Mindblind

Dec 14, 2012 Lo♪ rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, musician-dreams

I don't normally comment on the cover, but this one didn't really fit the book at all. It appears sort of mysterious and dark, as if the book will be really tragic. Instead the book was pretty upbeat and humorous. You don't understand the cover until you're done with this book.

Mindblind is about a fourteen year old boy named Nathaniel who's whole life has been devoted to becoming a genius. He already has the brains; he just needs to find one thing that can prove he impacted the world. Since he's...more

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Jan 20, 2013 Aarika H rated it 2 of 5 stars

My book “MINDBLIND” by Jennifer Roy is not like many books. In this book the main character Nathaniel Clark lives in two worlds, the world with his family and friends and the world of his own Aspie world. Nathaniel was diagnosed with Aspergers syndrome at the age of three. His Aspergers syndrome makes IQ higher than any kid his age, everyone calls him a genius but he doesn't consider himself one. I didn't really like this book because I didn't get a lot of the things he said, and what “world” he...more My book “MINDBLIND” by Jennifer Roy is not like many books. In this book the main character Nathaniel Clark lives in two worlds, the world with his family and friends and the world of his own Aspie world. Nathaniel was diagnosed with Aspergers syndrome at the age of three. His Aspergers syndrome makes IQ higher than any kid his age, everyone calls him a genius but he doesn't consider himself one. I didn't really like this book because I didn't get a lot of the things he said, and what “world” he was in.

I don't think he likes going to his dad’s house because they always get in fights. “My father and I have different definitions of FUN” (85). His dad doesn't understand him and what his syndrome is about. He thinks that he likes the things a “normal” teenager likes. Nathaniel's dad makes him go to one of his co-workers parties but Nathaniel doesn't want to go. When Nathaniel gets there, a kid offers him a drink of juice but Nathaniel doesn't know that there’s alcohol in there. Nathaniel’s dad comes and gets him later that night and finds him drunk. This is why Nathaniel doesn't like his dad because he just drops him off at places he doesn't want to be and leaves for his work. I think that one of the reasons his dad brought him to that party was to get him off the computer and socialize with other people because Nathaniel already graduated high school so he doesn't see anyone rarely. It doesn't seem like his dad cares much about him because otherwise he wouldn't have brought him to that party without parental guidance.

The genre of this book represents Realistic Fiction, because this can happen to anyone. This book doesn't relate to any book I've read. The big picture in this book is that he has Aspergers syndrome, the readers supposed to understand about what goes on in a person with this syndrome’s head, they’re also supposed to recognize that this is a problem worldwide and we have to accept that it’s not much different than us, they’re just smarter in some ways.(less)

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Oct 11, 2011 Angela rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: male-pov, smart-genius-protagonist, contemporary, amazing-cover, humourous, misleading-cover, original-concepts

Mindblind was beyond my expectations of any book with a genius. I expected Mindblind to be similar to Artemis Fowl, minus the fairies and Butler, but it was not. Ms. Jennifer Roy managed to make Mindblind similar, yet completely different from the Artemis Fowl series.

The similarities are quite obvious. Nathaniel and Artemis are obnoxious know-it-all brats who are trying to find their own place in the world. Well, Nathaniel is and Artemis has already somewhat found his own place. Nathaniel is fi...more

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Oct 03, 2011 Ilsa Bick rated it 3 of 5 stars

I’m not a disorder-of-the-month kind of reader, and I normally steer clear of books that delve into areas with which I have a lot of familiarity. This book caught my eye, though–in an airport Hudson News, no less (I live to see my books in airports someday…), and I’m glad I gave into my impulse to pick it up. 14-yo Nathaniel has Asperger’s, but he’s a high-functioning “Aspie,” who orders his world with formulas. Oh, and did I mention that he’s a genius? Before you roll your eyes, lighten up a li...more

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Aug 25, 2011 Laurie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Nathaniel Clark is fourteen and a college graduate taking a year off before graduate school. He has an off the charts IQ, taught himself Mandarin Chinese when he was four, and is on the ‘autistic end of Asperger’s’. He spends a lot of time happily alone – he was home schooled – but has in the flesh friends. He’s in a band. And he’s trying to become a genius, because, despite his high IQ, he can’t be a genius until he contributes something to society.

