Andrew's Awesome Adventures with His ADHD Brain

by Kristin Wilcox PH D, Andrew S Wilcox, Sean Maykrantz (Illustrator)

Change what you think you know about ADHD. In this two-part book, Andrew, a child with inattentive-type ADHD, and his scientist mom, Kristin Wilcox, Ph.D., each tell their story about living with the inattentive subtype of ADHD.

How do you survive life and middle school with an ADHD elephant in your brain?
Kids with ADHD will relate to Andrew’s reactions to everyday and school-related situations, like remembering to turn in homework, staying organized, and making friends. Using practical strategies Andrew learns to manage his ADHD even when his brain sometimes feels “like and overstuffed garbage can, the lid won’t stay on and garbage is falling out all over the floor”, and realizes there is a positive side to having ADHD like creativity, fearlessness and hyperfocus.

Dr. Wilcox’s unique perspective as both a mother and a researcher allow her to discuss, parent to parent, the science behind ADHD from someone living in the trenches, learning to work with Andrew’s ADHD brain. Kristin discusses the significance of various aspects of ADHD and the theory and practices of the education and medical professions related to them, distinguishing inattentive-type ADHD from other subtypes. Two helpful appendices include a means for parents to “diagnose” the inattentive subtype of ADHD and a list of resources for parents and children with ADHD.

This book provides unique insights into ADHD behaviors and suggests highly pragmatic and successfully implemented strategies for children with the inattentive subtype of ADHD and their parents (with implications for educators and others who work with children with ADHD). A must read for kids with ADHD and their parents.

114 pages, Paperback

Published February 4, 2022

Reviews

[Literary Reviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Children with ADHD fight battles most of us will never understand. Each day finds them experiencing a constant barrage of thoughts, all competing to find their way to the forefront. Parents and teachers alike can benefit from truly listening to a child’s account of an average day living with ADHD, especially Inattentive Subtype. The Inattentive Subtype of ADHD is a prevalent but often not recognized. Andrew is a child living with ADHD, and his journal-style account of his life is the focus of his mother’s book. Kristin M. Wilcox’s book describes both the child’s and the parent’s experience with this incredibly challenging disorder.

Andrew’s Awesome Adventures with His ADHD Brain is a unique account of a family’s understanding of the disorder that is a part of their day-to-day lives. Wilcox artfully divides the book into two main parts–one from her son’s perspective and one from her own. She has handed parents and teachers a thorough look at what a child hears each day as he tries to focus and time and time again loses sight of the last thought he had as easily as he breathes.

I more than appreciated Andrew’s perspective. As a teacher, I have seen many students over the years fighting their own inner battles. Only those who live with ADHD know the inner banter, and Andrew’s very thorough commentary allows readers to gain a true understanding of the chaos that can ensue and the emotional toll ADHD can take on the entire family. This is a must-read for any parent of a child with ADHD.

Wilcox manages to give readers a guide that is not only informative but simple to read. There is nothing worse than actively seeking information on a topic only to find the resources dry, boring, and incredibly difficult to understand. Wilcox bypasses all of those issues and hands readers valuable information on one of the least understood types of ADHD. I found the Wilcox family’s story to be immensely helpful in the elementary classroom. Wilcox’s appendices are a wonderful resource for families and educators. This easy-to-follow list of questions and answers regarding symptoms and signs is especially beneficial to families and educators.

I highly recommend Andrew’s Awesome Adventures with His ADHD Brain to any parent who has a child dealing with the symptoms of ADHD. Schools would benefit greatly by adding this to their teachers’ resource rooms or to their recommended reading lists. This is the book families and teachers have needed for decades.

[Kristin Wilcox]

Andrew's Awesome Adventures is awesome indeed! It is also unique, in that the book combines Andrew's perspective as a child with his mom's perspective both as a mother and as a scientist who's expert on the latest findings on ADHD. Not only unique, this book is also entertaining, well-written, highly informative, and immensely helpful to anyone concerned about ADHD, especially as it occurs in boys who are not disruptive or hyperactive. A superb contribution to the field. --- Edward Hallowell, M.D., co-author of Driven to Distraction and ADHD 2.0

Unique, exceptional, informative, thought-provoking, "Andrew's Awesome Adventures with His ADHD Brain" is highly recommended reading for kids with ADHD and essential reading their parents! Very well organized and presented, "Andrew's Awesome Adventures with His ADHD Brain" is an especially and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, school district, college, and university library Attention Deficit & Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Disability Parenting, Psychology Pathologies collections, and supplemental curriculum studies lists.--- Margaret Lane for Midwest Book Review

This is a story about love: of a son who struggles daily with the challenges of his inattentive ADHD and of his mother who goes on a learning journey and changes herself so she can be more helpful to her son. If you believe ADHD is not a serious condition, this engaging book will change your mind. ---Cynthia Hammer, MSW, Executive Director, Inattentive ADHD Coalition

[Best Indie Book Award · Rating 5 out of 5]

🏆 2022 BIBA® Non-Fiction: Children’s ADHD Winner!