Customer Reviews

Jackson Whole Wyoming

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
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Per previous reviews, the book is a great read with a great message about friendship. As a parent of a child with Asperger's I would like to offer one caution: this book is a great one to offer those who may be seeking to better understand a child with Asperger's, but would not be a great fit for the Asperger's child himself. Since the book is written from the neuro-typical viewpoint, Jackson comes off as pretty weird--loved, but weird.

Also, disclosure of Jackson's syndrome comes off as somewhat "hush hush." This is, I believe, because the author does an excellent job of depicting the societal dilemma of disclosure in the world of schools and teachers. To disclose is to explicitly state the Syndrome that describes the child's unique personality. It is not generally considered ethical for teachers to decide to disclose; young children with this syndrome may not have the adequate judgment to disclose (hence Jackson's parent's rule that he not do so); and parents' distance from those to whom the information would be most valuable--e.g. friendly schoolmate, Tyler--often prevents them from disclosing even if they would want to do so.

I would recommend this book to school personnel and to children and families who have friends with Asperger's Syndrome, but would turn to other resources for a good read for your young Aspie.

Joan's inspiring portrayal of one student and his classmate creates a greater understanding of the Asperger Syndrome for the reader. A delightful story based on true events leads the reader through the journey of one student's mind and struggles to understand his classmate. Ultimately his acceptance of the habits of his classmate leads him to realize more about himself than he ever expected. A must read for anyone seeking an increased understanding of Asperger Syndrome.

Tyler and Jackson are both fifth grade students and they have been going to speech therapy together for years. Tyler goes to speech therapy because he has trouble with stuttering, and Jackson goes to speech therapy because he has trouble with the pragmatics of language. Because Jackson will be moving away to another state with his family, Tyler suggests that the class get him a going away present. Every one in the class contributes a page to a book for Jackson, and while Jackson and Tyler are at speech, they decide Tyler should be the one to present the book to Jackson. Tyler is worried that the class bully, Marcus, suggested Tyler for the job because then Tyler will be associated with the weirdest kid in the class, Jackson, in yet another way. Tyler's concerns drag out after he suggests to his parents that he may not want to present the book and they have his speech therapist discuss his cousin Drew with him. His cousin Drew in also quite odd, but Tyler is more accepting of Drew because he has overheard his mother talking to his aunt about some Burger Disease his cousin has. As a result his mother becomes upset and initiates the conversation with the speech therapist discussing how Asperger's Syndrome is not a disease but just another way of being. As a result, Tyler concludes that Jackson must have Asperger's Syndrome since Jackson is just like Drew. In light of this new information, Tyler decides to be more accepting of Jackson's odd behaviors and help Jackson out by standing up for him to the class bully. The message of the book regarding labels is unclear: on the one hand the adults in the story are telling Tyler that labels are not important because it is important to accept all people regardless of labels or quirks, and on the other hand the actual practices of Tyler show that people, especially children, are more likely to accept the strange behavior of others if they know there is a reason for that behavior. The conclusion feels drawn-out and inevitable, and there are times when the reader's interest may wander during the story. Recommended for generating a discussion on labels and labelling/disclosure, but if looking for a story about an individual with Asperger's Syndrome, instead see Kathy Hoopmann's Blue Bottle Mystery: An Asperger Adventure (Jessica Kingsley, 2001 ISBN 978-1-85302-978-3) Blue Bottle Mystery: An Asperger Adventure (Asperger Adventures)

Tyler has always been nonplussed by his classmate, Jackson. From the time the boys were in kindergarten, they were classmates and also attended speech class together. Tyler stuttered during the early grades and Jackson had a tendency to be very literal in his interpretation of what people said.

Although the boys were never friends in the intimate sense, Tyler would go to bat for Jackson and defend him when other kids picked on him. A kind girl in their class genuinely cared about Jackson and insisted that Tyler keep standing by him.

By the time the boys are in 6th grade, Tyler is nominated by his class to present Jackson with a class gift. He does not want to do this; reverts to stuttering (only this time it is deliberate) to get out of making a speech for Jackson and generally looks for a way out.

Memories of Jackson's behavior in class during their early grades hound Tyler; he realizes that Jackson bears a strong behavioral resemblance to his 6-year-old cousin, Drew. Drew has Asperger's Syndrome, a neurobiological condition that is the spectrum partner of autism. As he mulls this over, he realizes that Jackson has Asperger's Syndrome. He confronts his classmate, armed with this new insight and Jackson gives him a clinical definition of the term.

Tyler realizes that Asperger's is not a death knell to a full life; Jackson fortunately has been included in the full school program at all times.

This is a truly heartwarming book that presents a very realistic character with Asperger's Syndrome and is a wonderful story about acceptance and inclusion. Definitely a must have!

Be sure to read Marc Littman's masterpiece, EDDIE AND ME ON THE SCRAP HEAP as a companion book to this one. You will be very glad that you did.

This book is a delightful read and holds your attention from beginning to end. It is told from a childs viewpoint of trying to understand other children who are not like themselves and how parents and teachers can be there to help. I have forwarded it to my daughter in college who is majoring in elementary education. Thanks, Joan

This witty story is a lighthearted and so very understanding
of a Asperger Syndrome boy and his friends. It is a fast-paced
and lucid insight of the difficulties Jackson faces in the
world of school children.

Jackson is described by his fellow classmate Tyler throughout
the reading with sometimes unusual...sometimes misunder-
stood...sometimes humorous incidents made by Jackson which
confuse him and the other classmates.

Jackson Whole Wyoming is a wonderful source for parents
and teachers to delve into the feelings of the child with
Asperger Syndrome, as well as his classmates and friends.

I thoroughly enjoyed Joan Clarks' keenly sensitive book
and have learned of a topic of which I knew very little.

I really got a kick out of reading "Jackson Whole." The book gives a funny, yet relevant look into the world of Jackson, a student identified with Asperger's syndrome. The story line moves quickly as one episode after another unfolds revealing Jackson's personality, thought process and unconventional actions. A fun and insightful read.