The Reason I Jump: The Inner Voice of a Thirteen-Year-Old Boy With Autism

**#1 INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER** Youve never read a book like __The Reason I Jump__. Written by Naoki Higashida, a very smart, very self-aware, and very charming thirteen-year-old boy with autism, it is a one-of-a-kind memoir that demonstrates how an autistic mind thinks, feels, perceives, and responds in ways few of us can imagine. Parents and family members who never thought they could get inside the head of their autistic loved one at last have a way to break through to the curious, subtle, and complex life within. Using an alphabet grid to painstakingly construct words, sentences, and thoughts that he is unable to speak out loud, Naoki answers even the most delicate questions that people want to know. Questions such as: Why do people with autism talk so loudly and weirdly? Why do you line up your toy cars and blocks? Why dont you make eye contact when youre talking? and Whats the reason you jump? (Naokis answer: When Im jumping, its as if my feelings are going upward to the sky.) With disarming honesty and a generous heart, Naoki shares his unique point of view on not only autism but life itself. His insightsinto the mystery of words, the wonders of laughter, and the elusiveness of memoryare so startling, so strange, and so powerful that you will never look at the world the same way again. In his introduction, bestselling novelist David Mitchell writes that Naokis words allowed him to feel, for the first time, as if his own autistic child was explaining what was happening in his mind. It is no exaggeration to say that __The Reason I Jump__ allowed me to round a corner in our relationship. This translation was a labor of love by David and his wife, KA Yoshida, so theyd be able to share that feeling with friends, the wider autism community, and beyond. Naokis book, in its beauty, truthfulness, and simplicity, is a gift to be shared. 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