Product Description

Have you ever been called a freak or a geek? Have you ever felt like one? Luke Jackson is 13 years old and has Asperger Syndrome. Over the years Luke has learned to laugh at such names but there are other aspects of life which are more difficult. Adolescence and the teenage years are a minefield of emotions, transitions and decisions and when a child has Asperger Syndrome, the result is often explosive. Luke writes briefly about his younger autistic and AD/HD brothers, providing amusing insights into the antics of his younger years and advice for parents, carers and teachers of younger AS children. However, his main reason for writing was because "so many books are written about us, but none are written directly to adolescents with Asperger Syndrome. I thought I would write one in the hope that we could all learn together".

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4389 in Books
• Published on: 2002-08-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 224 pages

Book Info
(Jessica Kingsley Publishers) Consumer-oriented narrative is written by a 13-year-old-boy with Asperger Syndrome. Draws upon personal experiences and family members to inform the general public about living the adolescent years with this disease. Softcover.

About the Author
Luke Jackson is 13 years old and has three sisters and three brothers. One of his brothers has AD/HD, one is autistic and Luke has Asperger Syndrome. He is the author of A User Guide to the GF/CF Diet for Autism, Asperger Syndrome and AD/HD, also published by JKP.

Customer Reviews

What a refreshing book!
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.

A Must Read
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.

The jury is still out
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.