The reason I jump : the inner voice of a thirteen-year-old boy with autism

A story never before told and a memoir to help change our understanding of the world around us, 13-year-old Naoki Higashida's astonishing, empathetic book takes us into the mind of a boy with severe autism. With an introduction by David Mitchell, author of the global phenomenon, Cloud Atlas , and translated by his wife, KA Yoshida. Naoki Higashida was only a middle-schooler when he began to write The Reason I Jump . Autistic and with very low verbal fluency, Naoki used an alphabet grid to painstakingly spell out his answers to the questions he imagines others most often wonder about him: why do you talk so loud? Is it true you hate being touched? Would you like to be normal? The result is an inspiring, attitude-transforming book that will be embraced by anyone interested in understanding their fellow human beings, and by parents, caregivers, teachers, and friends of autistic children. Naoki examines issues as diverse and complex as self-harm, perceptions of time and beauty, and the challenges of communication, and in doing so, discredits the popular belief that autistic people are anti-social loners who lack empathy. This book is mesmerizing proof that inside an autistic body is a mind as subtle, curious, and caring as anyone else's. ** The No. 1 Sunday Times And New York Times Bestseller. Written By Naoki Higashida When He Was Only Thirteen, This Remarkable Book Provides A Rare Insight Into The Often Baffling Behaviour Of Autistic Children. Using A Question And Answer Format, Naoki Explains Things Like Why He Talks Loudly Or Repeats The Same Questions, What Causes Him To Have Panic Attacks, And Why He Likes To Jump. He Also Shows The Way He Thinks And Feels About His World - Other People, Nature, Time And Beauty, And Himself. Abundantly Proving That People With Autism Do Possess Imagination, Humour And Empathy, He Also Makes Clear How Badly They Need Our Compassion, Patience And Understanding. David Mitchell And His Wife Have Translated Naoki's Book So That It Might Help Others Dealing With Autism And Generally Illuminate A Little-understood Condition. It Gives Us An Exceptional Chance To Enter The Mind Of Another And See The World From A Strange And Fascinating Perspective. The Book Also Features Eleven Original Illustrations, Inspired By Naoki's Words, By The Artistic Duo Kai And Sunny. A rare and important insight into the mind of an autistic child, in his own words. Translated by and with a moving introduction from the award-winning author of Cloud Atlas, David Mitchell