June 20, 2013
Three things I loved about The White Bicycle:
1. Taylor Jane Simon. Beverly Brenna has an uncanny ability to get into Taylor's head and help non-Asperger readers understand her, and it's so masterfully done we never notice what Brenna's doing to us. Taylor is strong, smart, resilient, and tries her best to succeed despite her disability.
2. This isn't a story about Asperger's. It's a story of the coming-of-age part of our lives we all have to go through. Taylor is growing up, and she just happens to have Asperger's. She overcomes her flaws and gains independence, a thing which all strong MC's do, and a thing we can all relate to.
3. The humanity of it all. Everyone and everything is beautifully, humanly drawn. Brenna obviously has a great love and sympathy for human beings; this shows throughout her book.
I could babble on for days about individual elements I liked: the inspiration Taylor draws from Harold Pinter's plays, the carefully drawn relationship between Adelaide and Taylor, the lovely little observations Taylor has about life, the French countryside, Adelaide's lovely little anecdotes, etc, etc, etc.
However, I'll conclude here and say: The White Bicycle is a fantastic book, one that I might reread in the future (a high honor in Rhealand). Despite it's length (less than 200 pages), it's a powerful story, and if you love quiet, moving literature, you will love this.
And here's a quote I found beautiful: "Photo albums are kind of like rearview mirrors for family and friends. The let people look behind you at things that have already happened."
Why don't you try a lovely, leisurely ride through childhood, adulthood, and living life on the wonderful White Bicycle?
1. Taylor Jane Simon. Beverly Brenna has an uncanny ability to get into Taylor's head and help non-Asperger readers understand her, and it's so masterfully done we never notice what Brenna's doing to us. Taylor is strong, smart, resilient, and tries her best to succeed despite her disability.
2. This isn't a story about Asperger's. It's a story of the coming-of-age part of our lives we all have to go through. Taylor is growing up, and she just happens to have Asperger's. She overcomes her flaws and gains independence, a thing which all strong MC's do, and a thing we can all relate to.
3. The humanity of it all. Everyone and everything is beautifully, humanly drawn. Brenna obviously has a great love and sympathy for human beings; this shows throughout her book.
I could babble on for days about individual elements I liked: the inspiration Taylor draws from Harold Pinter's plays, the carefully drawn relationship between Adelaide and Taylor, the lovely little observations Taylor has about life, the French countryside, Adelaide's lovely little anecdotes, etc, etc, etc.
However, I'll conclude here and say: The White Bicycle is a fantastic book, one that I might reread in the future (a high honor in Rhealand). Despite it's length (less than 200 pages), it's a powerful story, and if you love quiet, moving literature, you will love this.
And here's a quote I found beautiful: "Photo albums are kind of like rearview mirrors for family and friends. The let people look behind you at things that have already happened."
Why don't you try a lovely, leisurely ride through childhood, adulthood, and living life on the wonderful White Bicycle?
August 18, 2013
I finally got ahold of this book which won a Printz Honor a few years ago. It is the third in a trilogy, but I didn't feel any need to have read the first two books. Taylor-Jane Simon has Asperger's Syndrome. She's nineteen and wants to become independent. The book takes place in the summer before she starts college when she is in France as personal assistant to a young man, Martin, with cerebral palsy. His family consists of him, his brother Luke and their father who may soon become her step father. Her mother has come on this trip and Taylor worries that if they marry, her job will not fit on a resume as Martin will have become her brother.
During the summer Taylor makes great steps to acquire more independence, while telling the story of her confused first years in school, her anger with her mother who she feels wants to control her. An elderly woman with dementia becomes a kind of mentor to her and helps her to work out what she needs to say to her mother.
I loved the setting of this in the south of France which I think the author really caught. Taylor seemed real as she struggled to become independent and control her rages. She has a real personality that comes through in her thoughts on Jean-Paul Sartre,Stanley from Harold Pinter's play The Birthday Party - she definitely doesn't want to be like Stanley - and her gerbils Harold Pinter and Samuel Beckett.
