Customer Reviews

Anything But Typical

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

In addition to the number of books that purport to be written from an autistic perspective, there are a number of books with main characters who - if you know what you're looking at - are almost *certainly* autistic, but the word is never mentioned.

As a rule, this latter category of books tends to be better. I don't know why. Maybe it's because the focus is on the story rather than the message?

I read this book in one sitting at B&N. I didn't skip any passages, however, because I decided I didn't really care for it I don't have it at hand, so if I make a minor error of fact please just point it out to me and I'll fix it.

This book claims to be in the mind of an autistic boy. I say claims to be because, after reading the author's website and watching her video on the book, I am certain that the author is not, herself, on the spectrum. So what this book really is is a book about a NT trying to pretend to be realistically autistic enough to write a book from the perspective of an autistic boy. A daunting task to be sure, and I start to ask myself - why? Why aren't there more books by autistic authors? It's not that there are no autistic authors at all - off the top of my head I can count seven or eight, and I know there are many more. If anybody is qualified to say what life is like as an autistic individual, surely it's somebody who actually knows?

I know what you're thinking. You're thinking "But if she wrote a good book, does it matter?"

And you're right. IF this book accurately catches the experience of being autistic, it doesn't matter that much who wrote it. Except I'm not convinced the author really "gets it". She has a video, as I said, about writing the book ([...]). Three things about this video really jump out at me.

First, there are no subtitles and there's no transcript. Many autistics, such as myself, have some degree of auditory processing issues. While I know we're not actually the intended audience of this book, how hard would it have been to transcribe a two minute video? When I see a video about writing a book from the perspective of an autistic individual, and there aren't even any printed words, I don't feel very hopeful.

The next thing that jumps out at me is that she says that "at the heart of any autism spectrum disorder is the issue of communication". Well, this is a common perspective all right - it's common to parents and doctors and teachers of autistic children. Do you know who doesn't hold this view? Autistics. As a group, autistics tend to say that sensory issues, emotional regulation, and information processing are central ([...]).

I understand why non-autistics tend to think it's a communication thing. They look at a kid, they see the kid can't talk or talks funny or talks about strange things. They see the kid does things that, to them, seem inexplicable or odd. And they assume that it's all "communication". But this is an outside-looking-in view. From your own brain, you'd know better.

And the third thing she said is that "sometime during writing" she realized that having trouble communicating is not the same as lacking feelings. Well, I'm glad she learned something during the writing process, but it sounds like she started off thinking that autistic people just, you know, don't have the same feelings as normal people. (And she's not even ashamed to admit it!)

I know, I know - what about the BOOK! You don't want to read about the author, right?

Well, you take an author who is new to the subject and certainly doesn't have an inside perspective, you're going to have some mishaps.

The main character is a boy whose inner narration includes a lot of thinking about how he thinks (I assure you, even when I've done a lot of reading on autism or psychology I don't sit around in my head - or even aloud! - talking about how I think), misunderstanding basic idioms, and having to puzzle out whether he's been insulted. He has no friends and doesn't anticipate getting any anytime soon, he spends a lot of time online but is unaware of the flourishing autistic community (which may mean he's supervised or it may mean that the author doesn't know about it although it's far from small or secret), he's bullied, he has no tolerance for change at all, and he's completely faceblind. Hey, you know who he reminds me of? That kid, the one in The Curious Incident!

Well, here's my big problem. I'm concerned that people are going to read this book, they're going to read that Dog in the Nighttime book, and they're going to say "Autism, if it doesn't make you like Rain Man or Susan in that BSC book then it makes you like those asocial losers".

Any of these traits can be found among autistics. I personally burst into tears once in the 11th grade when a kid sat in my seat and wouldn't move, while meanwhile the teacher couldn't understand why I was upset. But any one individual is unlikely to have *all* of them in the degree of our intrepid hero. It's building a new stereotype, and one that's not particularly helpful or useful. (And I know, some people are just like this kid. Some people of all groups fit more closely to "the stereotype", and that's fine, but that doesn't mean we should spread it around like most or all people fit it.)

This doesn't mean I think the book is all wrong in every respect. I think it's flawed, and I found the narration less than compelling, but there are some definite good points.

I love how the hypocrisy of claiming that only one party has "trouble communicating" is exposed. The librarian doesn't communicate well with him when she puts form (looking her in the eye) over function (being able to actually understand what is being said). The therapist doesn't communicate well when she "rewards" him with candy he saves to give to his younger brother because, after all, he doesn't like chocolate. (And it's clear that he does love his brother very much, a nice change of pace from some styles of books which think autistics don't form good relationships at all.) His mother certainly doesn't communicate well when she puts his appearance over his comfort, although of course she Means Well.

Although his Traits were exaggerated, they weren't completely unrealistic (and I'm sure some other people on the spectrum would say they were totally true to life. Over in a community I'm in we're still torn on the Curious Dog book - is it COMPLETELY wrong or COMPLETELY right? We just can't decide!), and showing him as being more than fluent online struck me as pretty true to life. And while I know as an adult that his fears that he'll never have friends, or a girlfriend, are not necessarily true (plenty of autistics with those same fears as kids grew up surprised to find that it's possible), it is true that teenagers, typical or not, will obsess over that sort of thing.