This book takes him through some regular teen...more Nathaniel Clark is fourteen and a college graduate taking a year off before graduate school. He has an off the charts IQ, taught himself Mandarin Chinese when he was four, and is on the ‘autistic end of Asperger’s’. He spends a lot of time happily alone – he was home schooled – but has in the flesh friends. He’s in a band. And he’s trying to become a genius, because, despite his high IQ, he can’t be a genius until he contributes something to society.

This book takes him through some regular teenage things- first crush, a party he really shouldn’t (and didn’t want to be) be at, misunderstandings. There is no great plot, but he grows emotionally.

I enjoyed the novel, but it has its flaws. The characters, except for his lout of a father (who doesn’t believe in the existence of Asperger’s syndrome) – who he thankfully only sees on weekends- are pretty perfect. They are totally supportive and accepting of Nathaniel’s quirks. They seem to have no real lives or problems of their own, no development, but just exist as props in Nathaniel’s life. His mother, who seems to have no emotions except for love for her son, is always there, never frustrated, never upset (except with her ex), and seems to exist for her son. She, like the friends, is perfect. I’m a little suspicious that the mother is a Mary Sue, the author having a son with Asperger’s. I’m sure she hopes to be the good mother than Nathaniel’s mother is; I’m also sure she hopes that her son’s life is navigated as smoothly (for the most part) that Nathaniel’s is; I hope so, too. Or perhaps this isn’t a flaw; perhaps these people are so flat because Nathaniel, mindblind to others thoughts and emotions, sees them that way.

There are some brilliant bits. Showing Nathaniel organizing his mind in the form of computer files is great, both in the idea and in the delivery. The part where he has an episode of mania is so well done that you feel manic yourself reading it; you don’t really catch your breath until it winds down into hypomania and then finally normalcy. This is a book, I think, that would work well for tweens, but doesn’t really hold up for adults (not that it’s meant to).
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Aug 19, 2011 Talyn rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Literature circles, people wanting to understand Asperger's

Recommended to Talyn by: Public library

Shelves: ya-novels, mental-illness

Loved this book. Having Asperger's myself, I could relate to everything Nathanial went through. The desire to be a genius, the taking metaphors and expressions seriously, obsession with various things, excelling in certain places but failing in others (he is super adept in math, I in English and Art), echoing other peoples' words, and mental shutdowns when someone [inadvertantly] threatens to move things around, or touch their things, or meddle with it in any way (I once almost had -what I think...more

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May 02, 2011 Sarah Mohrhauser rated it 5 of 5 stars

Open File:C\MyFiles\Mindblind.avi (Date4/8/11)

First, from a personal standpoint, I enjoyed this book for its revalations about life with Asperger's Syndrome. Like other books in this genre (Curious Incident of a Dog in the Night-Time, House Rules, Rules) I am fascinated by the workings of the mind of a child who functions on such a different level than myself. But I also find having read this book that there are so many similarities between an Aspie and myself--what's different is the degree. So...more Open File:C\MyFiles\Mindblind.avi (Date4/8/11)

First, from a personal standpoint, I enjoyed this book for its revalations about life with Asperger's Syndrome. Like other books in this genre (Curious Incident of a Dog in the Night-Time, House Rules, Rules) I am fascinated by the workings of the mind of a child who functions on such a different level than myself. But I also find having read this book that there are so many similarities between an Aspie and myself--what's different is the degree. Sometimes all of us have a hard time functioning in the 'outside' world of our work, our friends, and society at large. Sometimes we, too, want to escape into our own worlds. In fact, books are often the key to this place for me.

In the classroom, this book offers so much for middle school students who are struggling to discover themselves and how they should function in the 'outside' world. They are trying to navigate the rules of an extremely complex adolescent land. Often the best guide is a character who must traverse even greater chasms than we must, so that we can feel comforted that our lot is not so much to bear. We see Nathaniel's thoughts as he struggles to understand the world in such a literal way. We learn lessons by living the life of Nathanial vicariously.

The acceptance of Nathaniel's friends is heartwarming. They have figured him out, even if they haven't figured him out. They know how to be with him even if they do not always understand the impetus for some of his behaviors. This aspect of the book provides a great lesson in acceptance of the other for all our middle school kids. This lesson has tendrils that reach toward all the varied differences of students in middle school and, one hopes, helps our students come to understand the importance of tolerance and loyalty.

