Adam's Alternative Sports Day: An Asperger Story

I felt as if Jude Welton had told me something really really important - winning doesn't always mean success. To be a good sport, in other words! Of course, you get discouraged if you lose. However, nobody's perfect; someone has to lose and you have to accept it. If you ask me, it is crucial to be humble even if you win and to stop losing your temper even if you lose. Since Adam was surrounded by nice people who showed real understanding on Asperger Syndrome(AS), he could learn from his mistakes such as being upset and mean at Josie, his best friend about her better score than his in the math test. Bad sports become easily ornery or jealous when they lose or they feel others are better than them. On the other hand, bad sports tend to put losers down when they win. For more details, how about reading p.108 of Parenting a Child with Asperger Syndrome - 200 Tips and Strategy written by Brenda Boyd? Anyway, I would be a lot happier if I had been diagnosed with AS earlier and had more people who understand a lot about AS. That was why I found this book quite heart-warming. I'd like to recommend this splendid book especially to Aspies who has been struggling with this harsh reality!

This book is the first of the Aspergers Adventures to spark my son's interest. He is nine and really related to Adam. It doesn't hurt that my son's middle name is Adam. He thought Adam was just like him. I have to say that a lot of Adams characteristics were very similar to my son's. We loved the riddles and the alternative endings. We have read the story with each ending and I know this will be a book that we read multiple times. Hats of to Jude Welton!

Adam, 9 has Asperger's Syndrome and is not ashamed to admit it. His good friend Josie understands that Adam's social blunders are more often than not part of the Asperger's Experience. Adam has a very astute teacher who also understands Asperger's very well and does everything possible to keep Adam up to speed socially and make sure that he is fully included in all classroom activities. Every year, the school has Sports Day. Adam dreads this because he is nonathletic and has no interest in sports. Other kids make him the butt of their jokes, which intensifies his aversion for Sports Day. The boy's teacher comes up with a wonderful idea - Alternative Sports Day! Alternative Sports Day focuses on cognitive activities instead of physical prowess and the students are divided into small groups. Adam has a turn at bat, so to speak because at last he is given a chance to shine! This is truly an outstanding book. I like the way the cognitive activities are included so readers can also test their mental mettle. A wonderful, very interesting story that will not only get one's mental juices flowing, but will remain in the minds of readers long after turning the last page.