Product Description

Have you ever been called a freak or a geek? Have you ever felt like one? Luke Jackson is 13 years old and has Asperger Syndrome. Over the years Luke has learned to laugh at such names but there are other aspects of life which are more difficult. Adolescence and the teenage years are a minefield of emotions, transitions and decisions and when a child has Asperger Syndrome, the result is often explosive. Luke writes briefly about his younger autistic and AD/HD brothers, providing amusing insights into the antics of his younger years and advice for parents, carers and teachers of younger AS children. However, his main reason for writing was because "so many books are written about us, but none are written directly to adolescents with Asperger Syndrome. I thought I would write one in the hope that we could all learn together".

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #38069 in Books
• Published on: 2002-08-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 224 pages

Customer Reviews

The breakthrough my asd/as child needed!
I have a teenage son who was diagnosed last year with Mixed Developmental Disorder, including ASD/AS. I borrowed this book in the hope that he would read it and understand a little about his condition. Obviously I myself am trying to learn and understand 'what makes him tick'and bagan to read it before him. Sentence after sentence, page after page it appeared that Luke (the books author and subject)and my son could be the same person and my son could indeed have written this book himself. My son, being sceptical of having this condition at first refused to read it, but after becoming agitated with me reading out the many parallels to his own life, took the book from my hands stating that he was going to find a page where something would prove that he indeed was different from Luke and did not have this condition. After dipping into the book randomly for 20 minutes trying to find something that would prove the professionals, myself and everyone else wrong he admitted defeat. Every sentence/ paragraph he had attempted to read out to me further added to the evidence against his own beliefs. It has challenged his own perceptions of himself and whilst he is still outwardly in denial about his condition there is no doubt that this book has had a great impact on him and he is definately more willing to find out more. To this end, the book has been a complete success, it has broken through a barrier of denial that for a long time has seemed impossible to penetrate. It doesn't offer any 'fixes' and I think Mothers will find this book more helpful than Fathers insofar as women very often need 'insight' and men very often need to find a solution. This book is definately now on my wish list. If you have friends or relatives who express the opinion that 'there is nothing wrong with your chid that X, Y or Z wouldn't cure' or that in order for there to be a 'condition' there must be visible obvious symptoms this may be the book that changes their persepctive as it doesn't bamboozle with science.

Very helpful, user friendly book.
As a parent of a 5 year old boy who comes in the 'complex disorders' category; maybe AS, maybe ASD, maybe ADD/HD, maybe OCD... the list goes on, I found this book very heart warming and useful. Luke describes many traits that my son has, and advises how to deal with/ adjust to and understand these behaviours and unique ways of seeing and interpreting the world. I was so happy to gain these insights and to 'hear' Luke, brimming with intelligence and enthusiasm for his mission of enlightening us all, refer to his own experiences and slant on things.

Positive and uplifting. Highly recommended for parents, and also of course teachers and AS people amongst others (saving this for my son when he's old enough to read it).

Thanks Luke :)

Very well done to Luke Jackson
As an individual with Asperger's syndrome, I thought that it portrayed Asperger's syndrome perfectly, I could relate to almost all of it. The humour worked really well, because AS is normally portrayed really negatively. So, in summary, it made me laugh, cry, and realise that having AS isn't such a bad thing after all.

So, if Luke Jackson ever reads this, then very well done! I thoroughly enjoyed every page of it!!!

Jennifer Jackson