The Next Best Book Club discussion

My brother-in-law works in the special needs department at the middle school in the town we live in. The main boy that he works with has pretty severe autism, as well as some other problems that give him very limited abilities. His mother really struggles sometimes, and doesn't really know what to do. (My BiL taught this boy, who is 12 or 13 to tell his mom I love you, and she cried.)

Anyway, my BiL is looking for books to recommend to this boy's mother to help her understand his situation better, and feel a little less alone. She often feels like no one understands what she goes through and that she is kind of the only one facing this. He's looking for books (preferably fiction or memoir type, he has enough of the scientific non-fiction already) that include a predominant autistic character.

He's already recommended and/or aware of Running with Scissors, Rules by Cynthia Lord and Awakening Ashley: Mozart Knocks Autism On Its Ear.

If anyone has any recommendations similar to these, they would be greatly appreciated!!

The Speed of Dark by Elizabeth Moon is an interesting book. It's social sci-fi (although very mild), set in the near-future. The lead character is one of a dwindling group of autists, since technology exists to genetically modify embryos to be non-autistic. The lead character is employed by a mega-bio-corporation in a special group, where their special skills as autists help make them big bucks. The corporation has discovered a way to reverse the autism even in adults and wants to force it on the special group. At the same time, the lead is finding romance and attempting to make friendships in the 'normal' world.

What makes this book very real is that the author has an adult autistic son. It's told in the first-person, which is really amazing.

My son has Asperger's, which is on the autism spectrum. The only fiction book I can think of is The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon.

For Asperger's, I like the memoir Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Asperger's by John Elder Robison who is the brother mentioned in Running with Scissors. Everyone else tells me to read books by Temple Gradin who has Asperger's. She's written many things, but I believe the one dealing with autism specifically is called, "Emergence: Labeled Autistic.

I would also advise you to have her join Facebook because there are wonderful groups for parents of children with autism. They have many more books, plus resources, than I've listed and the benefit of talking to people who understand what you are going through. It's been a lifesaver for me.

Hi Ashley,

Has he checked out the website for Autism Speaks? They have a huge listing of books on their resource page, as well as blogs and other websites.

Wow you guys, this is awesome! I will definitely let him know! These are great! Keep them coming!

I'll send him this link, and have him check into all of this! Thanks!

Take a look at Raising Blaze: Bringing Up an Extraordinary Son in an Ordinary World by Debra Ginsberg. While I have not read this particular book, I have read others by Ginsberg (both memoir and fiction) and can vouch for her incredible writing. Hope that helps!

You might also suggest for Asperger's the website called wrong planet.net which has all kinds of forums for the autistic community or caregivers.

"Rules" is a good suggestion. I also suggest these two which are based on Asperger's:
Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine
Harmonic Feedback by Tara Kelly

An adult might be interested in:
Dark Eye and Strip Search by William Bernhardt

Hi,

I would really recommend Dasha's Journal: A Cat Reflects on Life, Catness and Autism.
It is a book written from the perspective of a cat who has adopted a family with an autistic child. It's a very unique and interesting read and is a great introduction book for understanding autism, especially in a family context. I think you'll really like it!

As an autistic adult, let me say clearly: Stay Away From Autism Speaks. They are a HATE group, who spend less than 4 percent of the money people give them on actually helping autistic people and their families. The rest they spend on scare campaigns and supporting people who MURDER their children for being autistic. Every single other autist I know will say the same. We hate those guys right back.
Try the autistic self advocacy network (ASAN: http://autisticadvocacy.org)

AUTISTIC AUTHOR Temple Grandin, PLUS watch the brilliant biopic about her starring Claire Danes, who did an incredible job of studying Grandin to play the part remarkably well.

Temple Grandin was the FIRST autistic person to stand up and speak for and about autism, and she is one of the best resources, bar none. She has a variety of books out. I haven't read many, since my child isn't autistic although I do know families with autistic children, but I did read one, The Unwritten Rules of Social Relationships which she co-authored that I think is a must-read for any parent or teacher of an autistic or aspie child, and NO not all aspie kinds belong on that baloney spectrum they like to use now (don't even get me started on that, but it's become almost meaningless.) I have an aspie first cousin and his son is also an aspie, and my cousin is a highly successful lawyer; not something an autistic person, even as brilliant as Temple Grandin, is going to excel in.

Sue Larkey and Tony Attwood are extremely helpful, knowledgeable Aussies who work with people who work with (or have) kids on the autism spectrum.

They have some terrific resources, many of them free, and Sue has a newsletter full of ideas too.

Have a look and the very best of luck!

https://suelarkey.com.au/

I also recently reviewed a book by Samantha Craft who's just written Everyday Aspergers - an autobiorgraphy which you might find interesting). She discovered that she has Aspergers herself only after her second son was diagnosed. She's in the U.S.

Mind you, that was after a GP had seen him with a tantrum and said she needed to work on her parenting skills! Helpful NOT.

My review is here:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...