Martian in the Playground: Understanding the Schoolchild with Asperger's Syndrome (Lucky Duck Books) [Paperback]

Clare Sainsbury (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1873942087 | ISBN-13: 978-1873942086 | Publication Date: January 1, 2000

This exceptional book illuminates what it means to be a person who has Asperger's Syndrome by providing a window into a unique and particular world.

Editorial Reviews

Review

`In her book Martian in the Playground, Clare Sainsbury gives a scholarly and insightful description of the experience of people with Asperger's Syndrome. The accounts of their memories of school, both in the classroom and in social settings, should be read by all involved in education of students with an autistic disorder. This book will be if interest to all who are involved with Asperger's Syndrome: parents, professional and the young people themselves' Dr Jane Shields, Director NAS Earlybird Centre

`This is amazingly informative book that should be read by every parent/family of a child with Asperger's Syndrome. It should also be included on the reading list of any teachers who have an Asperger's pupil in their class…. I am deeply grateful to Clare Sainsbury for writing this book because now when I am forced to justify my son's outrageous behaviour to members of my family, friends and acquaintances I can save my breadth and just hand them this wonderful volume' - Grapevine

`An extremely perceptive account of the experiences that young people with Asperger's Syndrome go through during their schooling' - Education Psychology in Practice

`Written in a clear accessible style… a profoundly optimistic book… education manuals such as this one have an essential role to play in promoting inclusive practice, and as such it is highly recommended reading' - Disability & Society

`This deceptively little book contains more truth and provides more insight into what it is like to have Asperger's Syndrome than many weighty tome on the subject. It offers a view from the inside, but it is not yet another autobiography. Admirably and refreshingingly, the author has refrained from giving an account solely based on her own experiences. Instead she sets out observations from 25 different suffers, giving often astonishing and sometimes harrowing glimpses of what actually happens to a child with Asperger's' s Syndrome in the classroom, in the playground, in the lunch queue and at home' - Child Psychology & Psychiatry

`This is an exceptional book which succeeds brilliantly in providing an insight into what life is like for a youngster with Asperger's Syndrome' - Special Children

`This is a wise and enabling book which is also a damn good read'- Peter Clough, University of Sheffield

Product Details

• Paperback: 140 pages
• Publisher: Sage Publications Ltd (January 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1873942087
• ISBN-13: 978-1873942086
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 6.8 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #331,383 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Nice Book, January 28, 2006

By 

Suz "treadingwater" (Freeland, United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Martian in the Playground: Understanding the Schoolchild with Asperger's Syndrome (Lucky Duck Books) (Paperback)

Clare Sainsbury gives a wonderful account of what it is like to be a schoolchild with Asperger syndrome drawn from her own experience, as well as commenting about theories on the subject. This should provide valuable insight to both teachers and parents as well as being one of those 'me too' reads for other people with Asperger syndrome like myself. If you are a teacher though and you only want to read one book then this one probably shouldn't be it, simply because I don't think this book alone is enough.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Made Sense of So Much in my Asperger Life, December 13, 2004

By 

Christopher R. Marsh (Alexandria, VA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Martian in the Playground: Understanding the Schoolchild with Asperger's Syndrome (Lucky Duck Books) (Paperback)

Bought from publisher in UK in 1999. Author addresses useful sociological theory (Theory of Mind) as well as noting, for example, that Asperger social behavior is mistaken for mental retardation, even by a doctor. Read several "a-ha" facts that made sense from my Asperger childhood life. Recommend it, sorry it is so hard to find.

4 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Non Partisan Playground Politicians, December 30, 2005

By 

BeatleBangs1964 (United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Martian in the Playground: Understanding the Schoolchild with Asperger's Syndrome (Lucky Duck Books) (Paperback)

I take issue with the title because it suggests that people on the autism spectrum are aliens and are not a part of this world. I also don't like it because I think it is very divisive and further underscores differences rather than helping to foster acceptance and understanding. It sounds as bad as playground bullies' jeers!

Asperger's is a neurobiological condition that is on the spectrum with autism. People who are on the spectrum confront a myriad of social challenges including difficulty in decoding facial expressions; verbal expressions and nuances. The "martian" (I prefer the terms "observer," "sociologist" and "anthropologist") is used to mean one who does not fit into the social mode. Non partisan politician comes into play here because a person on the a/A (autism/Asperger's) spectrum has difficulty knowing which peers voice the party line they support.

From the a/A perspective: Imagine how terrifying it is to be around peers who hound, harass and ridicule you. Imagine being a preschooler who can read and you are the only one in your class who can. You don't know how to read your peers, however and they are more enigmatic than people say you are! You learn from babyhood to align yourself with adults because they can read and can provide you with some protection. They are less apt to ridicule you. Imagine replaying conversations and other things you have heard because a script makes sense to you; you can use it as a guideline for future reference. Imagine thinking every time you are confronted by peers, "What do I say? What do I do? What if they start to laugh at me or try to hurt me?" This is what a person on the a/A spectrum contends with on a routine daily basis.

Imagine not understanding their games; their rules and their social dicta which change on a whim based on their neurotypical (NT) needs. Imagine having a love for reading and having one or more special interests and not knowing how to share them with one's peers. Imagine being nonplussed over why people keep pushing peers on you and blaming you because you don't provide your parents/legal guardians with play dates and playmates. Imagine people blaming you for being unfriendly when you simply don't know the Tacit Social Codes & Rules, which always change at the behest of the NT population. Your self esteem plummets and you feel like an anthropologist, observing your peers and trying to learn how to pass at best. Imagine wanting to be forgettable and indistinct. Trevor Romaine's book, "Cliques, Phonies" is an excellent look at clique formation and is a handy tool for the a/A and NT population alike.

I recommend "Finding Ben" by Barbara LaSalle & Ben Levinson; "There's a Boy in Here," another mother-son effort by Judy Barron & Sean Barron as they address the issues beautifully. Kenneth Hall, a gifted young man with Asperger's has made having it an asset and his book, "Asperger's, the Universe & Everything" along with Tony Attwood's book, "Asperger's Syndrome" and Kristi Sakai's book, "Finding Our Way" would be my top recommendations.

Still, this is a decent effort.