The Clark Kent Chronicles

by Pamela Fagan Hutchins

They’re the parents who other people secretly believe must be doing a crappy job, the ones whose children don lacrosse gloves to weed the flowerbed, won’t turn in their homework, and throw age-inappropriate tantrums in public. They’re the parents one frayed nerve short of a breakdown as they scrub off the giant perceived “L” for Loser on their foreheads, turning for help to every source they can think of, because their kids just don’t respond like other kids, because their kids aren’t like other kids. Their very brains are wired differently, and the disciplines, motivators, and strategies that are supposed to work on them, according to conventional wisdom, don’t. These are the parents of children on the ADHD Spectrum, and most of them have used up their Phone a Friend Lifeline and just want a little understanding and the hope of shared knowledge from someone else who has survived a life like theirs. They are parents like Pamela Fagan Hutchins, whose son, dubbed “Clark Kent the WonderKid,” has ADHD and Asperger’s Syndrome.

Pamela takes readers on a heart-wrenching and hilarious road trip from toddler to adulthood with Clark Kent and his family, sharing their collective wisdom and empathy along the way.

Genres: Parenting, Adhd, Nonfiction

268 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

I'm a USA Today bestselling mystery/suspense/thriller author and a big horse and sled dog enthusiast.

My hunky husband and I ride our beloved draft cross horses way up in the frozen north of Snowheresville, WY, where we run a rustic, off-the-grid lodge on the face of the Bighorn Mountains. When I'm not writing or riding, I'm passionate about wilderness sports, always with a couple of rescue dogs, bear spray, a mountain lion knife, and my Judge. NO ANIMALS HAVE BEEN HARMED IN THE MAKING OF THIS LIFE ADVENTURE (but don't sneak up on me).

I've made some lists and won some awards, yada yada. Amazon Charts Top 25 bestseller. USA Today Bestseller. The Silver Falchion for Best Adult Mystery WINNER (Fighting for Anna), the WINNERS for USA Best Books Fiction: Cross Genre (Hell to Pay, Heaven to Betsy), and others. With books "in print" of over 3,000,000, readers seem to enjoy the books—I think they have exceptionally good taste. {insert goofy grin here} Lots of them follow my show Wine Women & Writing, too, where I fangirl my favorite authors and interview them for your listening and viewing pleasure. Subscribe free at http://bit.ly/PamelaWWWR <--case sensitive.

You can read my series in any order or as standalones, but they're a lot of fun if you do them like this:

* Detective Delaney Pace (coming soon!): Her Silent Bones, Her HIdden Grave, Her Last Cry, Her Forgotten Shadow, Her Burning Lies, and Her Cold Heart.

* Patrick Flint Wyoming-based series (PG):
Switchback, Snake Oil, Sawbones, Scapegoat, Snaggle Tooth, Stag Party, Sitting Duck, and Skin & Bones. #9 coming in 2026.

* The Jenn Herrington Wyoming Mysteries (PG-13):
BIG HORN, WALKER PRAIRIE, and RED GRADE coming in 2026.

* What Doesn't Kill You Super Series:
1.Caribben-based Katie Connell (PG-13): Saving Grace, Leaving Annalise, Finding Harmony, and Seeking Felicity
2. Texas-based Emily Bernal (PG-13): Heaven to Betsy Earth to Emily, Hell to Pay
3. Texas-based Michele Lopez Hanson (PG-13): Going for Kona, Fighting for Anna, Searching for Dime Box
4. Wyoming-based Maggie Killian (R, language): Live Wire, Sick Puppy, Dead Pile (plus shorts Buckle Bunny and Shock Jock)
5. Caribbean-based Ava Butler (R, sexual situations): Bombshell, Stunner, Knockout

I also have a children's book series featuring Poppy, the world's best grandfather, and Petey, his blind Boston terrier.
Free starter library https://pamelafaganhutchins.com/maili...

If after all that you still want to learn more about my books, my podcast, or me, then God Bless Ya.

There are many ways: My website and its blog. The aforementioned newsletter. Email me: Pamela at PamelaFaganHutchins dot come. And you can follow me around the web:

Website: https://pamelafaganhutchins.com
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/pamel...
Pamela's Posse for Readers: https://www.facebook.com/groups/pamel...
Facebook http://facebook.com/pamela.fagan.hutc...
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/author/pamelafa...
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pamela_faga...
Twitter http://twitter.com/PamelotH
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/pamelafaganh...
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/pamelafaganhu...
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@pamela_fagan...
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/pamelafaganhu...

