Open File: C:My FilesBooks_I_am_glad_I_readMindblind.avi(Date:8/4/12)

Mindblind is 14-year-old Nathan Clark’s story. As a boy with mild Asperger’s, he experiences life in 2 worlds.

One is his “Aspie” N-world where he often disappears when a word triggers a memory that he has stored in his brain, like a computer file. His best friend, Cooper, says he’s like a zombie when it happens. In his own N-world, Nathan creates and solves mathematical formulas and he isn’t forced to interact with people and “hangout” with other teenagers.

But Nathan can’t always live in N-world. Sometimes he has to be a part of the outside world where it seems that people want to “fix” him. In the outside world, he has to worry about things like the clothes that he wears and whether he has crumbs on his face.

People often call Nathan a genius, but he “knows” that technically, he isn’t one. When he was younger, he read in a book that “a genius is a person who has accomplished something outstanding with his or her talents.” Since he hasn’t made an impact on the world yet, Nathan knows that he isn’t an official “genius”…yet! And so his quest to become one begins.

While on his quest for genius, Nathan also has to deal with the normal stuff, just like everyone else. His dad just doesn’t get him, he has a crush on his band-mate, and he’s not sure if he’s ready to share his songs with the world.

Nathan is relatable and funny. Read Mindblind to see if he succeeds in his quest for genius. ( )

Mindblind, a book suitable for intermediate elementary school students, by Jennifer Roy, tells Nathaniel Clark's story. Nathaniel is a fourteen-year old near genius who has Asperger's syndrome. Although this syndrome can affect an individual's ability to read and understand social situations, Nathaniel has a supportive mother who has guided him and is now attempting to navigate through the complicated lives of teens. In this book he experiences the ups and downs of teenage life- being in a band, his obsession with a reality T.V. program, a party, first love...and the pressure of choosing a university specialization! This is a well written book that allows a small glimpse into the mind of a teen with Asperger's. ( )

Review from library copy.

Aspie math genius/Amazing Race fan/keyboard player in a garage band. ( )

This book does a good job of potraying the physic of a person with aspergers while still addressing the normal life of a teenager with downs and achohol. Q4P5 AHS/Elizabeth K.

In Jennifer Roy's Mindblind, 15 year old Nicholas has Aspberger's Syndrome. Whereas in Kathryn Erskine's Mockingbird, Caitlin is 11 years old and her special interest is dictionaries, in Mindblind 15 year old Nicholas has an aptitude for mathematics. (Although he doesn't fit the formal definition of genius, of which he is obsessed, Nicholas comes darn close.) There is a huge maturation that occurs between 11/12 year olds and 15/16 year olds, so while in Mockingbird, Caitlin is trying to figure out what is socially acceptable and what isn't, Nicholas has it pretty well sorted out. Whether he acts on it or not seems to be a conscious decision on his part.

While in both books, the community at large is accepting of its 'Aspies', the big difference between the books is that Nicholas' father can't accept what Nicholas is. Despite his aversion to crowds and loud noises, his father wants Nicholas to be a normal teenager and forces him to go to a party. The fact that Nicholas has friends (whereas Caitlin was still working on that) and is relatively normal doesn't satisfy his father. You can imagine the results.

As with Kathryn Erskine's story, Roy reiterates that with early detection and intervention (in this case, from Nicholas' mother), Nicholas is a 'normal' or in his words 'neurotypical' teen. Roy, too, has created characters that readers can relate to, want to relate to, want to meet and get to know. I'm glad I read Mockingbird first and Mindblind second because I can now imagine how Caitlin turns out and that adds a special element to the story.

The merits of both Roy's and Erskine's books are too numerous to mention. The writing, the story, the characters all shine. Bringing Asperger's Syndrome to the forefront, as does Francisco X. Stork in Marcelo in the Real World (I just had to mention him again) does a tremendous service. These three books form an Asperger's Syndrome Triumvirate and should be on everyone's reading list. Educate yourself while giving yourself a treat and read Mockingbird, Mindblind and Marcelo in the Real World. (I wonder if there's any significance to the fact that the titles of these books begins with the letter "M"? ( )