Dear AAPC Friends,

When my first book, Jackson Whole Wyoming, came out, I was happy with the reaction it received. Kids from third grade all the way up to adults loved it, but they wanted to know what was going to happen next. So I set out to tell that story. Only this time, it wasn't a kind-hearted fifth-grade boy narrating the events. It was someone completely different … someone who might take you aback at first.

Ann Drew Jackson, the sequel to my first book, is based in reality. As a speech-language pathologist in the public school setting, I have worked with many children who live in poverty. These kids often have compelling stories to tell but are overlooked. Sometimes their lives are so stressful and difficult that it's hard to reach them.

In my new book, readers will learn what happens when a girl like this finds herself in a relationship with a boy who has Asperger Syndrome-the savvy, street-wise spitfire meets the naïve, regimented Aspie. The value that these children bring to each other is an important lesson in human frailty and need. The topic would make a meaningful book study for a class.

Everyone knows that kids with Asperger Syndrome need help. Ann Drew Jackson points out something else. They can also be tremendous assets to those around them. Their personalities bring something important to life that should be embraced and celebrated.

I hope kids and adults, those with Asperger connections and those without, enjoy the book!

Sincerely,
Joan Clark, MA, CCC-SLP

These books are all about young people on the spectrum:

	Jackson Whole Wyoming by Joan Clark Meet Jackson, a fifth-grade boy with Asperger Syndrome, as he awkwardly progresses through school. It's a great children's chapter book for teaching acceptance and compassion.
	My Best Friend Will by Jamie Lowell and Tara Tuchel With outstanding photography and deft sensitivity, fifth-grader Jaime teaches us about Will … her friend with autism. What a moving and compelling book! And perfect for peer training.
	Running on Dreams by Herb Heiman Teenagers who have autism … Despite all the press about autism these days, this is a subject rarely broached in novels, especially when it delves into the subject of friendship. This is a much-needed book, not to mention a great read!