And, finally, to learn more about my fellow SkipJack Publishing authors, visit: http://skipjackpublishing.com/.

Reviews

[Lizze Gorski · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Clark Kent Chronicles, written by Pamela Fagan Hutchins, are a collection of essays/blog posts taken from Hutchins’ personal blog, www.pamelahutchins.com, which focus for the most part on her Asperger’s/ADHD son, Clark Kent.

Pamela Fagan Hutchins is a wonderfully funny, intelligent, and honest mother whom just so happens to be blessed with a son with ADHD and Asperger’s Syndrome. Her honesty was refreshing and in each essay, she made me feel that much less alone. While Hutchins was quick to share her brilliant insights into the joys of the world of special needs parenting, she was just as willing to share the difficulties with often humorous out-comes.

Overall, I cannot say that I have a single complaint about The Clark Kent Chronicles. I love how even though Hutchins’ uses their given names for her other children, she still sticks with the nickname she dubbed “Clark” with when her blog began. I love how while reading Chronicles I felt for the first time that I was not the only parent out there fumbling in the dark. There are many, many of us all in the same room fumbling to raise our children, tweens and teens with special needs together. Then to make a great book even better Hutchins’ is kind enough to include a list of any and all resources for parents of children with ADHD for high school, coping and college that either she could think of or knew existed.

If you are a parent of a child with ADHD or Asperger’s Syndrome, a family member, family friend or you know a child/tween/teen with ADHD or Asperger’s Syndrome I recommend this book. Hutchins will entertain you while giving valuable insight into the workings of a special needs mother and all that it takes to help our children along pass the obstacles of life. Heck, even if you lack a single tie to anyone with ADHD and/or Asperger’s Syndrome and you are simply looking for a good book that will make you laugh; I recommend this book. Hutchins will not disappoint you.

I received a free copy of The Clark Kent Chronicles, written by Pamela Fagan Hutchins, to read and review. I am in no way committed to writing a positive review; all reviews are my own thoughts and opinions. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

If your child has ADHD, this is a must read. I was surprised to see how someone else dealt with a ADHD child. It cleared up alot of questions. This book will be passed on to others who have to deal with my son. It is too bad that I didn't read this book years ago. Loved this book.

[Candice Ashby · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm so grateful that the author shared this story. My nephew is on the spectrum and this really helped me and my family understand him better. We love Clark Kent and think he's awesome just like my nephew. I bought a copy for my mother and sister. A great read that brings a nice amount of humor to what can be a difficult journey.

[Ellen White · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good insight look at the challenges and joys and teaching others with humor about her son. Well done.
Given audio for my honest review and my honest opinion

[Isabel Cardinale · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a wonderful story about doing your best to get it right, and finding the blessing in things that others might find sad or difficult. Raising a "neuro-atypical" child IS challenging, it IS difficult, and it is also wonderfully rewarding and full of moments of awe and laughter and joy. Once again Ms Hutchins pulls off an entertaining look inside her life, without being preachy or holier-than-thou. She is quick to point out her shortcomings, and attempts which failed spectacularly. But she learned a lot along the way and tells it in a way that is bound to make you smile and laugh out loud from time time. It seems all of us know someone in our families that exhibit the kind of behaviors she discusses in this book and all of us can learn from her experience. But once again dont get scared off, this is not a text book, it is a HILARIOUS look behind the curtains. You will laugh (and cry a little to) from cover to cover.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book through Goodreads - great!
I don't know anybody with ADHD, but lately a lot of children are getting diagnosed with ADHD. I wanted to know more about this, because when you see children behaving badly, you automatically think "bad parenting", but it is clearly not always the case.
Pamela has a very good sense of humour, which I think is a BIG plus raising an ADHD child. Like she says "You don't know how he or she turns out before they grow up", but isn't it like that with all kids? You don't know how they turn out until they are adults.
I am sure this book will be a big help to parents/teachers of ADHD children. I also like that Pamela has listed other literature in the back of the book that can be helpful in raising an ADHD child.
I am very glad that I got to read this book. If everybody knew a little bit more about things like this, things would probably be easier for the families with ADHD.

