Product Description

The sequel to the recently published Blue Bottle Mystery, this is a science fiction novel for children aged 8-13, with a difference. Ben is learning to cope with his newly diagnosed Asperger Syndrome, but when an alien, Spick, crash-lands in his back yard, things really get complicated. Spick knows nothing about Earth's rules and norms, and it is up to Ben and his friend Andy to help him survive.

As well as being a delightful story which young people, particularly those with Asperger Syndrome and their siblings, will enjoy, it is a valuable teaching tool that presents the individuality of children with Asperger Syndrome as valid and interesting.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #133168 in Books
• Published on: 2001-07
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 108 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9781843100072
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

About the Author
Kathy Hoopmann is a primary school teacher and children's author who lives near Brisbane in Queensland, Australia. Kathy has been involved with children with Asperger Syndrome for many years and is the author of Blue Bottle Mystery, also published by Jessica Kinglsey.

Customer Reviews

Delighted my 7 yr old son with Asperger's. "Ben's like me!"
Ever since our son was diagnosed with very high functioning Asperger's less than a year ago, we have included him in discussions and reading about the syndrome. Many kids with Asperger's, our son included, gain comfort with their diagnosis by approaching it with intellectual curiosity. However, there's nothing like a fun story with lots of social skills situations to illustrate some of the challenges people with Asperger's may face and open up discussion possibilities. "Of Mice and Aliens," (the title makes Steinbeck fan, Mom, giggle)is a gently written story that includes lot of issues that are important to children with and without Asperger's syndrome. My son negotiated an extended bedtime so we could finish the book in one sitting. Once finished, he wrote his name in the book, put in in his school backpack and announced that he planned to share it with his teacher and discuss her using it in class to talk about his Asperger's with his classmates. "I'm like two of the characters in the book: Ben AND Zeke (the alien)--a little of each!" We found the book has a nice balance to the challenges and positive side of Asperger's. Some of the Australian/British words (for example, "ring" for the verb, "telephone") just gave us an opportunity to talk about different meanings of words and how easy it is to be misunderstood. We are ordering Hoopmann's other 2 books in the series and look forward to more.

A unique novel for young readers
Asperger Syndrome is a milder variant of Autism. It is characterized by social isolation and eccentric behavior in childhood. Common symptoms include peculiar speech; clumsiness; and difficulty in understanding other people's meanings, intentions, and feelings. In Kathy Hoopman's unique novel for young readers, Of Mice And Aliens, we are introduced to Ben, who enjoys working with computers, and his Asperger friend Lucy is fascinated by mice. When an alien named Zeke from the planet Celesstis4 lands in Ben's backyard adventure ensues as the alien knows nothing about Earth's rules and norms -- to which been can clearly relate! With Ben trying to manage his Asperger Syndrome and Zeke trying to learn about life on earth, things can and do get complicated! Of Mice And Aliens is an entertaining way for kids to learn about this unusual disability in a non-threatening story and is highly recommended for both school and community library collections.

My eight year old son really enjoyed this book.
My son has AS (Asperger's Syndrome) and his father was also diagnosed with AS (at the age of 9). I did not want my son to grow up denying that he has this unique way of looking at life because I want him to own it and be proud of who he is with a unique angle on every situation. These books by Kathy Hoopmann have made that wish a reality. My son enjoyed this book a great deal and wanted us to try to get a hold of her other books (which we were able to get from our local library). We are currently reading them and they are equally good. I would highly recommend this author. These books are rare in the world of autism. I have found nothing else out there that adequately and interestingly explains the unique challenges faced by children with AS in a way that a child could read about and enjoy. I am planning to buy the series in part so that we can let his best friend read about this "disability" and understand why and how my son is different than him.