In lieu of an abstract, here is a brief excerpt of the content:

Reviewed by:
  • The Reinvention of Edison Thomas
  • Deborah Stevenson
Houtman, Jacqueline. The Reinvention of Edison Thomas. Front Street, 2010 [192p]. ISBN 978-1-59078-708-3 $17.95 Reviewed from galleys Ad Gr. 5-7

Middle school is rough going for Edison Thomas, known as Eddy: he's upset at only winning third in the science fair, he's worried that the removal of the school crossing guard is going to result in somebody's getting hurt, and he's not sure what to do about both the pranks that are constantly played on him and the classmates that seek his company. Though it isn't explicitly stated, it's clear that Eddy has some kind of autism spectrum disorder, with a complement of strengths and limitations that make it hard for him to blend in with the sixth-grade crowd. There's a purposive flavor to the events, with Eddy's growth seeming to come mostly out of plot necessity, and the school's apparent blindness to Eddy's struggle is a strange contrast to their providing capable social skills therapy for him. Houtman does an excellent job, though, of conveying Eddy's character, especially his enthusiasm for science and engineering; it's credible that he'd find commonality with some nice geeky classmates who share his interests, and it's pleasing that their friendship isn't portrayed as curing him—they're just accepting of him as he is. Baskin's Anything but Typical (BCCB 4/09) is a more effective portrayal for this age range of a kid coming from a different point of view, but readers will find satisfaction in Eddy's eventual growth into the comradeship he's beginning to understand that he needs.

...

pdf

Share