Customer Reviews

Blue Bottle Mystery (Turtleback School & Library Binding Edition)

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

It's been over a year since my son and I read this book together, but I am still so happy that I discovered it. I was never quite sure when or how to talk to my son about his diagnosis, but knew that the time was getting close(he was 10 yrs old). After reading this book, which had enough literal and amusing examples that my AS son enjoyed and we both laughed about, my son's only comment was, "I think I'm alot like that kid in the book, except I have friends." I smiled and closed the book. Over the next few days, my son kept referring to the boy in the book, and then point blank one day asked me if he too had Asperger's Syndrome. It was for us a really unexpected and nice way to teach him more about himself and actually using the AS term (as we'd done alot of teaching without using AS in previous years).
I'm here now to buy the sequel! I would recommend this book to children, parents, teachers, and professionals. Each child is different, so I'd recommend that parents read it first and try to imagine how their child would like it (and not just how they felt when reading it).

Hi I am a 12 year old boy with aspergers syndrome my therapist gave me this book to read when I had trouble or was being silly in school today I finished reading this book it inspired me showing that changes may be hard but you have to accept them no matter how hard they are to cope with at first it will be alright.

... Im going to begin this review by saying this book was absolutely WONDERFUL! I finished it in one day (even with everyday interruptions). I couldn't put it down.

Ben Jones is the main character of the book. He has difficulty understanding what teachers mean, why they are always cross with him and why kids at school tease, taunt and bully him.

Im not going to give away all the details here because this book is a treasure you must read for yourself.

The book starts at school. Ben is having a difficult day with his teacher, Ms. Browning-Lever. The fact that his teacher doesnt (nor seem to want to) understand Bens behavior, is upsetting and the effect on Ben is devastating. The events in that school room and on the playground that day truly upset me and had me in tears because my son went through similar experiences. (Ms. Hoopman knows what she's talking about here, obviously. And she tells it well.)...

This is an absolutely delightful, warm, insightful book that shows kids with Aspergers that they are NOT weird, theyre unique and wonderful. And that if the powers that be at school would only educate themselves on Aspergers Syndrome, these childrens lives could be changed forever, as will theirs, the educators. Through our AS children, they will open themselves up to a new way of seeing things. They will find in these children a warmth, a delightful sense of humor and intelligence that theyve likely not seen before. Our AS children are not rude. They are honest and to-the-point with no desire to hurt anyone. They just want things they dont understand to be explained to them. They want to know HOW to make (and keep) friends because most AS children desperately want them. Theyre tired of being considered weird. They just want to try and fit in this neurotypical world of ours.

I cannot say enough good things about this book. These are just my opinions. Only you can decide for yourself. I feel it is a must read for parents, teachers, counselors, doctors, family members and for persons with Aspergers Syndrome. I think Kathy Hoopman is a very talented writer and applaud her efforts in this book. I was so impressed, I ordered her other book, Of Mice and Aliens the minute I finished this book. All I can say is........When are you writing your next book, Ms. Hoopman?

Though a fiction work, the "hero" has Asperger Syndrome and is trying to deal with the world around him. His father, who has lost his wife, is confused and worried about Ben's "inexplicable" behaviors and refuses to believe that there is a "problem" with his child. The children at school have various reactions and interactions with Ben - some that left my 11 year old son sadly mumbling "They don't understand." He loved the way everything was resolved though and he got the part about other people having problems that don't necessarily concern you but might inadvertantly affect you even though you don't know about them - and the happy ending left him grinning ear-to-ear and telling me that he was happy that things turned out so well for Ben.

I loaned the book to our In-Home person who helps our family with training and making certain my son has a correct IEP and help in the classroom if he needs it - she has been passing it to teachers who are so impressed with the insight it gave them that they are reading it to their classes. The children in the classrooms are responding with understanding about their classmate. They see his behaviors in a whole new way and see how some of their behaviors can be slightly modified to accomodate him - things such as being more patient with him when he's trying to explain something.

Yes, it's fiction, but the actions of Ben and the people around him are real. It may be called a mystery story - but it's really a story about learning acceptance and understanding for those around you and the confusion of a small boy and his father who know he's different but don't understand why. My son, who was diagnosed with Asperger (finally!) 2 years ago, loved it and has asked for it several times.

Kathy Hoopman has written another story and I'm off to get it ordered!

