Freaks, Geeks & Aspergers Syndrome: A User Guide to Adolescence

by Luke Jackson, Tony Attwood (Foreword)

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 has three sisters and one brother in various stages of their adolescent and teenage years but he is acutely aware of just how different he is and how little information is available for adolescents like himself.

Drawing from his own experiences and gaining information from his teenage brother and sisters, he wrote this enlightening, honest and witty book in an attempt to address difficult topics such as bullying, friendships, when and how to tell others about AS, school problems, dating and relationships, and morality.

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."

Genres: Nonfiction, Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Psychology, Aspergers, Health, Self Help, Biography

216 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2002

About the author

Librarian Note:
There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[Caroline]

A detailed, interesting and fun read about what it's like to be a 13-year-old boy with Asperger's. One warms to Luke and his family - they come across as a happy, loving and mutually supportive. The book is filled with information, including some which is contentious (the possibility/likelihood that vaccinations have caused Asperger's.) I was also concerned at one stage when he said he thought schizophrenia might come under the Asperger's umbrella....it made me rather wonder about the rest of what he said. I am not giving the book any stars, as I am completely unqualified to rate this book. Having said that I thought it was an interesting and entertaining read.

Luke talks elegantly and with passion about what it is to be like to be a young man with Asperger's. One chapter stood out for me particularly - the chapter on bullying. Children can be cruel sometimes, and if what Luke says is right, teachers can be too. In the end his parents took him out of his government school and put him in a private school, where he said the situation was a bit better. Not perfect, but better. God help those with the curse of being born a little different...

All the illustrations in the book were done by his sister Rachel, and I enjoyed them.

I shall end with a pic and some writing from the book, to give you a flavour of the talents of Luke and his sister.

Adults seem to make a really big deal of getting people to look at them when they are talking. Apparently it is seen as rude if you don't look at least in the direction of the speaker. The world is full of so many stupid rules. I really hate this one....

When I look someone straight in the eye, particularly someone I am not familiar with, the feeling is so uncomfortable that I cannot really describe it. First of all I feel as if their eyes are burning me and I really feel as if I am looking into the face of an alien. I know this sounds rude but I am telling it how it is. If I get past that stage and don't look away, then whilst someone is talking I find myself staring really hard and looking at their features and completely forgetting to listen to what they are saying. Mum says when I was little I used to go right up to people and stare in their faces. They probably looked funny - I often have to stop myself from giggling when I examine people's faces; there are some very strange ones around!

Sometimes it is too hard to concentrate on listening and looking at the same time. People are hard enough to understand as their words are often so very cryptic, but when their faces are moving around, their eyebrows rising and falling and their eyes getting wider then squinting, I cannot fathom all that out in one go, so to be honest I don't even try....."

[Lolly K Dandeneau · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had a lot of hesitation about allowing my son to be labeled, for the most part we did it for legal purposes when he was 7 so the school couldn't force him into 'special' classes and it's been a good choice. We ended up having him fully evaluated by a medical team of psychologists, pediatricians, etc and not through the school. My son is now entering the 7th grade in the gifted program, him being a student all those years ago they just wanted to push out because while his IQ was far above average, his behavior stumped them. Books really were our only window into the condition and helped guide us through the struggles our amazing son would encounter. I love reading books about Asperger Syndrome and what better expert than a young boy living with it. This is a wonderful book for other Aspies or for any of you out there that aren't sheep, but an exotic creature. It also wouldn't hurt if some educators would pick this up along with other books about autism spectrum disorders, after all it's on the rise. HIGHLY recommended read.

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This should be on every educator's reading list. We don't all think alike, and this book, written by a 13-year old AS (Asperger Syndrome) boy helped me understand how he is "wired" differently. Excerpt:
Luke Jackson, author, narrator describes a scene wherein he is daydreaming in math class...

"I glance up and see the formidable form of the teacher. He towers over me, arms folded, the pungent mixture of sweat and after-shave filling my nostrils [extra sensitivity to sensory input is common among AS people]. I await the moment when he pounces. 'Jackson,' he suddenly booms, 'Would you care to tell us exactly where you are?'
'Class E2, Sir,' I respond as quickly and politely as possible.
'Are you trying to be smart?' he snarls, his face reddening with anger.
'Yes, Sir,' I reply, 'of course I'm trying to be smart.' I think to myself, 'Surely that is why we are at school?' I breathe an inward sigh of relief, presuming he will now leave me alone, but when I look up, I see I am wrong.
His eyes are bulging, he is breathing fast and hard and his face is the colour of a beetroot [yes, Jackson is British]. 'Jackson, I will not, repeat not, tolerate such insolence. You can pull your socks up or get to the headmaster's office.'
Now when I was younger I would have bent down and done just that, pulled my socks up. However, I smile to myself inwardly.'Ha,' I think, 'I know this one -- it means get on with your work, not pull your socks up.' Grinning with delight at the fact that I finally understood, I pick up my pen and start to write. Well you would have thought that that was the end but it seems not!
'This is no laughing matter and how dare you ignore me when I am speaking to you?'"

The "teacher" further goes on to assign and hour's detention for Jackson's behavior.

