Blue Bottle Mystery: An Asperger's Adventure

I read this book myself, and I'm now reading it with my 8-year-old son with AS. Besides having an entertaining story line, it's given us opportunities to have some rich discussions. For example, there's a scene where Ben's teacher becomes more and more frustrated with his inappropriate responses. My son and I read it over, and I said, "Do you understand why she got so upset?" He said, emphatically, "No!", so we went through the scene line by line and I pointed out how the misunderstandings arose. Afterwards, he understood better how he sometimes offends people without meaning to. I'd like to address some of the criticisms other reviewers have had. Yes, there is Australian slang. My son asks me what it means, just as he would with any unfamiliar word or phrase. It's not a big deal. Yes, Ben has a good friend. However, his friend gets annoyed with his constant talk about computers (Ben's obsession); he is realistically portrayed. It's great to have a model of an Aspie friendship for my son; reading about typical kids who get together to shoot hoops is not going to give him any idea how *he* would act with a friend. Yes, the father and the teacher say some harsh things to and about Ben, but that is before he is diagnosed. Once they understand what is going on, they do not put Ben down or imply that Asperger's is something to be ashamed of. All in all, this has been a great book for my son and for me.

It's been over a year since my son and I read this book together, but I am still so happy that I discovered it. I was never quite sure when or how to talk to my son about his diagnosis, but knew that the time was getting close(he was 10 yrs old). After reading this book, which had enough literal and amusing examples that my AS son enjoyed and we both laughed about, my son's only comment was, "I think I'm alot like that kid in the book, except I have friends." I smiled and closed the book. Over the next few days, my son kept referring to the boy in the book, and then point blank one day asked me if he too had Asperger's Syndrome. It was for us a really unexpected and nice way to teach him more about himself and actually using the AS term (as we'd done alot of teaching without using AS in previous years). I'm here now to buy the sequel! I would recommend this book to children, parents, teachers, and professionals. Each child is different, so I'd recommend that parents read it first and try to imagine how their child would like it (and not just how they felt when reading it).

Hi I am a 12 year old boy with aspergers syndrome my therapist gave me this book to read when I had trouble or was being silly in school today I finished reading this book it inspired me showing that changes may be hard but you have to accept them no matter how hard they are to cope with at first it will be alright.

... I?m going to begin this ?review? by saying this book was absolutely WONDERFUL! I finished it in one day (even with everyday interruptions). I couldn't put it down.Ben Jones is the main character of the book. He has difficulty understanding what teachers mean, why they are always cross with him and why kids at school tease, taunt and bully him.I?m not going to give away all the details here because this book is a treasure you must read for yourself.The book starts at school. Ben is having a difficult day with his teacher, Ms. Browning-Lever. The fact that his teacher doesn?t (nor seem to want to) understand Ben?s behavior, is upsetting and the effect on Ben is devastating. The events in that school room and on the playground that day truly upset me and had me in tears because my son went through similar experiences. (Ms. Hoopman knows what she's talking about here, obviously. And she tells it well.)...This is an absolutely delightful, warm, insightful book that shows kids with Asperger?s that they are NOT weird, they?re unique and wonderful. And that if ?the powers that be? at school would only educate themselves on Asperger?s Syndrome, these children?s lives could be changed forever, as will theirs, the educators. Through our AS children, they will open themselves up to a new way of seeing things. They will find in these children a warmth, a delightful sense of humor and intelligence that they?ve likely not seen before. Our AS children are not rude. They are honest and to-the-point with no desire to hurt anyone. They just want things they don?t understand to be explained to them. They want to know HOW to make (and keep) friends because most AS children desperately want them. They?re tired of being considered ?weird?. They just want to try and ?fit? in this neurotypical world of ours.I cannot say enough good things about this book. These are just my opinions. Only you can decide for yourself. I feel it is a must read for parents, teachers, counselors, doctors, family members and for persons with Asperger?s Syndrome. I think Kathy Hoopman is a very talented writer and applaud her efforts in this book. I was so impressed, I ordered her other book, ?Of Mice and Aliens? the minute I finished this book. All I can say is........?When are you writing your next book, Ms. Hoopman??

Though a fiction work, the "hero" has Asperger Syndrome and is trying to deal with the world around him. His father, who has lost his wife, is confused and worried about Ben's "inexplicable" behaviors and refuses to believe that there is a "problem" with his child. The children at school have various reactions and interactions with Ben - some that left my 11 year old son sadly mumbling "They don't understand." He loved the way everything was resolved though and he got the part about other people having problems that don't necessarily concern you but might inadvertantly affect you even though you don't know about them - and the happy ending left him grinning ear-to-ear and telling me that he was happy that things turned out so well for Ben.I loaned the book to our In-Home person who helps our family with training and making certain my son has a correct IEP and help in the classroom if he needs it - she has been passing it to teachers who are so impressed with the insight it gave them that they are reading it to their classes. The children in the classrooms are responding with understanding about their classmate. They see his behaviors in a whole new way and see how some of their behaviors can be slightly modified to accomodate him - things such as being more patient with him when he's trying to explain something.Yes, it's fiction, but the actions of Ben and the people around him are real. It may be called a mystery story - but it's really a story about learning acceptance and understanding for those around you and the confusion of a small boy and his father who know he's different but don't understand why. My son, who was diagnosed with Asperger (finally!) 2 years ago, loved it and has asked for it several times.Kathy Hoopman has written another story and I'm off to get it ordered!