Tyler is confused when he is selected by his entire fifth-grade class to present a going-away gift to Jackson, a classmate who is moving out of town. The agonizing dilemma is that while Tyler likes Jackson, he is a little embarrassed to admit it, and is worried about being "lumped together" with Jackson, whom many of the other students view as a bit "strange." The truth of the matter is that Jackson has Asperger Syndrome, which explains his sometimes bizarre behavior and lack of social skills. In the end, Tyler's kind nature prevails and he does a wonderful job of presenting a class book to the departing Jackson. This heart-warming and often humorous book paints a realistic picture of the ups and downs in the life of a fifth-grader and, more important, of a young boy with Asperger Syndrome.


Author:

JOAN CLARK is a licensed speech and language pathologist living in central Illinois. She received her bachelor's degree from Penn State University and her master's degree from the University of Houston. She has worked in the public schools throughout her career. Currently she is serving on the Autism Spectrum Disorders Assessment Team in the Macon-Piatt Special Education District.