Wishing On the Midnight Star: My Asperger Brother [Paperback]

Nancy Ogaz (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1843107570 | ISBN-13: 978-1843107576 | Publication Date: September 18, 2003 | Edition: 1

Alex's younger brother Nic never seems to be able to get anything right. He even invites Brianna Santos the girl Alex likes over when Alex is goofing around in his geeky pyjamas. But Alex never forgets what a special person Nic is. Wishing on the Midnight Star presents the sibling's view of the joys and frustrations of having a younger brother with Asperger Syndrome, with insights into the daily adventures of an AS family, and the positive coping, and loving strategies they have evolved. It is an engaging and amusing teen love story that will appeal to older and younger kids.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-8-Alex is having a hard time. With his widowed mother frequently gone on her midwife duties, a threatening bully, the stirrings of a first crush, and his "Aspie" (Asperger's Syndrome) brother, the 13-year-old wishes that he were part of a different family. He sees his brother's quirks as a big part of the problem. However, through a series of adventures, he comes to realize that Nic's exceptional qualities just make his brother who he is and that he wouldn't want anyone to take his place. He also begins to see that sometimes bullies are made rather than born, and that even the prettiest girl in town might find a shy boy attractive. Focusing on the brothers' relationship, the story hints at what life might be like within a family in which a child has Asperger's Syndrome. While the character development is not as strong as it could be, libraries may find this a useful purchase for special-needs collections.-Elaine Baran Black, Gwinnett County Public Library, Lawrenceville, GA
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Review

'These books could be useful for working with a class where children with Asperger's are to be included. Staff would be reminded very powerfully of the young people's feelings and fears in being in class and school and how they will cope. The books could prompt discussions in class to help other pupils to understand more and, one hopes, target less children who are going to be different.' -Rostrum

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Jessica Kingsley; 1 edition (September 18, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1843107570
• ISBN-13: 978-1843107576
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,231,043 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars No thank you, January 21, 2004

By 

Sara B (Indiana) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wishing On the Midnight Star: My Asperger Brother (Paperback)

This story of a thirteen year old fatherless boy has three main issues: a bully at school, a beautiful girl, and a brother with Asperger's Syndrome. The storyline pertaining to the bully and the crush are overly typical. The relationship between Alex and his brother is what could set this book apart from other young adult literature, but the portrayal of the main character leaves much to be desired. Instead of concentrating on what it's like being the sibling of an "Aspie", more attention is focused on the other aspects of the storyline. While this book could be appreciated by an ambitious young reader, a teenager is not going to identify with the characters.