"I think of Jean-Paul Sartre's little book. Who am I? Am I someone, anyone, or no one? Last fall, when I read Samuel beckett's play, Waiting for Godot, I thought about spending your life waiting. Whit if I was withing for no one, and the no one was me?" p. 128
"Photo albums are kind of like rearview mirrors for family and friends. The let eople look behind you at things that have already happened." p. 128
During the summer Taylor makes great steps to acquire more independence, while telling the story of her confused first years in school, her anger with her mother who she feels wants to control her. An elderly woman with dementia becomes a kind of mentor to her and helps her to work out what she needs to say to her mother.
I loved the setting of this in the south of France which I think the author really caught. Taylor seemed real as she struggled to become independent and control her rages. She has a real personality that comes through in her thoughts on Jean-Paul Sartre,Stanley from Harold Pinter's play The Birthday Party - she definitely doesn't want to be like Stanley - and her gerbils Harold Pinter and Samuel Beckett.
"I think of Jean-Paul Sartre's little book. Who am I? Am I someone, anyone, or no one? Last fall, when I read Samuel beckett's play, Waiting for Godot, I thought about spending your life waiting. Whit if I was withing for no one, and the no one was me?" p. 128
"Photo albums are kind of like rearview mirrors for family and friends. The let eople look behind you at things that have already happened." p. 128
October 22, 2013
Brenna has given Taylor such a wonderful voice, it's a joy to read this book for the simple fact of getting to know Taylor and her experience of the world. With her Asperger's, there are things she doesn't get that are obvious to the rest of us, but there are also things she sees and understands that many of us might miss.
In this book she tells the story of her summer in France when she is nineteen and on the cusp of adulthood, trying to gain confidence in her competence to claim independence from her mother and move forward as a full person. It's a relatable and inspiring story.
A paragraph I enjoyed that displays the literalism Taylor must struggle with in her thinking:
I am working hard not the let the "afraid" part win, now that I am nineteen years old. I do not want to be like Stanley in Harold Pinter's play, The Birthday Party, who never left his bedroom and who was at the mercy of his landlady. I am referring to Harold Pinter the playwright, not Harold Pinter my gerbil, who is in Canada with his son, Samuel Beckett, getting looked after by my friend Shauna. Technically, Harold Pinter the gerbil is a female, being Samuel Beckett's mother, but gender can be flexible and so I think of him as male, just as his name suggests.
And a paragraph that I enjoy as a quote:
Numbers are the smallest unit of meaning I know. Words are the next largest unit of meaning, and in spite of the confusion they often bring, I admire their complexities. Words are almost as interesting as numbers. But it is safer not to use words unless you have to.
In this book she tells the story of her summer in France when she is nineteen and on the cusp of adulthood, trying to gain confidence in her competence to claim independence from her mother and move forward as a full person. It's a relatable and inspiring story.
A paragraph I enjoyed that displays the literalism Taylor must struggle with in her thinking:
I am working hard not the let the "afraid" part win, now that I am nineteen years old. I do not want to be like Stanley in Harold Pinter's play, The Birthday Party, who never left his bedroom and who was at the mercy of his landlady. I am referring to Harold Pinter the playwright, not Harold Pinter my gerbil, who is in Canada with his son, Samuel Beckett, getting looked after by my friend Shauna. Technically, Harold Pinter the gerbil is a female, being Samuel Beckett's mother, but gender can be flexible and so I think of him as male, just as his name suggests.
And a paragraph that I enjoy as a quote:
Numbers are the smallest unit of meaning I know. Words are the next largest unit of meaning, and in spite of the confusion they often bring, I admire their complexities. Words are almost as interesting as numbers. But it is safer not to use words unless you have to.
April 26, 2013
Really enjoyed this--so hopeful! Author does a fine job of crafting an interesting story, and I like the voice of Taylor Jane, empathized with her wish for independence, cheered for her using learned techniques to deal with her Asperger's, and found lots of the dialogue & situations humourous. Also empathized with her long-suffering mom. I also liked the portrayal of the character with cerebral palsy as being just a normal kid. I did think that Brenna tried to inject too many subplots into the story, and kind of left them hanging and undeveloped (like the mom's drinking, the brother's homosexuality) although I suppose that might be how Taylor Jane sees it, so that's what we see. She explains her parent's divorce by saying that they just wanted to be with other people--is that what she really thinks or what she's been told? Does she have any emotions about that--sadness? anger? guilt? does she have any inkling that her condition was a stresor?
