What is Mommy Reading? – “House Rules”

I will be posting reviews of parenting books and personal books that I am reading!  For this blog I am posting a review for House Rules, by Jodi Picoult.  I found this book to be very educational for me.  I know Jodi Picoult does research for her novels to covey whatever topic she is writing about accurately.  This novel deals with a teenage boy who has Asperger’s Syndrome.  Since I am a former teacher, I have worked with a few kids with this disorder.  I wish I had read this book while I was teaching those kids!  It definitely gives you a look into the mind of someone with Asperger’s Syndrome and let’s you understand why they may say certain things or act in certain ways.  

“Jacob Hunt is a teenage boy with Asperger’s syndrome. He’s hopeless at reading social cues or expressing himself well to others, and like many kids with AS, Jacob has a special focus on one subject–in his case, forensic analysis. He’s always showing up at crime scenes, thanks to the police scanner he keeps in his room, and telling the cops what they need to do…and he’s usually right. But then his town is rocked by a terrible murder and, for a change, the police come to Jacob with questions. All of the hallmark behaviors of Asperger’s–not looking someone in the eye, stimulatory tics and twitches, flat affect–can look a lot like guilt to law enforcement personnel. Suddenly, Jacob and his family, who only want to fit in, feel the spotlight shining directly on them. For his mother, Emma, it’s a brutal reminder of the intolerance and misunderstanding that always threaten her family. For his brother, Theo, it’s another indication of why nothing is normal because of Jacob. And over this small family the soul-searing question looms: Did Jacob commit murder?” – Amazon.com

Personal Rating:
On a scale of 1-10 (10 being the highest), I would rate this book an 8.  I really enjoyed the characters in the book, and I actually like how the author switches the narrator in different chapters.  I recommend this book, especially to those wanted to learn more about Asperger’s Syndrome or just to someone who enjoys a “who-done-it” type book!  A link to Amazon is on the right sidebar of this page if you would like more information about the book, or if you would like to purchase it!  

Have you read this book?  What did you think?  What rating would you give it?  If you are familiar with Asperger’s Syndrome do you think this accurately portrays this disorder?