[Claudia · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an interesting look at Asperger Syndrome, or AS....The author, Luke Jackson, is 13, and has AS...he writes with humor, logic, and sensitivity about lots of issues that affect all teens and children, but have special challenges for AS youngsters.

He puts us in his shoes, explaining what the 'symptoms' feel like...he describes the sensory sensitivities and his strategies for living with these sensitivities.

I appreciated the way he would stop and give tips for other AS kids, as well as teachers and parents. He's a very wise young man, and is so open about his feelings, even tho he tells us he's more comfortable with the logical side of his brain.

While I sometimes tired of his breezy parenthetical asides, and while the side stories distracted me, I can see how a young person with AS, or a family member, will easily recognize and identify with the stories.

I'm intrigued by Luke's family...his Mum (did I say this is a British book?), three brothers and three sisters, all with various symptoms on the autism spectrum. Ben, the baby, seems to have the most symptoms. Luke often draws on stories from his siblings to make his points.

I love the discussion about similes and metaphors and idioms (there's even a list of idioms and their meanings in the book!). Luke advises adults to never use them unless they can explain their exact meaning.

Also loved the chapter on bullying. He gives down-to-earth advice to kids and teachers and parents...to the kids, he repeats, "Take no crap," and suggests AS kids take martial arts classes...more for the discipline than for self-defense.

Informative and accessible. I'm going to see if one of my AS students might be interested in reading and giving me an opinion.

Luke Jackson has written an important book.

[Jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A non-fiction, own voices book about kids and adolescences with Asperger's syndrome, a syndrome that is a form of Autism. Luke Jackson wrote and had this book published when he was only 13, and this is about his experience with having AS. He gives tips to both those that have it, and the parents and teachers that are part of the their lives. He also shares stories, pictures, and photographs about his experience. This is a great starter read to understanding Asperger's and how to handle it. Having been written by a 13 year old this book is easy to read and understand. Luke gets straight to the point, and is also a unique character. He provides funny commentary on social norms and uses idioms throughout his book, explaining what they mean in the back. Basically, the book and writing style is personable. If you have any interest in AS whether you're connected to someone who has it or just want research for another reason, I would recommend starting with this book. It has an informative and positive outlook on the subject.

[Jeff · Rating 1 out of 5]

Annoying writing - preachy at best whiney at worst. Advocated the opinion that the person with the issue is the only one that can tell what ways one should deal with this issue. I know the book will be used to say various methods (diet, martial arts, pressure therapy) worked(?) for him so everyone has to jump on the bandwagon (take that Luke!) Seemed very shallow(!) and hardly worth the time to read.

[fpk · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this book. I gave it to my son to read too. He loved it as well. In it, Jackson reveals what it is like to be a 13 yr old boy w/Asperger Syndrome. An endearing boy, he writes as though he's talking to you directly, which makes it a fast read. I highly recommend this for parents, teachers and teens who have AS.

[Elizabeth Bridcut · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is really useful to help get a bit more insight into Autism/Asperger's from the perspective of a young person living with it. Luke is articulate and writes well. I would give a health warning though, Luke gives his own view of the role of diet in autism and this is quite a controversial area. I would advise anyone considering acting on his advice to read more widely than he suggests, his 'further reading' very much assumes a particular approach and he gives no indication that it isn't universally accepted. The British Dietetic Association have a short fact sheet which is well referenced and would provide some balance.

[Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some interesting insights but slightly disappointed (and in places annoyed.) Could have done with better editing. My advice would be read before you give it to your autistic child/ teenager. However am now seriously considering taekwondo classes (maybe for all of us!)

[Pieter · Rating 5 out of 5]

In my memory this book helped me a lot in understanding my own struggles with AS. Full of wit and self-mockery keeping things light and informative.

[Sean Benson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book and I recommend it for anyone to read. It is different from your usual non-fiction books. He specifically does not fill the book with facts but writes it more like a biography. It more about "this is what it is like living with autism spectrum disorder and here's how you can make things easier for us". He doesn't claim to know it all and frequently reminds you that he is only 13 so has a lot more to learn but he writes it so well.
It is quite humourous too, with a list of idioms at the back. I liked the final note where he explained that his hormones hit halfway through writing the book and how it made things interesting.
There is further reading at the back but unfortunately, because of the age of the book, the websites are out of date.

I do wonder how things have changed for him, given that he was 13 in 2003.

[Isobel · Rating 3 out of 5]

A kind of memoir/self help book written by 13 year old Luke Jackson about his experience with autism (Asperger's syndrome is an outdated term now), including how to navigate friendships, relationships and interests as an adolescent with autism (his being computers and taekwando).

I didn't enjoy this too much because a lot of the information is outdated (it was written in 2002 after all) and a lot of this information didn't really 'zen' with me as it's obviously written for adolescents, and the autistic experience for boys or those who were assigned male at birth (and who were raised as male) can be quite different to girls or those who were assigned female at birth (and who were raised as female).

[Tosha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book- loved that it was from a younger person’s perspective.