[Samantha Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is incredible range in this book. There are wonderful highs, great success and very very funny moments, but there is also sadness and struggles and pain. I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Clark Kent Chronicle. Pamela is an incredible writer. The prose is witty and fast moving, the editing is first class and the book rockets along like a roller coaster on wooden tracks. What I took from it that life is precious, and that that we spend too much time stressing about things that are not important and not enough time celebrating the wonder of they things that are great. This book, possibly more than any other that I have read teaches those things. Regardless of whether or not the exact subject matter/diagnoses applies to someone you love, you should read this book. You will NOT be disappointed.

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

Raising challenging, and challenged kids, can be frustrating, difficult and tiring. It can make you feel like you are alone in the world, that no-one truly understands you or your child. Well you are not alone, people do understand. This book looks at real life through a wonderful perspective that says "my child is wonderful, and special and even though I would like to strangle him/her sometimes, life really is good". The book, through the tales of the author, lets you participate in things that worked, and things that didn't. It is wonderfully written, easy to read and a real hoot.

[Susie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book. We have a grandchild with add and loved reading the tales of Clark Kent. Pamela Hutchins has such a knack for writing. I alternated laughing and crying at the joys and problems of raising a child with special needs. Pamela is a hands on mom who admits to the struggles and challenges of dealing with her son but we also see a mother who would do anything to see that her child gets the attention and accommodations at school that he deserves.

[Teresa Lavender · Rating 5 out of 5]

Won this from Goodreads. Fabulous book. I have taught special education for many years, but nothing prepared me for a child with social anxiety, and possible ADHD. Although not all of the description describes my child, many of them did - and there is assurance throughout that NOT ALL KIDS ARE THE SAME! Fact based information with references are presented first and throughout, then the stories are wonderful, funny, insightful, sad and very real. Worth the read!

[Meredith C · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author gave me this book at a book signing, along with several others, and I read it the very next day. It is an entertaining compilation of blog posts chronicling a child very much like my son. (My son does not have a spectrum disorder such as Aspergers) Her success list at the end of the book made me smile as it mirrors my own with my boy though he is still much younger than Clark. I will happily read her other books. She had a nice humorous voice in her writings.

[Trina · Rating 4 out of 5]

The stories in this book were both educational and hilarious. They really connected to the realities of dealing with a neuroatypical child in a way that wasn't bossing you around, wasn't "educating" you on a better way. It was really just reading the true. The writing continued to make me laugh and then to hold my heart in my hands. Pure empathy spilled through the pages along with honesty and love.

[Michelle Hutchins · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderfully raw emotional look at a very real mother raising a challenging child in a world that really does not always understand or accept. Its as much of a story of the growth of the mother as it is of the growth of the child. But this is not your typical memoir. For every bit of tough stuff and learning there is ten times as much laughing and love.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book claims to be "A Mother's Tale of Life with her ADHD and Asperger's Son," but it really wasn't a tale at all. It was a collection of vignettes of life with her son mostly in late middle school and early high school. She also blamed most of his behavior on ADHD with only a few passing mentions of Asperger's, which seemed odd. Mildly amusing, but not really that great.

[Ct Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a young adult with ADHD i found this book really interesting, it really helped me to understand what it was like to be the parent of someone as awesome as a kid with ADHD seriously though I think this is an awesome book!

[Melanie Naugler · Rating 5 out of 5]

a mother's tale of life with her ADHD Asperger's son
told in sometimes humorous anecdotes as well as the frustration of daily life of her son from toddler though high school.
I would recommend this book to parents and teachers of ADHD & Asperger's children of any age.

[Lindie Willey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could totally relate to this book. I do not have an ADHD child, the aspergers is why I bought the book. It was a very good read and helpful to know that I am not the only exasperated mom out there. It helps to see a different viewpoint.

[Poppy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed reading this book. In fact this should be required reading for all teachers and others involved with kids. Funny stories with a serious theme.

[Cathy Bader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can so relate to this book. Met the author at a special conference for Mama's like us. Wonderful person & a great writer.

[Debbie Andreen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pamela is so brutally honest about her family's foibles that you can't help but root for them all!