I read & enjoyed Wild Orchid years ago, and now I need to read the middle book in this trilogy.
I read & enjoyed Wild Orchid years ago, and now I need to read the middle book in this trilogy.
Read
April 9, 2013The White Bicycle / Beverley Brenna
This last book in a trilogy for teens can stand on its own as an excellent story of the struggle for independence by a 19 year old girl with Asperger’s Syndrome. Taylor realizes that her literal thinking and her need for conscious mechanisms to prevent emotions from overwhelming her set her apart from many people, but her study of existentialism and her memories of how she has grown over the years give her the necessary strength to step into responsible adulthood in this insightful story.
My pick for April is The White Bicycle, a Teen book written by Beverley Branna. What a heartwarming, told in first-person, story about Taylor Jane, a young woman coping with Asperger’s Syndrome. I learned so much about this condition while reading this book.
This last book in a trilogy for teens can stand on its own as an excellent story of the struggle for independence by a 19 year old girl with Asperger’s Syndrome. Taylor realizes that her literal thinking and her need for conscious mechanisms to prevent emotions from overwhelming her set her apart from many people, but her study of existentialism and her memories of how she has grown over the years give her the necessary strength to step into responsible adulthood in this insightful story.
My pick for April is The White Bicycle, a Teen book written by Beverley Branna. What a heartwarming, told in first-person, story about Taylor Jane, a young woman coping with Asperger’s Syndrome. I learned so much about this condition while reading this book.
August 4, 2017
I have mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, I enjoyed reading from the perspective of someone with Asperger's. It reminded me of both Marcelo and the Real World and Jack Gantos' Joey Pigza books. It also made a lot of interesting points about agency and free will. However, the book was far too introspective for my liking...there is very little plot, and the messages about agency and independence felt very heavy handed. An interesting read, but I could feel the author pulling the strings the whole time and this kept me from fully engaging.
April 11, 2013
Good but don't understand why it was a Printz honor book
YALSA Hub Reading Challenge
YALSA Hub Reading Challenge
Read
April 18, 2020Taylor Jane Simon is 19 years old. She is keeping a journal of her summer in France. She has been hired as a "personal care assistant" for the young son of her mother's boyfriend, with whom they are staying. Taylor knows that this job will look good on her resume, which is an important piece of gaining her independence. Taylor has autism, but this different way of seeing the world does not mean that she isn't like all other young people in wanting to declare to one's parents: you are not the boss of me.
Taylor has made real progress in controlling her compulsive urges to clean and count things in sevens. She has a strategy to channel her anger into the soles of her feet, rather than to let it out in a rage that leaves her exhausted and others scared. She works well with Martin, her young charge who has cerebral palsy and speaks using a computer-generated voice. She starts to express herself through drawing.
A white bicycle is hers to use for the summer in France. This white bicycle is what gives Taylor increasing independence from her sometimes-bossy mother. One day, she rides the bicycle into the forest, the path ends and Taylor must figure out what to do.
Read p. 1: "In my dream, I am stumbling along a difficult path ... I remember all too well what happens when I take the white bicycle into the forest."
Hearing Taylor's voice through her writing can be very humorous, especially as she learns to read people's emotions and understand their idioms, or saying. For example, Taylor is confused when someone checks for understanding my asking Taylor is she "has got the picture." What picture? Where is the picture? she thinks.
In elementary school, Taylor remembers being asked to sit at her desk to work.
Read p. 62: "The work is using a pencil to fill in the blanks in the book. I don't know why they didn't fill un the blanks when they made the book. Why do we have to do their work for them? Other books come with all the words."
In the back of the book is a printed interview with the author, Beverley Brenna. She says (p. 195), "Having Asperger's means seeing the world in a different way ... I hope so!"
Taylor has made real progress in controlling her compulsive urges to clean and count things in sevens. She has a strategy to channel her anger into the soles of her feet, rather than to let it out in a rage that leaves her exhausted and others scared. She works well with Martin, her young charge who has cerebral palsy and speaks using a computer-generated voice. She starts to express herself through drawing.
A white bicycle is hers to use for the summer in France. This white bicycle is what gives Taylor increasing independence from her sometimes-bossy mother. One day, she rides the bicycle into the forest, the path ends and Taylor must figure out what to do.
