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Summary: "Blue Bottle Mystery: An Asperger Adventure" is a must-read!
Review: ... I�m going to begin this �review� by saying this book was absolutely WONDERFUL! I finished it in one day (even with everyday interruptions). I couldn't put it down.Ben Jones is the main character of the book. He has difficulty understanding what teachers mean, why they are always cross with him and why kids at school tease, taunt and bully him. I�m not going to give away all the details here because this book is a treasure you must read for yourself. The book starts at school. Ben is having a difficult day with his teacher, Ms. Browning-Lever. The fact that his teacher doesn�t (nor seem to want to) understand Ben�s behavior, is upsetting and the effect on Ben is devastating. The events in that school room and on the playground that day truly upset me and had me in tears because my son went through similar experiences. (Ms. Hoopman knows what she's talking about here, obviously. And she tells it well.)... This is an absolutely delightful, warm, insightful book that shows kids with Asperger�s that they are NOT weird, they�re unique and wonderful. And that if �the powers that be� at school would only educate themselves on Asperger�s Syndrome, these children�s lives could be changed forever, as will theirs, the educators. Through our AS children, they will open themselves up to a new way of seeing things. They will find in these children a warmth, a delightful sense of humor and intelligence that they�ve likely not seen before. Our AS children are not rude. They are honest and to-the-point with no desire to hurt anyone. They just want things they don�t understand to be explained to them. They want to know HOW to make (and keep) friends because most AS children desperately want them. They�re tired of being considered �weird�. They just want to try and �fit� in this neurotypical world of ours. I cannot say enough good things about this book. These are just my opinions. Only you can decide for yourself. I feel it is a must read for parents, teachers, counselors, doctors, family members and for persons with Asperger�s Syndrome. I think Kathy Hoopman is a very talented writer and applaud her efforts in this book. I was so impressed, I ordered her other book, �Of Mice and Aliens� the minute I finished this book. All I can say is........�When are you writing your next book, Ms. Hoopman?�
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Summary: It really rocks!
Review: Ben, a boy with an undiagnosed condition of Asperger's Syndrome endures yet another frustrating school day of teacher complaints and failure to turn in his work turns to his friend Andy. Shunned by most children because of his propensity for non sequitors and his heightened sensory modes (e.g. strong aversion for loud noises and certain smells and tastes), Ben launches on what becomes a wonderous adventure. Other boys join in Ben and Andy's digging quest and when they unearth a mysterious blue bottle, each imagines the bottle is inhabited by a genie. Each boy makes a wish individual to his needs and let's just say the results will make you smile. Ben is a delightful character and his description of the ongoing challenges he has with Asperger's Syndrome is a welcome voice for many. Asperger's Syndrome (AS) is a neurological condition that is on the same spectrum as autism. Ben's undefined differences that impede social development were due to AS; Ben gives excellent descriptions of AS and the challenges and yet, the bonuses it has to offer. This is a must read for everyone. Hats off to this book!
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Summary: WISHES REALLY DO COME TRUE SOMETIMES
Review: Ben, a boy with an undiagnosed condition of Asperger's Syndrome endures yet another frustrating school day of teacher complaints and failure to turn in his work turns to his friend Andy. Shunned by most children because of his propensity for non sequitors and his heightened sensory modes (e.g. strong aversion for loud noises and certain smells and tastes), Ben launches on what becomes a wonderous adventure. Other boys join in Ben and Andy's digging quest and when they unearth a mysterious blue bottle, each imagines the bottle is inhabited by a genie. Each boy makes a wish individual to his needs and let's just say the results will make you smile. Ben is a delightful character and his description of the ongoing challenges he has with Asperger's Syndrome is a welcome voice for many. Asperger's Syndrome (AS) is a neurological condition that is on the same spectrum as autism. Ben's undefined differences that impede social development were due to AS; Ben gives excellent descriptions of AS and the challenges and yet, the bonuses it has to offer. This is a must read for everyone. Hats off to this book!
