Autism

‘Siblings - The Autism Spectrum Through Our eyes' Edited by Jane Johnson and Anne Van Rensselaer is an anthology of what it is really like to be a brother or a sister to someone on the spectrum.

I really love Peter James' books, he is one of my favourite authors and find it very pleasing when I read his thrillers as Brighton is my local hunting ground. Once again, his knowledge of the Brighton Police force and their procedures is excellent - I attended a book event with Peter a couple of years ago and know that he shadows the local Police very closely when researching his books and you can tell! Although I didn't want to put the book down - I didn't want to finish it either because I was enjoying the story so much!

Dead Like You is a real page turner I have to say - dealing with a rapist/s murderer who takes top quality shoes from his victims. Peter shows us through the story what rape victims go thorugh and how it effects their lives for ever more - unlike a buglary, which in time fades - rape never does.

I found it fascinating to go back through time to when Roy Grace was married to Sandy and what their relationship was like in comparison to how he is with Cleo now.

The 6th volume of Keikp Tobe's With The Light sees Hikaru trying to fit in with a bigger world as he grows out of childhood, ready to begin puberty. His younger sister, Kanon, also starts elementary school and their parents Sachiko and Masato start to unwittingly draw comparisons about how Kanon is able to manager her life easily whereas Hikaru is still stumbling on. Sometimes it seems that even the littlest things can cause the biggest upsets, and with the onset of puberty looming just how much worse can things get?

'Callous Disregard' by Dr Andrew Wakefield is perhaps the most extraordinary book I have ever read. He presents here, very fairly I feel and without rancour or bitterness the truth of what really happened. He shows us through a paper and email trail of documents, letters and newspaper articles how words and sentences can be misinterpreted or changed, so that they can give a completely different interpretation.

This is a very informative read which is aimed at not only the professionals, but also the parents, teachers and family members of those people suffering from Aspergers Syndrome. It will also serve as a comfort for those people who have either been diagnosed with AS or have an inkling that they might be on the spectrum as it details not only the symptoms but also coping mechanisms.

Personally speaking, this was a comfort to me because I feel that I am on the spectrum somewhere and it's enough for me, now, to understand that.

House Rules by Jodi Picoult is an exceptional book about Jacob an autistic teenager with Asperger's Syndrome, and his family - mum Emma and brother Theo, and how they cope when Jacob's tutor is found dead.

As a mother to Naomi who is an adult with autism, I found Jacob's Asperger's Syndrome very true and his reactions and thought processes absolutely spot on - as are his brother Theo's reactions to life dealing with an autistic brother.

Another moving chapter as Hikaru moves into sixth grade facing a whole new set of problems, including a new teacher and a new school.

These are brave and wonderful books that tackle the very difficult subject of autism and a caring and informative way. There is so much empathy with, not only Hikaru and his family, but also some of the other characters as they grow.

Part of the Adults Speak Out About Asperger Syndrome, this is an invaluable guide to the intricacies of relationships for those people who have got Aspergers - however, it also acts as great tool for those people who want to understand Aspergers. There has been so much written for children with Aspergers, that this book is a breath of fresh air as it looks at the impacts that Aspergers has on adults.

A great "aha" book which offers a keen insight into the pro's and con's of being in a relationship with a person with Aspergers Syndrome - from both sides of the story.

This is the first time that such a frank account has been written and should be seen as a must read for anyone wishing to understand what it's like, not only having Aspergers, but also living with someone that has it.