The math in this book alone went beyond me most of the time, but the logical nature of the equations was interesting to contemplate. Wouldn't we all wish for simple expressions of the most confusing and complicated aspects of life. It's a great way to tie literature to mathematics to have students think about how to express their own lives in equalities. And maybe, when life all plays out, all things are equal on some level.

Overall, a great read with lessons too significant to pass up, with great interdisciplinary connections...M=<3
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Mar 25, 2011 Abby Johnson rated it 2 of 5 stars

For Nathaniel, a 14-year-old with Asperger's Syndrome, life can be confusing, like when he's trying to figure out how he feels about his friend Jessa or when he's dealing with his dad (who does NOT understand about Asperger's). But there are lot of things Nathaniel's good at, like playing the keyboards in the band he's formed with his friends and complex mathematic computations. When Nathaniel is turned down from a prestigious school for geniuses, he begins to wonder how he can make his mark on...more

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Feb 08, 2011 Sarah rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: teen-coming-of-age-boy, teen-family, teen-family-issues, teen-music, teen-autism

Not surprisingly, since Mark Haddon's Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time exploded autism spectrum fiction into popular consciousness, a flood of teen first person fiction titles along the same themes have saturated the publishing industry. Mindblind diligently attempts to break down stereotypes of Asperger's, but it's this very diligence that overwhelms what could have been a charming story. Fourteen year-old Nathaniel Clark spoke fluent Mandarin Chinese by the time he was four, knows...more

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Jan 17, 2011 Jan rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: teenbooks, contemporary

Seriously, another book about a character with Asperger's. Sigh. This novel, by Jennifer Roy, features a protagonist who is an “aspie” on the “autistic end,” as he describes himself. Nathaniel is fifteen and he has managed fairly well to negotiate the two worlds in which he lives: the outside world of people and social expectations and his inside world where he can be himself and not have to worry about fitting in or making any social faux pas. Nathaniel has an extremely high IQ and is preoccupi...more Seriously, another book about a character with Asperger's. Sigh. This novel, by Jennifer Roy, features a protagonist who is an “aspie” on the “autistic end,” as he describes himself. Nathaniel is fifteen and he has managed fairly well to negotiate the two worlds in which he lives: the outside world of people and social expectations and his inside world where he can be himself and not have to worry about fitting in or making any social faux pas. Nathaniel has an extremely high IQ and is preoccupied with finding a way to demonstrate his “genius.” But he also is beginning to have romantic feelings for a friend and that has him completely baffled. Nathaniel’s mother and friends are completely supportive of him and his mother has worked hard to help him acclimate in the world. But Nathaniel’s father has always had trouble accepting Nathaniel and cannot help but be embarrassed by his sometimes unusual behavior.

The novel is told in first person narrative and the author cleverly uses different visual devices to give the reader the flavor of ASP speech and thought patterns. For example, she uses different fonts and styles to let us know when Nathaniel is accessing his memories (which he sees much like a computer file) or expressing an emotional reaction, like panic.

Nathaniel’s character is well developed by the author. He does experience insight into the problems that plague him and begins to understand how his own definitions of things like genius and love can be limited by his fears, insecurities and fixations. Unfortunately, the other characters exist just to orbit Nathaniel and are much less well defined. His adversarial relationship with his father, for instance, is explored, but only from Nathaniel’s point of view. His mother and friends are really quite heroic in their support of Nathaniel and it might have been a bit more realistic to have them express some occasional frustration.

This novel has a bit of a didactic bent, as it is obviously meant to be somewhat inspirational—thus, the heroic characters that surround Nathaniel. I would have preferred a more complex approach to this fascinating subject.
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Nov 28, 2010 Creative A rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-read-in-2010

Nathaniel wants to be a genius. Everyone says he already is (except for his father who thinks the whole autistic/genius thing is an excuse, and that Nathan just needs to grow up). But Nathaniel knows that to be a genius, you need to accomplish something great--and after being turned down from a graduate school for kids like him, he knows he's not a genius yet. And this is one problem Nathan doesn't have a formula for. But maybe what Nathan really needs to solve his genius problem is the people a...more Nathaniel wants to be a genius. Everyone says he already is (except for his father who thinks the whole autistic/genius thing is an excuse, and that Nathan just needs to grow up). But Nathaniel knows that to be a genius, you need to accomplish something great--and after being turned down from a graduate school for kids like him, he knows he's not a genius yet. And this is one problem Nathan doesn't have a formula for. But maybe what Nathan really needs to solve his genius problem is the people already around him--the goofball best friend who pushes him, the girl who's the center of Nathan's first crush, and the band that brings them together in unexpected success.

