Mo’s answer to “Is Nita Prose on the spectrum? I'm trying to avoid books about neuro-divergent main characters wher…” > Likes and Comments
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lol; as the mom of an autistic kid, I can tell you that just because someone teaches them does not mean they have a single clue about what they are really like or how they think and feel. I found the character inconsistent and stereotypical.
The main character displayed characteristics not very divergent from my high function autistic grandson who, although very bright and with a similarly impressive memory, is likely to misread any social interaction. The only thing that struck me wrong was that the character seemed to lack food issues--and since it's a "spectrum," it didn't seem unlikely to me that there would be variant symptoms.
wow, food issues?? what struck me as WROONG is how Molly committed perjury & let Rodney go down for murder.
How many autistic kids have you known? As a teacher and school librarian, I've worked with quite a few in addition to my grandson. Each child I've known has had food issues--some in my experience eat only specific foods which often have to be prepared the same way each time, and for several children 've known even arranged specifically on a plate. I've not known one who would eat leftovers from other plates. Perjury? Molly didn't actually perjure herself, only answered questions precisely and didn't volunteer information about what wasn't asked--had you ever tried to elicit information from an autistic child, you would recognize this behavior as typical for many.
Autistic or not, Molly flat out lied. She was asked directly who was in the room, & said she didn't know. That is perjury, because she absolutely did know it was Mrs. Black, they sat down & talked for god sakes!! She knowingly decided not to tell, smug having a "secret" only she knows. I hope this behavior is not "typical for many."
Janet, please read up on function labels (e.g. "high functioning").
But...the original Q is about the author, not about Molly. Is the author is "on the spectrum," & if not can or should she write neuro-divergent characters. That's what we should be discussing.
I doubt the author was or is on the spectrum. I bet she's familiar with some of the traits through friends or family ... but the character seemed too much like a caricature ... perhaps the author was familiar with some of the counting, symmetry OCD behavior ... having said that, I'm sort a believer that we've all got our foot in a lot of camps, and two, I don't believe an author or actor has to have had an experience to write about it. I have found though, that bringing a lot of one owns experience to the story can make for very good reads! For example I just finished Red, White, and Whole--a Newbery Honor book where the author told her story from the heart and it was exceptional in how authentic it was.
Reportedly, Nita Prose isn't on the spectrum herself, so we don't know what experience she brings to the Molly character. But she clearly hit a nerve with the autism community.
About Molly. Didn't you look at the 14 answers to this question & all the numerous comments? Self-explanatory.
I think this explains why this character was so infantilized.
Thanks, Mo
I just started and it was feeling so artificial. Just wanted to check it wasn't me invalidating someone else's view from inside an Autistic mind.
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Laura
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Jan 24, 2022 04:21PM
lol; as the mom of an autistic kid, I can tell you that just because someone teaches them does not mean they have a single clue about what they are really like or how they think and feel. I found the character inconsistent and stereotypical.
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The main character displayed characteristics not very divergent from my high function autistic grandson who, although very bright and with a similarly impressive memory, is likely to misread any social interaction. The only thing that struck me wrong was that the character seemed to lack food issues--and since it's a "spectrum," it didn't seem unlikely to me that there would be variant symptoms.
wow, food issues?? what struck me as WROONG is how Molly committed perjury & let Rodney go down for murder.
How many autistic kids have you known? As a teacher and school librarian, I've worked with quite a few in addition to my grandson. Each child I've known has had food issues--some in my experience eat only specific foods which often have to be prepared the same way each time, and for several children 've known even arranged specifically on a plate. I've not known one who would eat leftovers from other plates. Perjury? Molly didn't actually perjure herself, only answered questions precisely and didn't volunteer information about what wasn't asked--had you ever tried to elicit information from an autistic child, you would recognize this behavior as typical for many.
Autistic or not, Molly flat out lied. She was asked directly who was in the room, & said she didn't know. That is perjury, because she absolutely did know it was Mrs. Black, they sat down & talked for god sakes!! She knowingly decided not to tell, smug having a "secret" only she knows. I hope this behavior is not "typical for many."
Janet, please read up on function labels (e.g. "high functioning").
But...the original Q is about the author, not about Molly. Is the author is "on the spectrum," & if not can or should she write neuro-divergent characters. That's what we should be discussing.
I doubt the author was or is on the spectrum. I bet she's familiar with some of the traits through friends or family ... but the character seemed too much like a caricature ... perhaps the author was familiar with some of the counting, symmetry OCD behavior ... having said that, I'm sort a believer that we've all got our foot in a lot of camps, and two, I don't believe an author or actor has to have had an experience to write about it. I have found though, that bringing a lot of one owns experience to the story can make for very good reads! For example I just finished Red, White, and Whole--a Newbery Honor book where the author told her story from the heart and it was exceptional in how authentic it was.
Reportedly, Nita Prose isn't on the spectrum herself, so we don't know what experience she brings to the Molly character. But she clearly hit a nerve with the autism community.
About Molly. Didn't you look at the 14 answers to this question & all the numerous comments? Self-explanatory.
I think this explains why this character was so infantilized.
Thanks, MoI just started and it was feeling so artificial. Just wanted to check it wasn't me invalidating someone else's view from inside an Autistic mind.