While I found his over-analytical narration annoying, if it were toned down it would strike me as more realistic.

And the author didn't do anything I found completely wrong or offensive. If she misunderstood the center, or if she overexaggerated everything, well, that's to be expected. It's hard to write from a perspective that's not actually your own.

So, to sum up, because I know this is super long (and I thank you for your patience in reading it all!):

1. The portrayal of autism is not completely accurate, but it's not so bad I wish it had never been written
2. While I wish we'd see more of these books written by autistic authors, this author did an acceptable job with what she has

I'm giving this three stars. Knowingly writing from the perspective of an autistic individual is a bit of a new subject, so it's going to take some time to see some REALLY good stuff in this field. And you could do worse than this book, I think.

Oh, and at the beginning I mentioned some books which have what appear to be autistic protagonists although the word is never mentioned. Lemonade War is one I liked, and that one Emma something-or-other Fell Out of a Tree is... well, it's okay, anyway. I'm still processing that one.

Even for a typical kid, it can be hard getting by from one school day to the next. Hard to relate. Hard to figure out the right thing to do at the right moment. But Jason is anything but typical, and for him, every day is a battle to be the best version of himself he can be. He finds release and happiness in writing short stories and sharing them with an online friend from a creative writing website--but will his happiness last when he gets the chance to meet her in person where he can't hide behind his stories?
Anything But Typical is well-written, with a cast of great characters, all very believable and well-developed. Nora Raleigh Baskin's story is touching as well as important, and she brings it masterfully to life with excellent metaphors and descriptions, great pacing, and a wonderful first-person voice. The one drawback was a slight difficulty following the plot in a few moments; because the story is told from Jason's viewpoint, there are times when it was hard to tell whether what he was revealing was his daydreams or actual events.
This is one for the Newbery watch list.

"When I write, I can be heard. And known.
"But nobody has to look at me. Nobody has to see me at all."

The Schneider Family Book Awards "honor an author or illustrator for a book that embodies an artistic expression of the disability experience for children and adolescent audiences...The book must portray some aspect of living with a disability or that of a friend or family member, whether the disability is physical, mental or emotional."

Since its inception, several favorites of mine have gained award recognition from Schneider Family Book Award committees. THINGS NOT SEEN, TENDING TO GRACE, and UNDER THE WOLF, UNDER THE DOG are books I've loved re-reading, reading aloud, and booktalking. All three are entertaining and enlightening in their portrayal of disability in a character, and I've been really excited to see each of them win this award.

"'Jason, this one is free,' the lady says. She puts her hands on my shoulders. This lady is a lady I should know, but her face looks like a lot of other faces I don't know so well, and I group them all together. Her face is pinched, but her eyes are big, round like circles. Her hair doesn't move, like it's stuck in a ball. She belongs in the library or the front office or my dentist's office.
"But she is here now, so I will assume she is the librarian.
"I know from experience that she is trying to help me, but it doesn't. I can feel her weight on my shoulders like metal cutting my body right off my head. This is not a good thing.
"I also know she wants me to look at her.
"Neurotypicals like it when you look them in the eye. It is supposed to mean you are listening, as if the reverse were true, which it is not: Just because you are not looking at someone does not mean you are not listening. I can listen better when I am not distracted by a person's face:
"What are their eyes saying?
"Is that a frown or a smile?
"Why are they wrinkling their forehead or lifting their cheeks like that? What does that mean?
"How can you listen to all those words when you have to think about all that stuff?"

I am hoping that when, in future years, I talk of the significance of this award, I will be able to also list ANYTHING BUT TYPICAL as a Schneider Family Award winner. Nora Raleigh Baskin's portrayal of autistic twelve-year-old Jason Blake -- an aspiring author -- is a groundbreaking story for fourth through eighth grade audiences and is one that has greatly enhanced my own understanding of what it would be like to be autistic.

"Other writers say there are only three plots: happy ending, unhappy ending, and literary plot (that's the kind of ending that is uncertain). There is a whole book called Twenty Master Plots, which I happen to own. And another author wrote that he thought there were thirty-nine plots.
"But really, if you ask me, there is only one kind of plot.
"One.
"Stuff happens.
"That's it."

The stuff that happens to Jason Blake is this:

Jason regularly posts his fiction to the miscellaneous section of an online fan fiction site called Storyboard. (His stories are actually original rather than fan fiction.) A girl with the pen name PhoenixBird begins commenting enthusiastically on his writing and they begin an email correspondence . Jason feels like he has a friend -- maybe even a girlfriend. His parents then surprise him with an offer that one of them will take him to this year's Storyboard convention in Dallas, Texas. But before he gets the opportunity to email Rebecca (PhoenixBird's real name) that he is attending the convention, she emails him that SHE is going. Now, Jason -- who is quite conscious of his socialization issues -- is faced with his feelings of what Rebecca will think of him in person and his belief that meeting her will result in his no longer be able to imagine that she is his girlfriend.

