Curious Incident ...suitable for ds to read?

[fightingtheurgetoscream]

Ds probably AS/HFS but am unable to get dx. A 'professional' advised giving this book to ds as it may help him understand why he feels a bit 'different'. Is this a good idea and would the book be suitable for a 10 year old?

I read this and can see why it was recommended...id say go for it. :)

Have you read it? I would read it first if I were you.

The book isn't designed as an AS handbook, it merely uses the literal naivete of the narrator to highlight very adult issues. It contains quite a number of obscenities, and has central themes including jealousy, infidelity and despair.

So bear this in mind. I DID give it to my AS son when he was 12. He missed all of those themes and so wasn't corrupted, but also missed a lot of the point of the book. He also didn't really see himself in the narrator, as the narrator is Maths obsessed and he prefers philosophy...

I'd recommend Freaks, Geeks, and Asperger Syndrome (written by an AS 13 year old) if you want to give a sense of perspective and belonging.

Read it yourself first. Not suitable for all 10 year olds.

Thanks,I would have read it before giving it to him. I have heard that Freak,Geeks etc is a good book. My only concern is that we don't have dx and ds will then ask loads of questions and think that he has AS when we can't say 100% that he does. How can I get round that?

I see your point.

...wouldn't have given my son Freaks and Geeks before his diagnosis either.

I presume you are on the (long and arduous) road to diagnosis? Curious Incident may indeed be suitable for him. Read it and see what you think.

There is also a pretty passable audiobook...

DS's primary teacher lent me this book several years ago as she thought certain aspects of the book described him,it did. DD2 read it in English recently and she said the same and even opened up in class about her home life, she has been bullied mercilessly because of DS and gained a lot of respect.

um, curious incident is a good novel, but...

I've just taught it to a good 3rd year set (14-15 year olds) and although they did a good job with it overall they missed a lot of the AS stuff, were quite upset by some bits of the plot and complained about the high level of swearing - it took a lot of teaching before they were getting it

I don't think I'd give it to my 10 year old

maybe try these?

www.amazon.co.uk/Blue-Bottle-Mystery-Adventure-Adventures/dp/1853029785/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1292017132&sr=8-1

it's a set of three, my 10 year old daughter really liked them, I have to admit I haven't read them yet - because she lent them to her friend with AS the day after she finished them

as for the not having a diagnosis, my son didn't get one until he was nearly 13, we just had to give him the information and say, well we think you might have it - that's why the dr likes to see you, but we're not sure if it is that or not at the moment

Thanks tabulahrasa - I have ordered the Blue Bottle Mystery as think ds will like the story. Hopefully it can help him to realise that there are lots of children who also have difficulty at school and not feel so alone.

The Luke Jackson one is good, but it is very much a guide to AS as is the Kenneth Hall one, although done from their POV of course

My son wouldn't read the Kenneth Hall one, he got as far as him mentioning he was religious and wouldn't read any further - if he was willing to believe in god (he's very much of the if you can't prove it, it doesn't exist mindset) then obviously anything he had to say was flawed, lol, but he does say he's 10 in it - so it might be worth a look at because he's the same age

I think the isolation was a big issue for my son before his diagnosis - he was aware of his difficulties, but without any real explanation for them it really affected his self-esteem

What's really helped with that is partly he knows about AS now (I didn't tell him for ages because I kept hoping he would get a firm diagnosis so that I could tell him he has... rather than be vague) and then of course he now has it in a nice black and white letter which he finds much easier to deal with, lol

but mostly, I met some other parents through a support group and he started socialising with other children with similar school issues, when he started secondary school there were other children who he was put into a support group with - again with similar issues and then he got a place in a youth group for teens in mainstream school with ASDs - knowing that it's not just him and that actually there are lots of other people like him has helped him so much

I remember how frustrating it was not to have the diagnosis and yes it has helped him knowing that it's not just that he's bad at things (what he used to say) but mostly I think it's knowing other children in a similar position that's helped him loads - because he's one of those really sociable but not very good at it kids, lol, and he now has people that get him

I'm just waffling now so I'll stop, lol

We have been given details of support groups but I still don't feel comfortable joining these without a dx. My ds will just ask what we are doing there etc...
Maybe I just need to go along and find out but it's a bit daunting.

I read a blog by the author of "Curious Incident" and he said it wasn't meant to be specifically about someone with AS and he seemed a bit surprised that it had become a classic for people wanting to find out more about the condition.
At least Freaks Geaks was written by someone with a diagnosis.
Martian in the Playground (mentioned above) is by Clare Sainsbury but not really suitable for a ten year old.
My DS wasn't diagnosed until he was 12 and we were told it was quite common for a diagnosis to be made at this age. There seemes to be a feeling that early diagnosis is essential, but he has made amazing progress thanks to interventions at school. It seems to depend on the severity of the difficulty.
I know what you mean about support groups fighting. My DS has always refused to go to them. He so desperately wants to be "normal" that he doesn't want to be with people like him. He also says he sees enough of them at school (he goes to a MS school with a high proportion of AS students.)

"We have been given details of support groups but I still don't feel comfortable joining these without a dx. My ds will just ask what we are doing there etc..."

sorry - it was one for parents, what I meant was because I went along a few times I ended up getting to know other parents and then informally introduced the kids... so between that and the group at school he 'coincidentally' met other children who were having similar issues at school

I'm not really a support group person, lol, but I have dropped into some, less as he gets older, what is nice though is to be able to chat to other parents about things and for them to be in the same boat.

Things like not having to explain what it is you're talking about or have a jokey conversation with someone about something that's happened where they don't look at you with pity or get uncomfortable.