Francisco X. Stork's Marcelo in the Real World is another entry in the autism book category, but it's not a problem book, it's a book about a boy who happens to process the world slightly differently and the summer he spends working in his father's law office. Marcelo's father is worried about his eventual integration into society; he's been attending a private school that caters to children with various issues. Marcelo must prove he can handle a job in the "real world" for a summer, or else he'll finish his high school years in a public school.
Marcelo has something like Asperger's; that's not quite his diagnosis but it gives people an idea of how to relate to him. He sees the world in a concrete way, unable to be hurried and easily overwhelmed by the shifting environments and stimuli in new places. But he knows and strengthens his ability to get around, to understand people, and to make tough choices. Because the story isn't about his problems relating, the story is about trust, between a father and son, between the people who are or who pretend to be your friends, and people you don't even know. B+
3 comments:
This sounds really different. YA or adult book?
It's about a high school senior, so I'd say YA. But not in a bad way.
I believe I have read only one book on autism and it was told in the sci-fi genre. It's nice to know there are more books out there on the subject and would like to add to my reading list. Nice review.
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