What helps make Jason's story so exceptional is the manner in which ANYTHING BUT TYPICAL also brings Jason's brother and parents to life and provides us such intimate views of the family -- of how living with Jason so significantly affects each family member and constantly impacts all of their interpersonal relationships.

What, repeatedly, is also such a treat are the great lessons about the basics of writing fiction which Jason shares with us:

"You can make up this whole new world and all these amazing characters, but it's just that in order to make a story, basically, something bad has to happen."

Through Jason's tale, we come to recognize that while his issues may be of a different flavor than ours, this is a young man who has hopes and fears, strengths and weaknesses, just as each of us does.

I purchased this book because I am the parent of an autistic child. I enjoyed the book but I dont know that it relates very well where the parents and extended family are concerned. I will qualify my own review by saying my own autistic child is only 4 1/2 and the child in this book is a bit older.

If you are reading this because you want to know what life is like with an ASD child, I do not believe you will be getting a realistic picture.

There is a scene where the family has gone to dinner with the inlaws, in this case aunt, uncle and cousin. Without giving any spoilers, suffice it to say, if this ever happened to me, someone would be getting punched in the face if not an out and out beat down in the front yard. I take great pains to ensure friends and family can understand my child and what expectations should be, these parents appear to have done little to nothing in this respect.

I do find how the younger brother acts to be accurate, at least in my experience. My youngest seems to intuitvely react and support his older sibling even subjecting his own desires to help. (which as parents we do not force this to happen and try to prevent from happening)

This is a young adult novel that was recommended to me by someone who, like me, has a child with autism. Baskin writes as authentically as a NT (neurotypical) can about life when you have autism. Her portrayals of both Jason, his parents and those around Jason (and their interactions with him) were very realistic. I would highly recommend this to anyone who wants a little insight into autism or just a well-written young adult novel.

Jason is different from other 6th-graders. He loves routine, hates noisy, overcrowded places, and constantly reminds himself to breathe.

He is obviously not like other NT's (neurotypicals), the so-called "normal" people in the world. The NT's say things, but nothing is ever behind the words. Jason doesn't understand why people talk and never mean what they say. This is why he doesn't look at anyone. Jason gets distracted by faces - the way they morph when someone is speaking.

Such is the life of a young autistic boy. He longs to make everything okay, for his parents' sake, but progress is slow. Jason only feels "quiet" when he is on the computer. His stories allow him to take on different personas, and in that realm, he is safe and content.

This novel gives an extraordinary view of an autistic child's life. Having Jason narrate his own story allows the reader a view into his world. It is chaotic, and sometimes frightening, but there is also hope.

Jason's love of writing opens a whole new world to him. In that world, he can be whoever he wants to be; in that world, he is a "normal" kid.

ANYTHING BUT TYPICAL is an excellent novel that everyone should read. It is eye-opening, unexpected, and thoughtful. Ms. Baskin deserves major kudos for this wonderful piece of writing.

Reviewed by: LadyJay

I wasn't sure if this book would interest my children, but they loved it. The book arrived early and in great condition!

Autism has been in the news a lot lately. You may even know someone autistic. And I bet you're curious. What's it like to have an autistic brain? In Baskin's latest, sixth-grader Jason wants to explain to us Neurotypicals what his life is like. How he thinks, why he does the things he does. It certainly isn't easy being a sixth grader with such obvious differences from his classmates. That's why he turns to the internet, where he meets Rebecca. And in a twist of fate, he just might have the chance to meet her in real life. This stunningly beautiful, excruciatingly honest novel is not just about psychology or science. And it's not just about being different. Anything But Typical is about courage, struggle, and love - topics that, surely, we all can relate to. This book is unputdownable.

I'm a young teenager, and I found Anything but Typical to be a great book. It's captivating, engaging, and has a satisfying ending. The way this book allows you to honestly feel the struggles and triumphs of a 12-year-old autistic boy is amazing. I don't know much about autism, so I can't say how accurate it is. What I do know, though, is that this is a great story. It seems very real the whole way through. You feel Jason's struggles, you feel what he feels, and you feel like the story itself is real and true. Jason's story is real and engaging, even if it's a work of fiction - and the fact that many kids face a similar reality increases the impact so much. It's not a hard read, the reading level is appropriate, and it's relatively short - but it's quite impactful and a real eye-opener to the struggles of the autistic - and the struggles of anyone who feels different and needs a little more understanding. While I'm not anywhere near even remotely close to being as autistic as the boy in this book is, I do have slight Aspberger's and so I did relate to this character maybe at least a little more than someone else. Still, the writing is so good that anyone will be able to feel what Jason feels and grapple with the enormous struggles that he (and many others!) deal with - and rejoice when he triumphs. I highly recommend this book!

Signed, StoryMaker. "Gotta trust the kid's review!"

Great book... takes a realitic look into the life of a child with Autism. My fifth grade students loved it