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Anything But Typical (by Nora Raleigh Baskin)

common sense media says

Realistic look inside the world of a tween with autism.

parents & educators say
See all 10 reviews | Review it

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this book deals with a child who has autism and how it affects others around him. There are some emotional situations, as well.

Positive messages: A very sensitive look at an autistic 12-year-old. Also shows what a positive impact writing and self-expression can have for anyone.
Positive role models: School kids tease Jason and people treat him as if he doesn't
understand things as well as he does. Still, there are some great
examples of family love and friendship.
Violence: A boy pushes another.
Sex: A boy likes a girl; a typical tween crush.
Language: Name-calling, like "weird," "freak," "stupid."
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Not applicable.
Our ratings and reviews are informed by child development guidelines. Learn more.

More on Anything But Typical

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
  • Families can talk about being different. Are there special needs kids in your school? How do others treat them? How do you treat them?
  • Can you imagine what it would be like to be them? What are some things about you that are different from most of your friends? Why is different OK?

What's the story?

What's the story?
Jason is 12 years old and has autism. He doesn't like loud noises, likes order and routine, but more importantly, he loves to write. His stories are a way to express himself to a world that often doesn't understand him. He submits his stories to an online website and finds a friend in another writer, a girl named Rebecca, who goes by the name Phoenix Bird. She likes his stories and accepts him, but when an opportunity comes for them to meet in person at a writing conference, Jason wonders if he'll lose his friend once she learns he has autism.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

Author Nora Baskin tries to bring readers into the world of a child with autism, and it's a heartbreaking, moving, yet loving look as Jason struggles to use "our language" to describe the world around him and how he fits into it. He describes knowing how others feel about him even though they think he doesn't understand -- his mother taking his baby brother with her everywhere because she's afraid he might hurt him, his grandmother speaking slowly and loudly to him as if he can't hear, kids making fun of him, his anxiety about meeting a friend who doesn't know about his condition.

The words can sometimes come in a jumble, but the words are Jason's way of trying to connect his life to the lives of "normal" people. Some of the true gems of this book are Jason's stories that he posts online that parallel his life in ways he may not understand, but the readers will. Both kids and parents will love this wonderful, eye-opening, and sensitive story.

 

Book themes & details

Book Details
Author: Nora Raleigh Baskin
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Publication date: March 9, 2009
Number of pages: 208
Hardcover price: $15.99
This review was written by Terreece Clarke
 
 

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Most useful reviews by all members

ms k
educator and parent of 14 and 15 year old
8
 
Wow! Autism is not a subject many like to talk about. Anything But Typical is a wonderful book about a 12-year old Autistic boy named Jason. He is most comfortable at his computer, writing fantasy stories and posting them to a blog devoted to amateur writers of the genre. It is a compassionate look inside Jason's thoughts and dreams. I love the honesty with which the book is written.
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helped me decide (7) | had useful details (6) | read my mind (7)
TCGleek
teen, 17 years old
11
 
It's pretty good, but little kids won't understand
It's about a boy with autism, and it's a little confusing, since it jumps from one storyline to another. Great message. Love Bennu. :)
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helped me decide (6) | had useful details (6) | read my mind (7)
Naruto6tails
kid, 12 years old
 
but I think its for 12 and up ages
great book!
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helped me decide (6) | had useful details (7) | read my mind (6)
casey :)
teen, 14 years old
11
 
Wonderful Book.
This was such a great book. It almost made me cry. I stopped and relized "wow, kids like this actually think about other people." All he wanted was friends. And I hope one day the school kids wake up and realize what a great person Jason is.
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Phoenixbird54
kid, 12 years old
9
 
GREAT BOOK
I love this book I had to read it for a book club and I love it usually these books r boring but this was awesome Jason is such a great role model he teaches lessons in his own way it's very eduicational because it teaches about plots and writing
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helped me decide (6) | had useful details (6) | read my mind (6)
mani1029
teen, 16 years old
9
 
I Love this book because it teaches kids how to learn more about other kids around them and also in their life
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helped me decide (5) | had useful details (7) | read my mind (6)
cujoandjiff
teen, 14 years old
12
 
great for tweens and teens
Very educational with out trying to be.
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helped me decide (6) | had useful details (5) | read my mind (7)
amoon062797
teen, 14 years old
11
 
girls or boys will like it
This book was one of my favorites!
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helped me decide (5) | had useful details (7) | read my mind (6)
Musicgirl209
kid, 12 years old
11
 
I had to do this for Summer reading... and liked it!
A very interesting story. It will help kids understand autism and how every has a different way of seeing the world. I put it a "on for 11 and up" because kids have to be mature enough to understand all of this. It also has a lot of good advice for writers. : D
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bookwormwriter
teen, 15 years old
10
 
Awesome Book
I loved this book! I can relate to Jason a lot, and I kept thinking, 'Exactly!' and 'I thought I was the only one!' I really liked this book. It was a lot better than some of Baskin's other books, and I will almost definitely read it again. I recommend it for kids 10 and up, because some younger kids have a hard time understanding autism, and it can kind of scare them sometimes. The only thing that I thought was kind of weird was that Jason told his friends that PheonixBird was his girlfriend, and she had never agreed to that. That would be kind of weird, if I were in her place, and I would get mad. Other than that, I really, really loved this book! Happy reading! :)
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