At the beginning of 2011, I started keeping a master list of the books I read and even, with very few exceptions, wrote at least a brief review for each one. Although it was a good exercise and forced me to be more thoughtful about what I was reading, I have not really decided whether to commit to that for the coming year.
Since I did read so many books this year, however, I thought it would be interesting to highlight my favorite books from 2011. My three top picks were all from fairly early in the year, but each of them made a lasting impression on me:
Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine
I really can’t say enough good things about this book. Although I had to go to the juvenile fiction section of the library to locate it, I definitely feel this is a book for both young and old. The main character, Caitlin, is a young girl whose brother has died in a school shooting. She and her father are left to deal with their grief and try to find closure as a family as well as within the larger community. This book sheds light on multiple facets of our society, illuminating both the differences and the commonalities between people of various ages, experiences and neurological makeups. I highly recommend it without reservation.
This book was recommended by Tony Attwood when I heard him speak, and I am so glad I decided to check it out. I would highly recommend this for any girl or woman you know who is on the spectrum (or for her parents or spouse, as well.)
You may already be familiar with Rachel Cohen-Rottenberg as the blog author of Journeys with Autism. Even if you aren’t, I would highly recommend reading this compelling memoir of her life. I was deeply touched by much of what she shared, and I found her observations on her own coping strategies and on the nature of autism itself to be extremely insightful.
Other Nonfiction
Asperger’s From the Inside Out: A Supportive and Practical Guide for Anyone with Asperger’s Syndrome by Michael John Carley
The Book on Writing: The Ultimate Guide to Writing Well by Paula LaRocque
Boundaries: When to Say YES, When to Say NO, To Take Control of Your Life by Henry Cloud and John Townsend
Autism and Sensory Related Resources
How to Teach Life Skills to Kids with Autism or Asperger’s by Jennifer McIlwee Myers
Learn to Have Fun with Your Senses! by John Taylor
MoveAbout Activity Cards by David & Kathy Jereb
The Ultimate Guide to Sensory Processing Disorder by Roya Ostovar
Novels I Loved
The Encounter by Stephen Arterburn
The Goodbye Quilt by Susan Wiggs
Joy For Beginners by Erica Bauermeister
New York to Dallas by J.D. Robb
Room by Emma Donoghue
The School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister
Young Adult
The Giver by Lois Lowry
Good Masters! Sweet Ladies!: Voices from a Medieval Village by Laura Amy Schlitz
The Mirror of N’de by L.K. Malone
Turning Point by Melissa Luznicky Garrett
So tell me, what were your favorite books this year?
I'm a mom with Asperger's raising an amazing son with autism, which means I'm basically the case manager/advocate/cheerleader/chauffeur. The rest of the time, you can usually find me with my nose in a book!
