The reason why I am writing a book review is that in my role as a NDD Family Advisor I am often recommending parent carers buy this book for their teenagers, recommended for ages 10 to 17 years. We also, throughout our Teen Life course which is licenced by The National Autistic Society, are asked to promote this book to parents for their teenagers. I felt like a bit of a hypocrite telling people to buy/read this book when I hadn’t read it myself so I thought that I would give it a go…
The Asperkids book is written by Jennifer O’Toole who has an Asperger’s diagnosis (autism), she also has a husband and three children who are also diagnosed autistic. The reason why she decided to write the book was that when she was a teenager she struggled to understand all the social norms and rules that Neuro typical (NT) just get, although Jennifer excelled academically she kept on messing up as a teenager and having to make new friendships. It wasn’t until she had her diagnosis that it all made sense as to why she felt that she didn’t fit in with her peers. Now she has her own children she decided to write a hand book to help and guide teenagers through their teenage life.
The book has 31 bite-sized chapters that covers all the aspects that many teenagers with autism may struggle with such as managing emotions, friendships, masking etc. and the social cues that neuro divergent teenagers can find confusing. She steers them through each chapter by firstly telling a light -hearted anecdote that is related to each chapter which the reader can relate to “that they are not alone in this world”.
Jennifer then gives the reader guidance on the pitfalls that Aspies need to be aware of and avoid with logical explanations, helping teenagers navigate through their teen life. Each chapter begins with a Comic cartoon illustration by Brian Bojanowski which is related to each chapter. Jennifer is succinct in each chapter to keep teenagers engaged in reading.
One of my favourite parts of the book are where Jennifer uses the analogy of ridged thinking as “uncooked Spaghetti.” With my way is the only way of thinking as being uncooked spaghetti; you break or break down when you’re asked to change. Whereas if you listen to other people’s ideas and respect them their minds are flexible like wet spaghetti. I also like that at the end of the book Jennifer gives you stickie’s (post it notes) which gives the reader 85 nuggets of wisdom and then she gives the reader scenarios to practise.
Do keep in mind that Jennifer is American and so her education and the culture she refers to differs to the British education system and culture and also that we in the UK no longer used the term Asperger syndrome as a diagnostic term for autism, however when the book was first published in 2013 it was.
I think that this book is not just for Teenagers with an Autism diagnosis but a guide book for all teenagers, they can keep on their bedside table to keep on referring back to. It’s a book where you don’t need to start at the beginning and finish at the end, you can dip in to certain chapters as and when needed. I can now feel assured that when I recommend this book to parent/carers I am no longer an imposter, hand on heart I 100% recommend.