This was a really great book on Aspergers, a bit more realistic (I felt) than Marcelo In the Real World. While the back blurb makes this sound like the book is about Nathaniel's quest to become a genius, like accomplishing some amazing feat, it's not. It's about his struggles with feeling like he's not a genius in his father's eyes; the desire to be a genius is really his desire to accomplish something important.

I liked this book a lot. I think the author did a great job of humanizing Nathaniel, and the flashbacks, in the guise of memory files, were cute and very well done. Sometimes authors make us feel to much outside an asperger character, and I really liked how Nathaniel felt like a real person, without too many explanations of what his actions were like for outsiders. I particularly liked the mania section--I don't think I've ever read anything like that before.

I guess what I liked most about this book is, for all Nathaniel's quirks, struggles with his syndrome, outbursts of genius, and social issues, it felt like he might be a normally awkward guy. One who just happens to have aspergers.

A few parts were slow or frustrating; a few situations unrealistic; and the book was not particularly complicated. Nathaniel's biggest accomplishments come from a bout of mania that he had little control over, which weakens his personal achievements somewhat. But overall I thought this was a very well done story, and another great addition to "Aspie" YA fiction.

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Mar 11, 2013 Travis Haight rated it 5 of 5 stars

For some reason, I have found myself fascinated, interested, and really able to empathize with people who have such "disorders" such as Autism and Asperger's. I have read a little bit about AS, as well as some other fiction about the topic. Of all I have read, however, this is not just the best of the books about people with AS I have read, but is, hands down, one of the best books I have read in a very long time.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who either has an open mind enough to...more

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Mar 08, 2011 Michelle rated it 4 of 5 stars

An upfront "confession": I took Jennifer off the slush pile and she wrote her first (nonfiction) book for me, so I am biased in her favor. And I'm acknowledged in the book.

That aside, I was afraid I wouldn't like this as much as "Yellow Star," which is astonishing.

No fears. I loved it, especially the first half, which is a near-perfect exposition of a high-functioning Asperger kid's world. Near-perfect because the father may be just a tad too mean and one-dimensional, but probably realistic. The...more

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Feb 27, 2013 Julie Hucke rated it 4 of 5 stars

This was endearing and hilarious and interesting; I loved the part in the middle when Nathaniel went manic and started banging his intellect against some math problems that have famously tripped up brilliant mathematicians. It was written so well that you can't help but go on the ride with Nathaniel.

The scenes with his mother are particularly poignant and beautiful; it's not something you see a lot of in YA.

Very good read. The only thing I didn't really understand is when Nathananiel says he t...more

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Mar 14, 2011 Sherri rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult-fiction

This book is definitely worth reading ... It is written from the perspective of a 14-year-old boy with Aspberger's syndrome (on the spectrum with Autism). It gives wonderful insight into the challenges that people (often called Aspie's) deal with. The book is fresh, new and different because the main character is not like most characters in books ... and it is very educational and informative. I really liked the book because I learned something by reading it.

This book is written for 9 to 12 yea...more

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Apr 14, 2012 Sue rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya

Nathaniel Clark has Asperger's, but with his mother's help he has done very well both academically and socially. He read in a book that a genius must not only be smart, but must also contribute something to the outside world. He's working on that. He also is starting to think about girls, specifically Jessa. In short, he's a semi-regular teenaged boy. Applying for grad school at 15 - not regular. Worrying about what various girls think of him - regular.

I really liked this book. I think it was e...more

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Nov 07, 2011 Ms.Ellis rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: realistic-fiction

What a cool book!
A teenager with Asperger’s is impossible to understand, right? Wrong! Reading this book, written from the perspective of a 16 year old boy with Asperger’s, give so much insight as to what happens in an “Aspie’s” brain. The thought processes, the fears and confusions, even the romantic wonderings…all of it is explained in this easy to read and wonderfully perceptive piece. It’s so good that I know I MUST buy it and add it to my classroom library and there is a very good chance i...more

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Aug 13, 2011 Sherry rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: j-pb-er-middle-grade-ya-fict-and-nf

Do you know what Andy Warhol, Albert Einstein, Jane Austen, Isaac Newton, Charles Schultz, Marie Curie, Thomas Jefferson, and Temple Grandin (she's a contemporary engineer) have in common? If you said Asperger's, then you were correct. All of these famous people are thought to have had this syndrome, which is characterized by a subset of behaviors, anxieties and drives which accompany extreme intelligence and talent, especially for thinking outside the box.