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Summary: Negative slant on Asperger's - Not encouraging for AS kids
Review: Fortunately, I previewed this book before reading to my Asperger's Syndrome sons. It is not written in a way that they would understand, nor would I want them to. The abundance of slang words from this Australian author will leave children confused as it is not familiar to Americans, much less "literal-thinking" Asperger kids who have trouble with comprehension anyway. The reference to the dad gambling with his Asperger son was ridiculous. The father yelling at his AS son many times, "What's wrong with you kid?...Why can't you be normal for a change?...(he) doesn't need a doctor, he needs a good spanking..." The dad in the book behaves out of anger/frustration and certainly inappropriately and somewhat cruelly. Asperger kids should be taught that they are wonderful in their differences! This story would cause my kids to think they were different in a bad way. No way! Choose a different book that encourages your child.
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Summary: A glimpse of life/offer of understanding
Review: Having a 12 yr old son with aperger's syndrome, naturally i was interested when i came across this book. I have read it, my husband has read it. My son is currently reading it. I find it a breath of fresh air. It mirrors the aspie life. This book could easily be given to friends and aquaintances to read to offer some kind of understanding without being overwhelming. I believe this book and others of its kind should be in classroom libraries available to all children. This book i give a 5, not because it is a literary masterpiece, but because the thought and feelings behind it are right on target. Fun story too!
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Summary: an education on understanding aspergers syndrome
Review: I also decided to read this book before giving it to my son, and I'm glad that I didn't give it to him. First, the language is off (the author is Austrailian) and an American Aspie will not be comfortable reading these 'different words'. Second, I don't know any Aspie child who has such a 'understanding' friend. I was a little scared thinking that my child would want me to find this kid for him. It portrayed a relationship that just isn't real. A very dangerous thing for our children. I won't be giving this book to my son, and I really don't know why I still have it. Another reviewer suggested that this book might be useful for students. I would have to agree with that statement.
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Summary: Blue Bottle Mystery
Review: I read the British version of this book and it is wonderful for anyone who feels like an outsider. It's about a boy diagnosed with a little known disorder called Asperger's Syndrome. The book is written for middle grade children, particularly those with this problem, but I would also recommend it to teachers, parents, counselers, any child who feels different from their peers.
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Summary: It really rocks!
Review: It really was a good book about an Asperger's adventure and a boy with AS. I'm a 9 yo boy who just got diagnosised with AS, and it was fun to read about a boy with Aspergers.
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Summary: This book was the ice breaker for disclosing diagnosis of AS
Review: It's been over a year since my son and I read this book together, but I am still so happy that I discovered it. I was never quite sure when or how to talk to my son about his diagnosis, but knew that the time was getting close(he was 10 yrs old). After reading this book, which had enough literal and amusing examples that my AS son enjoyed and we both laughed about, my son's only comment was, "I think I'm alot like that kid in the book, except I have friends." I smiled and closed the book. Over the next few days, my son kept referring to the boy in the book, and then point blank one day asked me if he too had Asperger's Syndrome. It was for us a really unexpected and nice way to teach him more about himself and actually using the AS term (as we'd done alot of teaching without using AS in previous years).
I'm here now to buy the sequel! I would recommend this book to children, parents, teachers, and professionals. Each child is different, so I'd recommend that parents read it first and try to imagine how their child would like it (and not just how they felt when reading it).
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Summary: Real Life Example
Review: Though a fiction work, the "hero" has Asperger Syndrome and is trying to deal with the world around him. His father, who has lost his wife, is confused and worried about Ben's "inexplicable" behaviors and refuses to believe that there is a "problem" with his child. The children at school have various reactions and interactions with Ben - some that left my 11 year old son sadly mumbling "They don't understand." He loved the way everything was resolved though and he got the part about other people having problems that don't necessarily concern you but might inadvertantly affect you even though you don't know about them - and the happy ending left him grinning ear-to-ear and telling me that he was happy that things turned out so well for Ben. I loaned the book to our In-Home person who helps our family with training and making certain my son has a correct IEP and help in the classroom if he needs it - she has been passing it to teachers who are so impressed with the insight it gave them that they are reading it to their classes. The children in the classrooms are responding with understanding about their classmate. They see his behaviors in a whole new way and see how some of their behaviors can be slightly modified to accomodate him - things such as being more patient with him when he's trying to explain something. Yes, it's fiction, but the actions of Ben and the people around him are real. It may be called a mystery story - but it's really a story about learning acceptance and understanding for those around you and the confusion of a small boy and his father who know he's different but don't understand why. My son, who was diagnosed with Asperger (finally!) 2 years ago, loved it and has asked for it several times. Kathy Hoopman has written another story and I'm off to get it ordered!
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