Read p. 1: "In my dream, I am stumbling along a difficult path ... I remember all too well what happens when I take the white bicycle into the forest."
Hearing Taylor's voice through her writing can be very humorous, especially as she learns to read people's emotions and understand their idioms, or saying. For example, Taylor is confused when someone checks for understanding my asking Taylor is she "has got the picture." What picture? Where is the picture? she thinks.
In elementary school, Taylor remembers being asked to sit at her desk to work.
Read p. 62: "The work is using a pencil to fill in the blanks in the book. I don't know why they didn't fill un the blanks when they made the book. Why do we have to do their work for them? Other books come with all the words."
In the back of the book is a printed interview with the author, Beverley Brenna. She says (p. 195), "Having Asperger's means seeing the world in a different way ... I hope so!"
November 18, 2017
"The White Bicycle" by Beverley Brenna was part of my quest to read through the Printz award winners and nominees. I didn't know much about the book before I read it, and I was intrigued that once I started reading it, the main character had Aspberger's. Not since reading "A Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nightime" have I read a character from this point of view. I'm glad that this book was included in the Printz honor list.
Taylor has been hired by her mother's boyfriend, Alan, to be his son, Martin's "personal care assistant" (Taylor's term for babysitting so she can put it on her resume) as he has Cerebal Palsy. Her mother has decided to tag a long as the whole group will be spending three weeks in the south of France. It was difficult at first to get into Taylor's voice as she narrates the novel. Once I became accustomed to her voice I appreciated the way she saw the world. She fights for her autonomy and refuses to just let people "baby" her because shes different. I think too many times we as a society infantilize individuals on the Autism Spectrum. Yes, I realize it's a spectrum, but I think that teachers and parents sometimes over protect those that are high functioning and it builds up frustration amongst all parties. This ended up the main conflict in the novel between Taylor and her mother.
One critique I had of the novel was that towards the end of the novel, using dramatic irony, Brenna introduces the idea that Martin's brother, Luke, is gay. He doesn't come out and maybe it's because Taylor is narrating it, but there's not a clear addressing of this. I wish it had been developed whether it's because Taylor doesn't care, the family doesn't care, or whether Luke isn't ready to come-out. None of these are addressed and it felt like it was an add on to the plot.
Overall I may read the earlier books in this series as I enjoyed this one and it was a fast read. I also think this is a book that would be great to have in a high school classroom for independent reading or for a companion to other books about unique points of view.
Taylor has been hired by her mother's boyfriend, Alan, to be his son, Martin's "personal care assistant" (Taylor's term for babysitting so she can put it on her resume) as he has Cerebal Palsy. Her mother has decided to tag a long as the whole group will be spending three weeks in the south of France. It was difficult at first to get into Taylor's voice as she narrates the novel. Once I became accustomed to her voice I appreciated the way she saw the world. She fights for her autonomy and refuses to just let people "baby" her because shes different. I think too many times we as a society infantilize individuals on the Autism Spectrum. Yes, I realize it's a spectrum, but I think that teachers and parents sometimes over protect those that are high functioning and it builds up frustration amongst all parties. This ended up the main conflict in the novel between Taylor and her mother.
One critique I had of the novel was that towards the end of the novel, using dramatic irony, Brenna introduces the idea that Martin's brother, Luke, is gay. He doesn't come out and maybe it's because Taylor is narrating it, but there's not a clear addressing of this. I wish it had been developed whether it's because Taylor doesn't care, the family doesn't care, or whether Luke isn't ready to come-out. None of these are addressed and it felt like it was an add on to the plot.
Overall I may read the earlier books in this series as I enjoyed this one and it was a fast read. I also think this is a book that would be great to have in a high school classroom for independent reading or for a companion to other books about unique points of view.
January 10, 2018
"The White Bicycle" by Beverley Brenna was part of my quest to read through the Printz award winners and nominees. I didn't know much about the book before I read it, and I was intrigued that once I started reading it, the main character had Aspberger's. Not since reading "A Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nightime" have I read a character from this point of view. I'm glad that this book was included in the Printz honor list.
