Rating: 
Summary: A Must Read
Review: As a parent of a newly diagnoised adolescent with Aspergers, I am trying to read as much as I can get my hands on. This book is by far, one of the best. As I read, I had to constantly remind myself that the author was only 13 years old!! His writing style is amazing. He writes intellegently, passionately and with humor. I chuckled through many chapters. He offers discriptions of how it feels to be different,( "it's cool to be different") his everyday struggles and suggests how to cope. My 12 year old sleeps with the book under her pillow!! I wish I could give Luke Jackson a big hug.
Rating:
Summary: Teenage neurotypicals should get this book too.
Review: As another teenager with Asperger's myself, I am fully cognizant of how this syndrome can produce tremendous difficulties socially. This book is a reflection of the difficulties that a young teenager faces in his being afflicted with Asperger's SYndrome. It is candid, articulate, and very poignant.
However, I would not necessarily call this book a complete guide for a person with Asperger's. Asperger's is a very personalized syndrome that varies from person to person and advice that may help one person with Asperger's may not help all with Asperger's. SOme advice in this book, (e.g., the inclusion of a chapter on a link between an allergy and Asperger's) is not necessarily helpful, but this is forgivible considering the age of the author. Other teens with Asperger's who read the book may even feel sympathy for the author (and for you neurotypicals reading this review, sympathy is not something that people with Asperger's develop innately) who has to undergo challenges that many teens with Asperger's face.
I actually think that neurotypicals could benefit the most from this book since it offers a view on how the person with Asperger's views the world (and it is much needed.
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Summary: What a refreshing book!
Review: As the mother of an AS son, I've read plenty of books about Asperger Syndrome, and am quickly becoming an expert on all the buzzwords and checklists associated with AS. I cannot tell you how refreshing it was to read an upbeat, practical book about the challenges and rewards (yes, rewards!) of Asperger's, written by a cheerful teenager who lives in the AS world. Luke's lighthearted first-hand approach to a wide range of topics was a breath of fresh air after reading several helpful but rather scholarly books, all written from an 'outsider's' point of view. Thise guide is a must in any AS collection.
Rating: 
Summary: Asperger's and Beyond!
Review: Asperger's Syndrome or AS is a neurological condition that is on the spectrum as autism. It is NOT a mental illness. Luke Jackson, the young author of this sterling work gives a clear and pure voice of what "undefined behavioral/sensory differences" mean in terms of coping on a routine daily basis. Heightened sensory modes in addition to many of the behaviors that often accomopany AS such as rigid adherence to routines and/or ideas; social difficulties and literal interpretations of statements often stand out even more during puberty. This brilliant young man has presented a good case for nutrition and autism/Aspeger's; (a/A) several of his siblings exhibit varying degrees of spectrum behaviors.Dr. Tony Attwood, an author and Asperger's specialist has contributed to this book. Dr. Attwood gives the Voice of Hope and the Stamp of Validity on Aspeger's. He provides clear, logical descriptions of spectrum behavior as well as clear, logical definitions of Asperger's and its neurological relationship to autism. Hats off to Dr. Attwood! This is a book that will be cherished and used by parents, professionals, people with spectrum differences and people who are interested in spectrum differences. This invaluable book is for everybody!
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Summary: For desperate parents..hope and help
Review: Deep in the doldrums of sadness, I was lifted so immensely. Adolescence is so horrid for everyone (regardless of Asperger's). Realizing this was WRITTEN by a 13 year old with AS,I knew Luke Johnson has walked the walk our son is walking. I had so much respect for our son! I can actually talk to him in ways that he gets that I get it. I am ordering 2 more copies. One for the School and one for his MD's office.
Rating:
Summary: A great book for aspies, parents, and teachers
Review: Luke Jackson draws on his experience as a teenager with Asperger's Syndrome to present a perspective on AS. The book provides a great deal of practical advice for teenagers on the spectrum and those who interact with them. In addition--and perhaps most importantly--the book provides a very well organized and comprehensive view of the condition from the "inside," taking a great step to making what perplexes those on the "outside" understandable. One very nice feature of the book is that the writer recognizes the significance of individual differences in the way AS is manifested in different people. As a special bonus, the book is sprinkled with a delightful sense of humor of a quality with which few people outside the spectrum are endowed.
