Text Set Reflection

Reflecting on my text set as a whole, I believe that I have a set that includes quality literature. Each one of my pieces, Rules, Riding the Bus with My Sister, and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time are remarkable novels that should be included in any library. They are written with compassion by people who are either insiders to families with people with autism, have worked with people with autism for many years, or are a family member to someone with Down Syndrome. The authors seem to accurately portray these family situations, these characters, and events with dignity and a certain matter-of-factness. There is no air of mystery, no glamorization of the life of these families and people with autism and Down Syndrome. Instead, they are brought to reality in a very detailed, vivid way for the readers using rich language, descriptive prose, and intricately developed characters. Each book also offers a different perspective on autism. In Riding the Bus with My Sister, Rachel Simon is a grown woman who goes to Philadelphia to visit her sister regularly for a year. This perspective is important because it deals with deeper issues of accepting and forming a loving relationship with someone with Down Syndrome. It fosters a deeper understanding and sympathy, as well as the importance of patience and truly getting to know someone. Rules is also written from the perspective of a sister, but this time it is a twelve-year old. This is also important because it represents a significant age group that will be questioning relationships, struggling with the complexities of not only being twelve, but also with accepting a sibling with a disability such as autism. Catherine is a typical twelve-year old, right in between child and teenager, confused about all of her relationships and desperate for normalcy and attention. Ultimately, she comes to accept her brother David and her new friend Jason in remarkable ways. This is a valuable book to have in the collection because it reaches out to school-aged children, giving them a positive, accurate look into the life of a family with a child with autism. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time is written by David Haddon, who has worked with people with autism for many years. This book is important to include in the text set because it is written from the perspective of Christopher, who has Asperger's. His unique way of seeing and making sense of the world is engaging and extremely enlightening. This book offers insight into the mental processes of someone with Asperger's, which is a rare point of view, making it all the more valuable and important for people of any age to read. This set encompasses many different perspectives, all which offer unique insight and provide an accurate portrayal of people with disabilities and those people who love them.