"Mindblind" is a fictional novel starr...more Do you know what Andy Warhol, Albert Einstein, Jane Austen, Isaac Newton, Charles Schultz, Marie Curie, Thomas Jefferson, and Temple Grandin (she's a contemporary engineer) have in common? If you said Asperger's, then you were correct. All of these famous people are thought to have had this syndrome, which is characterized by a subset of behaviors, anxieties and drives which accompany extreme intelligence and talent, especially for thinking outside the box.

"Mindblind" is a fictional novel starring protagonist Nathaniel Clark, a fourteen year-old "Aspie" who has completed his GED, college entrance exams, and entire college education after homeschooling and self-dedication to his studies and thoeries. His strengths are numbers, formulas, Mandarin Chinese, and science. He aspires to achieve "genius" status someday, by making a lasting contribution to help mankind, and won't feel fulfilled until he does. Like other Aspies, he is much more sensitive to external noise and stimuli than "normal people", and he is awkward at displaying emotion, figuring out the complexities of social relationships and feeling comfortable in new experiences. Nathaniel's father never accepted him for being different, for being someone he couldn't relate to or explain. In fact, his dad rejects the Asperger's diagnosis, thinking his son acts odd on purpose, as a result of being spoiled or coddled.

Fortunately, Nathaniel has a small group of friends with whom he can be himself. He gains confidence and graps a sense of teenage normalcy by his close association with Jessa, Cooper and Logan. The four teens are in a band together - the wealthy but down-to-earth Cooper, gorgeous and wholesome songbird Jessa, younger nerdy Logan, and awkward Aspie Nathaniel. Their banter and comraderie is wonderful. Deep friendships, and most especially his close relationship with his mom - tutor, friend, mother, and advocate - is what keeps Nathaniel a whole person in touch with the real world.

Throughout the novel, Nathaniel has a running dialogue with himself which allows you to see how differently his brain works, how oddly literal and pragmatic it is. That is his world filter, which overrides, at least temporarily, emotions and creativity. Nathaniel works hard to let his creativity flow and allow emotions to surface.

Weaving believable teen friendship and complicated step-family dynamics with mental health issues and an odd mindset such as Asperger's is no small feat. Making the odd, eccentric character very likeable is an even greater feat. Jennifer Roy pulls this off seamlessly. Whether or not you have a personal interest in learning more about Asperger's, Roy's "Mindblind" is appealing to all readers who like contemporary, teen realistic fiction, love underdogs, and are looking for something different.

For ages 10-15
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Mar 27, 2013 Marquis Kurt rated it 5 of 5 stars

I found this book very great. This book was about a boy who had Asperger's. His mother and father got divorced when he was an early child (toddler). Ever since, he ends up winding between his mother and his stepfather while trying to keep himself together. His parents try to motivate him to be a little bit more social, but each attempt becomes either futile or awkwardly good.

I really liked the main character. He's got that groove for math and science, like I do. He sees his life like a computer,...more

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Nov 06, 2011 Aliza rated it 5 of 5 stars

A fictional YA account of a boy genuis with Asperger's syndrome, a type of high-functioning autism, depicts how he thinks, his struggles and triumphs with socializing with friends and especially family as his parents seem to have divorced over his condition (his father does not believe in autism or Asperger's).

The lead character is 14 and in grad school, quirky but funny and seeing the world through his eyes is refreshing. The story is motivated by him wanting to prove he is a genius, despite hi...more

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Oct 02, 2011 Beth Nieman rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: junior high

Shelves: land-of-enchantment-award

The author shows readers how a brilliant autistic boy struggles to meet the social expectations of those around him--he feels like an outsider and is generally not upset by that, but when some of his peers begin to show how much they appreciate his skills as part of a band they have formed, he begins to wonder if he actually could have several friends . . . maybe even a girlfriend. The father in this story is a very unsympathetic character who seems almost too critical and uncaring to be believa...more

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May 10, 2012 The Cheap Reader rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: own-kindle, contemporary

I loved the narration choice of the book. Kids with autism tend to have a rigid grasp on reality so it only makes sense for Nathaniel to file his memories like files on a computer. Every time there’s a flashback it’s prefaced with something like “Open file: C:/My Files/BradenParty_Jessa.avi (Date: 10/12/10)” It helps the reader know it’s a flashback but it also provides a glimpse in to Nathaniel’s mind.

