From School Library Journal
Gr 3-5-Nothing seems to be going right for Ben. Sometimes he has trouble understanding what his teachers are saying, and they get frustrated and yell at him. And because he sometimes acts strangely, he only has one friend, Andy. The boys are in a miserable mood, digging in the dirt in the schoolyard, when they unearth a mysterious blue bottle. Imagining that it belongs to a genie, they leap into a barrage of wishes and, gradually, their wishes begin to come true. Ben and his father win the lottery, while Andy begins a furious growth spurt that enables him to join the basketball team. Even Ben's behavior problems are eased when he is diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome, a kind of autism, and he and his family learn how to deal with his condition. Only the mystery of Ben and Andy's forgotten third wish remains, and that resolves itself in a most gratifying way. Blue Bottle Mystery is a simple and straightforward story with appealing characters. It's a gentle introduction to the challenges and unique qualities of people living with Asperger's and a welcome read for families who have experienced it and similar conditions.
Heather Dieffenbach, Lexington Public Library, KY
Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
Kurzbeschreibung
Nothing is quite the same after Ben and his friend Andy find an old bottle in the school yard. What is the strange wisp of smoke that keeps following them around? Things become even more complicated when Ben is diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome.