I read this book myself, and I'm now reading it with my 8-year-old son with AS. Besides having an entertaining story line, it's given us opportunities to have some rich discussions.

For example, there's a scene where Ben's teacher becomes more and more frustrated with his inappropriate responses. My son and I read it over, and I said, "Do you understand why she got so upset?" He said, emphatically, "No!", so we went through the scene line by line and I pointed out how the misunderstandings arose. Afterwards, he understood better how he sometimes offends people without meaning to.

I'd like to address some of the criticisms other reviewers have had. Yes, there is Australian slang. My son asks me what it means, just as he would with any unfamiliar word or phrase. It's not a big deal. Yes, Ben has a good friend. However, his friend gets annoyed with his constant talk about computers (Ben's obsession); he is realistically portrayed. It's great to have a model of an Aspie friendship for my son; reading about typical kids who get together to shoot hoops is not going to give him any idea how *he* would act with a friend.

Yes, the father and the teacher say some harsh things to and about Ben, but that is before he is diagnosed. Once they understand what is going on, they do not put Ben down or imply that Asperger's is something to be ashamed of.

All in all, this has been a great book for my son and for me.

It really was a good book about an Asperger's adventure and a boy with AS. I'm a 9 yo boy who just got diagnosised with AS, and it was fun to read about a boy with Aspergers.

We were disappointed, my husband and I both read the book but do not think it would be a good book for our 11 year old (recently diagnosised) with Aspergers Syndrome. It might be a good book to read if you don't have Aspergers and want to understand how an "Aspie" thinks and feels. We don't want him to think he did something wrong because his life doesn't turnout "peachy keen" like the character "Ben's" does. Perhaps we're too protective but it was way too much fantasy and we didn't want our son to end up disappointed. I would recommend the book for introducing Asperger's to classmates of an Aspie.

Our "friend" from C.A.R.D. (Center for Autism and Related Disabilities) had finished her in-home observations and we got the "diagnosis" over the phone. Our son was unaware of the situation, only ever knowing that he is different and internalizing that as "bad". After some research I determined that the best way to break it to him was via Blue Bottle Mystery. We read the book, not an abnormal occurrence; we homeschool. He understood Ben and finally felt understood a little himself. When the story culminated I asked him who his favorite character was. Ben of course. I then explained to him that he had something very much in common with Ben in that he also has Asperger. My son almost did a cartwheel. Because of this book, he was "proud" to have AS.

I too didn't like the "problem with the brain" language; it almost made me cry. However, I realize this is actually how some professionals talk, so it is "real world". I also realize that, much as I don't like facing it, AS IS a problem at times. I certainly didn't have an issue with the anger Ben's dad felt. My son was 8 before we knew about AS, and I have often found myself feeling "manipulated" by my smart son as when he argues that he can't "pick up the floor" when being asked to clean his room. The hand flailing DOES look weird, and I have felt the frustration and embarrassment that Ben's dad experienced. It made ME feel normal and "forgiven". Ben's dad didn't understand and neither did I, I'm sorry to say. Mr. Jones had to learn and so did I. So I like how this book works on two levels: it introduces AS to the child and to the parent and it sort of comisserates/relates. We all needed that. We have a special place in our hearts for this book. It enabled my son to understand himself and even like himself a little better, and we as parents no longer felt so entirely alone.

I understand how some AS children would relate; however mine did not. She was horrified at the thought of being viewed as "not normal". Also the way the father treated his son before the diagnosis and after was, quite frankly, nystifying to me. My daughter has many of the same quirks that Ben has (hand flapping, obseesions, etc) I would never and never have put her down or got angry over those quirks.

The doctor tells the Dad that Asperger's is a "problem in the brain." I have always described it as a different way of thinking. At this point I wasn't reading this book to my daughter. I can not fathom how she would react to being told she has a problem in her brain.

Once again, some children obviously felt connected to the story. We had the opposite experience.

Having a 12 yr old son with aperger's syndrome, naturally i was interested when i came across this book. I have read it, my husband has read it. My son is currently reading it. I find it a breath of fresh air. It mirrors the aspie life. This book could easily be given to friends and aquaintances to read to offer some kind of understanding without being overwhelming. I believe this book and others of its kind should be in classroom libraries available to all children. This book i give a 5, not because it is a literary masterpiece, but because the thought and feelings behind it are right on target. Fun story too!