Taylor has been hired by her mother's boyfriend, Alan, to be his son, Martin's "personal care assistant" (Taylor's term for babysitting so she can put it on her resume) as he has Cerebal Palsy. Her mother has decided to tag a long as the whole group will be spending three weeks in the south of France. It was difficult at first to get into Taylor's voice as she narrates the novel. Once I became accustomed to her voice I appreciated the way she saw the world. She fights for her autonomy and refuses to just let people "baby" her because shes different. I think too many times we as a society infantilize individuals on the Autism Spectrum. Yes, I realize it's a spectrum, but I think that teachers and parents sometimes over protect those that are high functioning and it builds up frustration amongst all parties. This ended up the main conflict in the novel between Taylor and her mother.
One critique I had of the novel was that towards the end of the novel, using dramatic irony, Brenna introduces the idea that Martin's brother, Luke, is gay. He doesn't come out and maybe it's because Taylor is narrating it, but there's not a clear addressing of this. I wish it had been developed whether it's because Taylor doesn't care, the family doesn't care, or whether Luke isn't ready to come-out. None of these are addressed and it felt like it was an add on to the plot.
Overall I may read the earlier books in this series as I enjoyed this one and it was a fast read. I also think this is a book that would be great to have in a high school classroom for independent reading or for a companion to other books about unique points of view.
Taylor has been hired by her mother's boyfriend, Alan, to be his son, Martin's "personal care assistant" (Taylor's term for babysitting so she can put it on her resume) as he has Cerebal Palsy. Her mother has decided to tag a long as the whole group will be spending three weeks in the south of France. It was difficult at first to get into Taylor's voice as she narrates the novel. Once I became accustomed to her voice I appreciated the way she saw the world. She fights for her autonomy and refuses to just let people "baby" her because shes different. I think too many times we as a society infantilize individuals on the Autism Spectrum. Yes, I realize it's a spectrum, but I think that teachers and parents sometimes over protect those that are high functioning and it builds up frustration amongst all parties. This ended up the main conflict in the novel between Taylor and her mother.
One critique I had of the novel was that towards the end of the novel, using dramatic irony, Brenna introduces the idea that Martin's brother, Luke, is gay. He doesn't come out and maybe it's because Taylor is narrating it, but there's not a clear addressing of this. I wish it had been developed whether it's because Taylor doesn't care, the family doesn't care, or whether Luke isn't ready to come-out. None of these are addressed and it felt like it was an add on to the plot.
Overall I may read the earlier books in this series as I enjoyed this one and it was a fast read. I also think this is a book that would be great to have in a high school classroom for independent reading or for a companion to other books about unique points of view.
December 25, 2017
Although I didn't enjoy this one as much as Wild Orchard (the voice just seemed a little strained and awkward to me), I really appreciated Taylor's recollections of her childhood and thought it was overall a relatively strong and interesting novel.
October 2, 2017
This story jumps around. Not sure what the author is trying to do, really. The characters are flat, and the issues lack authenticity and life. I'll try one of the other books in the series, to see if it gives a different impression.
January 10, 2018
"Life is like that. Sometimes things are heavy in your arms, and at other times, you are lifted forward to places you would not have discovered without the burden you have carried."
from the last chapter of this amazing book.
from the last chapter of this amazing book.
December 29, 2018
This Michael Printz honor book was the third book in a trilogy about a girl with Asperger’s Syndrome. It was short and not unpleasant, but I didn’t love the characters nor the plot. Maybe if I had read the first two books in the series I would have enjoyed it more...
Read
August 7, 2019Genre: realistic fiction
Disabled character(s): Taylor Jane
Disability type: Asperger’s syndrome
Notes: This is the last book of a series. I didn’t read the whole series, which is why the third book is the only one on here. You probably should cause otherwise it’s not as fun.
Disabled character(s): Taylor Jane
Disability type: Asperger’s syndrome
Notes: This is the last book of a series. I didn’t read the whole series, which is why the third book is the only one on here. You probably should cause otherwise it’s not as fun.
October 8, 2019
Taylor's voice sounded too young for me to believe she was 19, but other than that, I mostly enjoyed the book. It's hard to find a good book about an autistic woman, so even though it's not perfect, I think it's fairly well done.
December 4, 2017
This was a pretty good book, something for people to read if they don't want to get sucked into a huge story line.