Rating:
Summary: All teachers should read this book!
Review: Luke, the young writer of this book, has done an excellent job in showing what goes on in the minds of kids with Asperger's syndrome and also to some extent, autism. I am a former art teacher and never read up on such conditions,however, every teacher, especially school coaches, should read this book because Luke has some very specific advice for them in relation to teaching, especially teaching AS kids athletics. I could relate to his chapters on bullying--my son was a very bright boy, an early reader, who was constantly taunted in junior high school for being "gifted." He would sometimes come home in tears and only after an hour of watching Star Trek reruns could he calm down and feel the relief of being home from school. NOw he is graduating from Harvard, so the joke is definitely on the bullies who are now janitors. Ha, ha! So I know where Luke is coming from about bullying. Never let them beat you, Luke. You are a marvelous, very gifted young man who will go very far in life. You just be YOU and never waver from that. If friends come into your life, it will be because they like YOU and not some false idea of a different you. You should never have to change for people to like you. God bless and I hope to hear more about you in future books. I want to read more about AS and autism, too. Thank you for your wonderful contribution to AS knowledge. People can learn so much from people like you who are not ashamed to discuss a condition they have. Great job and as they say in England, Well done indeed.
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Summary: What a relief that I found this book!
Review: My 18yr old son was recently diagnosed with Asperger's and this book has not left his sight since I handed it to him. He carries it with him to school, to work, and is reading it very carefully. He has told me that it is a great book, and although the boy who the book is about is much younger than my son, they have gone through the same things. Luke's experiences and his way of talking about Asperger's and how it effects every part of his life has helped my son to understand so many things about himself that were a mystery up until now. I hope Luke puts out another book as a young adult, and again as an older adult to chronicle his experiences through his life. Thanks Luke and Tony for a great gift!
Rating:
Summary: What a relief that I found this book!
Review: My 18yr old son was recently diagnosed with Asperger's and this book has not left his sight since I handed it to him. He carries it with him to school, to work, and is reading it very carefully. He has told me that it is a great book, and although the boy who the book is about is much younger than my son, they have gone through the same things. Luke's experiences and his way of talking about Asperger's and how it effects every part of his life has helped my son to understand so many things about himself that were a mystery up until now. I hope Luke puts out another book as a young adult, and again as an older adult to chronicle his experiences through his life. Thanks Luke and Tony for a great gift!
Rating:
Summary: The jury is still out
Review: The jury is still out on exactly the what, when, and how of Asperger's Syndrome. We all know by now that autism is one end of the spectrum and A.S. is the other, but even with that information most of us are still at sea with what to do about it. FREAKS, GEEKS AND ASPERGER SYNDROME is one of the best and most informative books to come out in a long time--if ever. There have been quite a few books written on the subject lately, some fact, some fiction. THE CURIOUS INCIDENT comes to mind. It's a book by Mark Haddon and is written through the eyes of a teenage who is autistic. Then there's THE BARK OF THE DOGWOOD--another work of fiction that deals with an "unusual" child. We're never really sure if the main character has Dissociative Identity Disorder or Asperger Syndrome, but the effect of his "oddness" is clear. Enter this book: FREAKS, GEEKS. NOT a work of fiction, but a riveting work that should be read, not only by parents who think their child may have this syndrome, but by really everyone. For who's to say WHO has this and who hasn't? What is the difference between someone who simply refuses to conform to society's rules and someone who "can't help themsleves" when it comes to socially unacceptable behavior? This book will shed some light on that, and a few other things. It's well written and contains a host of useful ideas, whether intentional or not. And humor--the book has humor and insight. Can you imagine if only we had known (fully) of this syndrome years ago? What a difference in people's lives this would have made. I highly recommend this book to anyone, regardless of your experience with this syndrome.
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