Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Anything But Typical by Nora Raleigh Baskin

Jason, a 12-year-old boy with autism, has a hard time understanding many different things. He doesn't see things the same way that "neurotypicals" see things. Up until recently he's had the help of a classroom assistant, but now he's out there on his own. One of his favourite things to do is to write stories and post them online in a writing forum. That's where he strikes up an e-mail based relationship with a girl. They become friends - and, Jason wonders, could it become more?

I really enjoyed the way that this book covered the topic of online writing. It perfectly captured the way that you write and post, and kind of hold your breath, waiting to see if anyone will read it. Then, if they do, and they comment, you can slowly develop a real friendship with people you've never met. Questions of identity and authenticity are so important when considering this world, and I think they will be themes found in many other young adult and middle grade books in the future as children start online earlier and earlier.

Find it at IndieBound.

Read it with:
Marcelo in the Real World by Francisco X. Stork
Crash into Me by Albert Borris
Rules by Cynthia Lord
Django by Bonnie Christensen
The London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd

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