Let’s dive into a quick overview of a book featuring AAC:
Book Title: The Many Mysteries of the Finkel Family
Author: Sarah Kapit (Sarah is an autistic author in the Pacific Northwest. Learn more about Sarah and why she wrote this book in this King 5 piece.)
Published in 2021
Age Range: 8 – 12 years old
Book Type: middle-grade novel (fiction)
How AAC is Featured: The two main characters are sisters who are Autistic. One uses AAC to communicate.
The Many Mysteries of the Finkel Family is about the adventures of siblings, Lara and Caroline. Lara wants to separate herself and her talents from those of her family. Her cousin bakes amazing cupcakes. Her sister Caroline is a great artist. Lara establishes a detective agency to solve crimes, believing this is her true calling.
During the story, we learn Caroline uses a tablet to communicate. Lara speaks. The focus of the book is not on AAC or Autism. But there are mentions of character traits the author describes that help the reader understand some things about AAC and Autism. For example, Lara wonders if her sister’s way of seeing the world is an “autism thing or an artist thing.” Caroline “thinks in colors.” The author describes how Caroline participates in conversations – such as, when she puts her tablet in her bag, “the conversation is 100% over.”
I appreciated this book for its focus on relationships with family and friends. The author chose not to set Autism apart as something influencing the whole of the character’s experiences. Using a tablet to communicate or needing sensory accommodations was woven into a fun and interesting storyline. The whole book is largely centered on how Lara and Caroline navigate their relationships with their family, school friends, and each other. What does it mean to keep a secret or “why do people change?” The lessons learned by each sister are about taking responsibility for one’s actions and how to say you are sorry.
Have you read this book? What did you think?
Share your comments or questions.