It is a bit out of date now (it references Aspergers as similar to, but not the same as autism, as was previously commonly believed), but still a worthwhile read. I do hope that at some point after this book was published it was realized that his mother and sister Sara also had autism. He mentions their symptoms frequently throughout the book but it appears that at the time they were undiagnosed- and women going undiagnosed was at the time (and still is) very common.

Overall I enjoyed it. As someone newly diagnosed, but diagnosed late in life, it brought up a lot of memories from my younger years and gave me more insight into how my younger years were influenced by my own autism.

[R.K. Goff · Rating 4 out of 5]

It isn't as informative as those big list and study books out there--but this book is a must read for so many other reasons.

Jackson wrote the book at the age of 13 and he actually has Aspergers. You can get a really good look at what goes on in their world, not only by his frank stories and admonitions, but just by his writing style.

He's a one of a kind kid too. I'm very glad I got to read the book and get to know a little bit about what it's like to live that life.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book needs some allowances for being written by a 13 year old, for example: there are a LOT of exclamation marks, an excessive amount of plugs for the gluten & casein-free diet (about which the author has written another book), and a few untested thoughts like "All the controversy surrounding vaccinations must be for a reason. There is no smoke without fire." That aside though, it's an interesting book and could be very helpful for parents & teachers.

[Jennifer Hughes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was written as a kind of a self-help manual from one teen with Asperger's Syndrome to other kids who have it. It was charming and well-written. It gave me new insights into the mind of someone with Asperger's. You must read this if you have a child or teen with Asperger's. Also see his mother's story. It's amazing as well.

[Norma · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like it and mostly I like that it gives you 13 year old asperger perspective

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adored this book, every single time I picked it up I text my very good friend, Monika and recommended the book to her for her son. It gives an insight into the mind of an adolescence with Asperger Syndrome.

The book is brimmed to the top with tips, brilliant illustrations, an excellent insight into the brain of a young man with Asperger Syndrome, loves, laughs and a bit of tears.

I wanted to read more on Autism so I was delighted when I picked this up, Luke seems wise beyond his years and I learnt a lot on what it must be like to be a teenager growing up in the 2000s, dealing with all the normal teenager stuff, on top of dealing with their Asperger Syndrome.

[Joanne · Rating 1 out of 5]

Eerste hoofdstukken gelezen, de rest gescand. Boek biedt weinig tot niets nieuws als je al bekend bent met het onderwerp en de toon is belerend, wat het lezen bemoeilijkt en vooral irritatie opwekt.
Boek met een uitgesproken tunnelvisie, veel herhaling en neerbuigend naar ouders en leraren (pedagogen) die er duidelijk niets van begrepen hebben.

Het geeft wel een aardig beeld van hoe het voelt als een kind met AS continu aan je mouw staat te trekken en steeds weer roept: luister naar mij. wat ik te zeggen heb is heel erg BELANGRIJK.

Yeah right!

[Paul Foote · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a 13 year old author, this book is filled with insight, wisdom, self awareness and humour. Luke has managed to convey a great deal of understanding and knowledge on life as a teenager with autism. Freaks, Geeks and Asperger Syndrome is full of useful tips and guides to coping with the adolescent years, whether on the spectrum or not. Luke is clearly very clever and also writes in a natural way so that you get a feel of the person and the relevance of the information.

[Michael Hines · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome at age six, and I first came across this book through my school. I decided to give it a read and, while I still found some parts a little difficult to follow, I also found it very relatable and often quite humorous. It’s full of useful tips and personal stories, and it explains many aspects of being on the spectrum in a clear and engaging way. The author did an excellent job for the time in writing this, and I would certainly recommend it.

[Kathy Lyons · Rating 3 out of 5]

A really important book (especially because it was written by a kid on the Autism Spectrum). Written for parents and kids alike whose lives are impacted by Aspergers, now called Autism Level 1 or High Functioning Autism. I didn't finish it as my teen's experience with Autism is so different than the author's.

[Andrea · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't get anything out of it. This is meant for kids to read and maybe it would help Aspie kids feel a little more "normal" but as a parent of an Aspie kid, it gave me no more insight than I already had.

[Autumn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just found out Luke Jackson wrote a sequel to this, which reminded me how great it was in 2002. The first own voices book about Aspergers I ever read, and right on time since I was working with lots of kids on autism spectrum in the public library back then. Seminal!

[sonataiscool · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely some parts I don’t agree with or find outdated , but otherwise I think this is very informative and well written , even the language used by Luke shows how autistic people think and process.

[Pardis TD · Rating 5 out of 5]

True, however, there's worse than Asperger's syndrome, there's high sensitivity too. I feel like Asperger's makes someone better equipped to laugh at someone's incompetence than high sensitivity that can make you feel hopeless in the face of incompetence.

[Alana · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very intriguing look into life with what has previously been called Aspergers, from the mind of a 13-year-old who faces all of its challenges. The target audience is that age with that condition, but it's full of insightful information for anyone who is curious as well.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good

[Amanda]

not impressive

[Steph · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book giving a much needed first hand view of life with AS. Worth a read to anyone who is related to or works with children/teenagers who are on the spectrum. Wonderful.