The relationships in this book really make the book for me. Thankfully we live in a world wher...more

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Dec 28, 2010 Briony Zlomke rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: bfya, ya, realistic, disability

This book appealed to me on the genius aspect. I wanted to see how Roy crafted a boy with Asperger's who struggles to define his genius aptitude while trying to lead a normal life.

I thought that Roy did a great job getting in Nathaniel's emotions and thoughts. I was interested in how he defined genius and how he fit into this concept. I was also interested in Nathaniel's and his father's relationship. What lost my interest was his interaction with his peers. I thought that it was your traditiona...more

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May 06, 2012 Kirei rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: older-kids, teens-and-adults

Somebody I know very well has Asperger's Syndrome, so that is what led me to read this book. It is about a boy who has it, but still has a fairly normal life.

It has a happy ending and is a good book to give to your child if he or she has the syndrome, or has friends who has it. It did not have the most interesting storyline, though--for that, I preferred The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

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Nov 26, 2011 Rachel rated it 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this book. For not knowing too much about Asperger's, it was very eye-opening. While it's a disease that is akin to autism, it's not quite the same in many ways. It was great to see into the mind of Nathaniel and be able to share his thoughts and anxieties. I also liked that the book did not end with all things being solved. In life, not everything goes your way, you need to constantly evolve and that is what Nathaniel did. He didn't quite get Jessa, but he didn't lose her eithe...more

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Sep 27, 2010 Kate rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book would be fantastic paired with Tara Kelly's HARMONIC FEEDBACK - both have main characters with Asperger's Syndrome who are also in bands, and both books do a great job going beyond the stereotype when it comes to portraying a character on the autism spectrum.

MINDBLIND was a terrific glimpse inside the mind of not-quite-genius Nathaniel as he navigates family relationships, friendship, a first romance, and life in a rock and roll band. Great math & science connections, and funny, t...more

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Mar 26, 2013 Rosalind M rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult

Perhaps not full of high drama or life-endangering challenges, but that's not what this book is meant to be about. MINDBLIND is a look at teenaged Nathaniel's everyday world, at an age when life can be awkward enough without additional challenges. Nathaniel's account successfully offers insight into aspects of behavior and response that I didn't have before reading this story, and I always enjoy an opportunity to gain greater understanding for my fellow humans (in all their quirky and often irra...more

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May 10, 2012 Emma rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: love, realistic-fiction, ya-april-e-m-m-a-challenge, coming-of-age, 2012

A funny, really laugh-out-loud kind of book.
Nathaniel is the kind of guy that speaks from the heart, even when he doesn't know it or doesn't want to, courtesy of Asperger's and a sky-high IQ.
His pain becomes our pain, his pain our love, in this realistic, hard-hitting story of a guy in a band with a crush and a genius (excuse me, relatively high) IQ. When the world and your mind is against you, how do you express yourself? How do you accomplish your goals? How do you start caring? How do you de...more

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Apr 25, 2011 Krista the Krazy Kataloguer rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-ya

Jennifer Roy writes this story, told from the point-of-view of a teenage boy with Asperger's syndrome, from first-hand knowledge, having such a child herself. Just as Jodi Picoult did in House Rules, Roy provides a vivid glimpse into what it's like to have Asperger's. And, as with Picoult's book, it was an eye-opener. The book is difficult to read at times, because what is going on in Nathaniel's mind is so disjointed or manic. But you can also see that Nathaniel is truly brilliant and gifted, o...more

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Mar 11, 2011 Alison rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: realistic-fiction

A fairly good story about Nathaniel, a boy with Asperger's Syndrome. He manages to skirt some cliches, though he usually announces to the reader that he is avoiding said cliches. That gets old fast. Nathaniel's inner world, or N-world as he calls it, was intriguing but not explored enough. The ending tied everything up neatly with a big red bow, but it made me smile. I would reccomend this to fans of Marcelo in the Real World.

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