Mindblind

Gr 6—10—Imagine you have a photographic memory but can't read everyday social cues; you can understand quantum physics, but cannot understand a mother's need to give you a hug. Imagine your happiest moments are spent in your room with your computer, but your mother and your therapist make you venture out into society on a daily basis. Nathaniel, a 14-year-old with Asperger's syndrome, faces these dilemmas and more. Mindblind is told in his voice, making use of memory flashbacks that he has coded much like files on a computer. He is homeschooled and has finished college, but has yet to learn how to handle tough social situations such as drinking at parties, negotiating boyfriend/girlfriend relationships, taking responsibility for friendships, and working through pitfalls in his interactions with his parents. Nathaniel is honest and funny, poignant and detached, driven to achieve his best, and is puzzled by the behaviors of others. Roy writes with a strong voice and the authenticity of one who knows children with Asperger's, yet Nathaniel's problems and concerns can and should reach a wider audience. The book is comparable in scope and effectiveness to Mark Haddon's The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime (Doubleday, 2003), yet contains its own unique character and story.—Wendy Smith-D'Arezzo, Loyola College, Baltimore, MD