Recent Reads: Colin Fischer by Ashley Edward Miller & Zack Stentz

What the book's about: This is a fiction book geared towards Young Adults. It's central character, Colin Fischer, is a high school student with Asperger syndrome. He can't stand to be touched and struggles to read facial expressions. Yet, he has a propensity for solving mysteries. As he navigates the transition to high school, he finds himself attempting to solve a mysterious crime.

Why I read this book: Mark Oestreicher recommended it on his blog and over the years, I've come to respect and enjoy many of his recommendations.

My favorite quotes from the book:

- "Kids are often frightened by anyone different. They make themselves feel secure by picking on kids who are."

- "To learn a thing was to know a thing; to know a thing was to understand a thing; to understand a thing was to face it without fear." 

- "As an adult working with disabled children, Hans Asperger, an Austrian pediatrician, was fascinated by a group of patients he called his 'little professors' - socially awkward boys and girls who would fixate on a subject and talk about it passionately and in great detail. While mainstream autism researchers in the United States focused on these patients' disabilities, Asperger emphasized their special talents and their potential for great contributions to society in adulthood." 

Thumbs up or thumbs down? Thumbs up

Who I'd recommend this book for: Youth workers who want to better understand Asperger syndrome. While this book is fiction, it provides valuable insights into what living with Asperger's is like. I would also wholeheartedly recommend it for any teenager who likes to read. It would also be a great book for a teen Book Club.