June 21, 2018
weird Fing narrative by a YA woman with ass burgers
November 29, 2018
I did not like this book because I just could never get into it and just never liked the plot or the main characters. I also didn't like how it jumped around a couple times.
August 5, 2019
Started out slow but then it really became quite a great book! Beverly Brenna I think did a wonderful job of trying to picture the world through Taylor's eyes, and I applaud her for that.
February 5, 2020
there is a reason this book took me forever to read even though it was only 200 pages. the reason is that it was bad. didn’t like it.
December 22, 2020
This book was poorly written. Happy to have it over with. I could have predicted the ending from the first 10 pages. Underwhelmed.
November 20, 2018
I thought It was an interesting book about a woman named Taylor that had a disorder of Asperger. Throughout the story It shows how Taylor needs to overcome her disorder and bond with it. Taylor will have to deal with her impossible mother and journey through France. I would rate this book a 2 star since at points It was interesting but at other points of the book It was boring.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 2, 2015
Read this one due to it receiving the Printz Honour.
Things I Liked:
- The first-person perspective truly read like someone with Aspergers (well, I don't have Aspergers so I wouldn't actually *know*, but it felt true to life.) Brenna presents Aspergers as a different way of living, not a deficient one and presents the ups and downs that come with it. Taylor still lives a full life, and watching try to achieve independence is not that different from a typical teen's, though it still has its differences.
- Mileage May Vary on this, but I personally enjoyed how introspective the novel was, to a degree. Seeing Taylor write out her thoughts and then analyze them, then later apply them to other situations she faces also felt incredibly true-to-life to. I guess this is just expanding on my first point.
- Taylor and her mother's relationship was very well-drawn. Taylor's frustrations with her mother's hovering and sometimes forceful behaviour are, again, relatable to a lot of teens, Aspergers or not. But even when Taylor claims to hate her mother, the reader knows she's not a BAD person. Both Taylor and her mother are easy to sympathize with because they're just doing the best they can with navigating each other's differing perspectives.
Things I Didn't Like As Much:
- I know I said I liked the introspective nature of the novel, but sadly this also led to it having very little plot. The sequences that dealt with Taylor remembering her childhood were quite good, but then others like the bits with Adelaide felt too short.
- It feels like Brenna is really beating readers over the head with the messages of existentialism, trying to under someone else's perspective and owning one's life. However, this same complaint also just feels like it would fit Taylor's voice (she repeats herself a lot, but it makes sense to her Asperger's), so I'm kind of on the fence about this one.
Overall, it's a decent novel but not one I found myself falling in love with. I would recommend this to readers who enjoyed The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon and Marcelo in the Real World by Francisco X. Stork.
Things I Liked:
- The first-person perspective truly read like someone with Aspergers (well, I don't have Aspergers so I wouldn't actually *know*, but it felt true to life.) Brenna presents Aspergers as a different way of living, not a deficient one and presents the ups and downs that come with it. Taylor still lives a full life, and watching try to achieve independence is not that different from a typical teen's, though it still has its differences.
- Mileage May Vary on this, but I personally enjoyed how introspective the novel was, to a degree. Seeing Taylor write out her thoughts and then analyze them, then later apply them to other situations she faces also felt incredibly true-to-life to. I guess this is just expanding on my first point.
- Taylor and her mother's relationship was very well-drawn. Taylor's frustrations with her mother's hovering and sometimes forceful behaviour are, again, relatable to a lot of teens, Aspergers or not. But even when Taylor claims to hate her mother, the reader knows she's not a BAD person. Both Taylor and her mother are easy to sympathize with because they're just doing the best they can with navigating each other's differing perspectives.
Things I Didn't Like As Much:
- I know I said I liked the introspective nature of the novel, but sadly this also led to it having very little plot. The sequences that dealt with Taylor remembering her childhood were quite good, but then others like the bits with Adelaide felt too short.
- It feels like Brenna is really beating readers over the head with the messages of existentialism, trying to under someone else's perspective and owning one's life. However, this same complaint also just feels like it would fit Taylor's voice (she repeats herself a lot, but it makes sense to her Asperger's), so I'm kind of on the fence about this one.
Overall, it's a decent novel but not one I found myself falling in love with. I would recommend this to readers who enjoyed The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon and Marcelo in the Real World by Francisco X. Stork.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews