The Reason I Jump: The Inner Voice of a Thirteen-Year-Old Boy with AutismA 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. |
Contents
The Mystery of the Missing Words | Q-10 |
Earthling and Autisman | Q-24 |
Neverending Summer | Q-35 |
The Great Statue of Buddha | Q-47 |
Foreword | Q-60 |
Afterword | Q-75 |
About the Author | Q-88 |
Other editions - View all
The Reason I Jump: The Inner Voice of a Thirteen-Year-Old Boy with Autism Naoki Higashida Limited preview - 2013 |
The Reason I Jump: The Inner Voice of a Thirteen-Year-Old Boy with Autism Naoki Higashida No preview available - 2016 |
The Reason I Jump: The Inner Voice of a Thirteen-Year-Old Boy with Autism Naoki Higashida No preview available - 2016 |
Common terms and phrases
able alphabet grid Andrew Solomon answer aren’t autism speak autistic spectrum beautiful black crow body carers children with autism communication couldn’t dancing David Mitchell dead doesn’t else’s emotions eyes fact feel friends gone guess hand hard heart Heaven hope human imagine inside iPhone isn’t Japan Japanese Kazuo keep kids with autism language laugh live look memory mind Naoki Higashida Naoki’s autism neurotypicals never normal Nozomi º º º obsessive okay ourselves panic attacks parents people’s person who’s person with autism pretty problem questions reading Reason I Jump sense Shun thought Shun’s dad Shun’s father somehow someone someone’s son’s special needs staring stay stop story sure talk tell there’s things told understand visual schedules wasn’t watching we’ve what’s going what’s happening won’t wonder words write