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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.

"Gripping from the very first word, Joan Clark treats the reader to a charming, heartwarming story of a young man 'coming of age' in terms of people with differences … and, ultimately, himself."

"One of the greatest gifts that you can give a family who has a child with Asperger Syndrome is the hope that the world may be a friendly place to their child. Jackson Whole Wyoming delivers this hope with a dose of humor and a dead-on depiction of daily school life for a student with Asperger Syndrome. Joan Clark demonstrates that while communication comes in many packages, friendship remains the universal language."

"This book tells an exquisite story about two fifth-grade boys, one of them with Asperger Syndrome. The neurotypical boy explains his feelings about his peer with Asperger Syndrome, including some of his unique behaviors and beliefs. I found this book very truthful about the feelings children have about others with special needs. This book is an excellent and memorable read."

"It is encouraging to read about exceptional children who have Asperger Syndrome and the exceptional children who learn from them. In Jackson Whole Wyoming Joan Clark has drawn upon her personal and professional insights to relate the unique and often humorous characteristics, as well as the many challenges, of these special children and those around them. Most important, the story emphasizes one common factor - these special people are first and foremost children."

"Jackson Whole Wyoming is a wonderful glimpse into the life of a child with Asperger Syndrome. The author does a wonderful job giving insight into this condition while entertaining you as well."

"What a find!! A great story that illustrates the characteristics of a student with Asperger Syndrome. I am definitely going to use this with my students taking the 'Exceptional Learner' class."

"This book is a great tool to help 'neurotypical' students learn to appreciate the unique talents and struggles of their classmates who have Asperger Syndrome! I highly recommend it as a valuable resource for all educators and parents of students with Asperger Syndrome and as a worthy selection for juvenile fiction literary circles."