Toast

by Laurie Foos

In many ways, the Hamilton children are like any other kids. Eleven-year-old Mia and ten-year-old Will love playing Minecraft, eating pizza, and playing in the yard. But Mia knows that because Will is on the autism spectrum, some things are different for him. For starters, he doesn’t like things to change. Pizza has to be just so crispy, or he won’t eat it. He uses lines from movies to answer most questions. If his toast is too dark, Will could have a total meltdown. When Mom and Dad announce they’re getting a babysitter for the first time, Mia is alarmed. What will happen if the babysitter doesn’t understand the unusual things Will does? Her parents know that she is Will’s "translator" because she always understands him. Can they manage a whole night with a brand-new person in charge? Is it always Mia’s job to worry, or can she find a way to rely on other people? Toast explores the tender, scary, funny, and always complex relationship between a girl and her autistic brother.

94 pages, Paperback

Published December 6, 2018

Reviews

[Samantha Kolber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a sweet story. Would be great to teach in upper elementary classes. Such great insight and glimpse into the world of an eleven year old grappling with big issues—autism and identity, family dynamics and social acceptance.

[Kai · Rating 5 out of 5]

my review: the 15 books i read in january | 2022
https://youtu.be/7OR4Q-jv2-8

[E.A. Luetkemeyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is impossible not to be moved by Toast, a heartwarming tale of a day in the life of the Hamiltons and the joys and pains of raising an autistic child. Poignant in its brevity (a mere 94 pages), it is a story you will read in a single session and be glad you did.
Young Will, a child "on the spectrum," is normal in many ways. He loves Pizza. He loves McDonald’s. He loves video games, especially Minecraft, in which he blows up his sister Mia’s crops as fast as she can plant them. But he has his quirks: he marches in place; he must line up his stuffed animals on their shelf before going to bed; he converses in movie quotes (“You are made of plastic. You are a child’s plaything!” he declares, quoting from Toy Story); and especially, his toast must be prepared just so, perfectly tan, not too brown.
Will is unsettled by changed—he has meltdowns—and tonight will present perhaps the biggest change in his young life: he will have a baby sitter! Is she up to the challenge? Can she adjust to his atypical behavior? And most importantly, can she make toast to his demanding specifications?
Sharing the stage with young Will are his empathetic and protective sister, Mia, and their mother and father who are loathe to leave him for the night; and off-stage is Gram, who has passed on but has a permanent warm spot in his heart. Altogether, the Hamiltons are a family whose strong bond of caring allows an exceptional child to mature in an atmosphere of love and solidarity. Toast is an endearing read for the young and old alike.

[KYLE MILLER · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well-told story and affective story of Will, a child "on the spectrum," who, in some ways, is like any other ten-year-old: he plays Minecraft, loves pizza, quotes Disney movies, and eats toast. Unlike other children, though, Will has to have his pizza prepared a specific way, his toast needs to be a particular color, his burgers the 'right' way. When they are not exactly the same every time, Will has difficulty coping. Foos weaves her messages and insights well, introducing autism and Spectrum Disorder to readers who may not know much about them.

[Ramona · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this short story. Characters were realistic, and the manner of exploring autism is thoughtful and genuine. The family dynamics, a stranger brought into the struggling family atmosphere, and the out of home setting made this a great believable story.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple book for ESL class.