Anything but Typical by Nora Raleigh Baskin
Jason Blake is anything but typical. Mocked as retarded by his second grade classmates, diagnosed with ASD, Autistic Spectrum Disorder, by doctors in the third grade, and defined by his mother as NLD, nonverbal learning disordered, Jason is just Jason.
It surprised me that this book was just as much an exploration of the writing process (very post-modern) as it was a story about an autistic child who makes a friend online.
While reading, I found myself often wondering why Baskin didn’t apply the lessons her characters were learning to her own writing. More show, less tell (p 44). While School Library Journal called Jason “believable and empathetic,” I thought our narrator was rather dry and over explanatory, though his situation is pitiable and realistic. I couldn’t connect with Jason, while Stork’s Marcello is still milling about in my head.
School Library Journal also praised, “Baskin also does a superb job of developing his parents and younger brother as real people with real problems, bravely traversing their lives with a differently abled child without a road map, but with a great deal of love.” I can agree to this wholeheartedly.
It is clear that Jason’s mother has trouble understanding him as illustrated on page 68:
“Remember, Jason?” she is saying. “Remember those leggings?”
We were both remembering the same thing.
“Those leggings?” I repeat what she has said, so that she will know this.
“No?” my mother is saying. “You don’t? It’s okay. It was a long time ago.
And yet, his father gets him.
“It’s not meaningless to Jason,” my dad said. … “The words. And the letters. Just because you don’t understand their meaning doesn’t mean the don’t have one” (p 47).
This one has also been mentioned on mock Printz lists but it doesn’t top the likes of The Devil’s Paintbox or Along for the Ride in terms of writing excellence.
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing (March 24, 2009)
Marcelo in the Real World by Francisco X. Stork
“The closest description of what I have is probably Asperger’s syndrome. It falls on the high-functioning end of the autism spectrum.” It is as good an answer as I can give (p 186).
Though many have commented on the slow-paced beginning, I was immediately hooked. Marcelo’s thought process is fascinating, as are people’s reactions to him. I am envious of many of his perceived faults: he thinks carefully before speaking, is guided by a clear sense of right and wrong, has an affinity for animals.
There is an element of mystery in the style of “Erin Brockovich.”
There is romance but nothing like the sappy, love-struck or overwhelming romance saturating contemporary YA literature.
The supporting characters ellicit many emotional reactions from readers: anger, frustration, disgust, compassion.
It is a well structured, intricate story that I hope is a front runner for the Printz!
Read more at: TeenReads, Crazy Quilts
Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books (March 1, 2009) Read comments by the editor at Brooklyn Arden.
Children’s Book Groups – Diversity Titles
My library has just given me the ‘go ahead’ to choose some book discussion titles that could be used for special diversity month planning. Here’s what I’ve asked for:
[Hispanic Heritage Month] The Circuit by Jimenez, Francisco
[Black History Month] Feathers by Jacqueline Woodson
[Women's History Month] Rickshaw Girl by Mitali Perkins
[Diversity] The London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd
My group is comprised of fourth through sixth graders. Previous books we’ve read include The City of Ember (J. Duprau), The Invention of Hugo Cabret (B. Selznick), The Lightning Thief (R. Riordan) and A Crooked Kind of Perfect (L. Urban). Have any suggestions?
The London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd
Salim boards the London Eye with twenty other passengers while two other children, Ted and Kat, look on. Thirty minutes later, the sealed capsule opens and twenty one people exit, but not Salim. Where did the youth disappear to?
Ted, our narrator, is the heart and life of this otherwise ordinary mystery (Salim’s location is obvious from the beginning, especially if you’ve read the Anne of Green Gables series, as I have). But hearing Ted’s thoughts, following his reasoning, is worth the read. Ted is special. He has Asperger’s syndrome and a fascination with weather. His condition and interests bring humor, depth and a unique perspective to the story. I very much enjoyed this book and can’t wait to discuss it with my KidLit group meeting this weekend!
