Audiobook2 hours
The Reason I Jump: The Inner Voice of a Thirteen-Year-Old Boy with Autism
Written by Naoki Higashida and David Mitchell
Narrated by Tom Picasso
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5/5
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About this audiobook
You' ve 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 don' t you make eye contact when you' re talking?" and " What' s the reason you jump?" (Naoki' s answer: " When I' m jumping, it' s 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 insights-- into the mystery of words, the wonders of laughter, and the elusiveness of memory-- are 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 Naoki' s 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 they' d be able to share that feeling with friends, the wider autism community, and beyond. Naoki' s book, in its beauty, truthfulness, and simplicity, is a gift to be shared.
LanguageEnglish
PublisherRecorded Books, Inc.
TranslatorDavid Mitchell and KA Yoshida
Release dateAug 27, 2013
ISBN9781490603025
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Reviews for The Reason I Jump
Rating: 4.488095238095238 out of 5 stars
4.5/5
84 ratings5 reviews
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5a book written by a13 year old full of angst as kids are at that age has given those of us that are struggling to understand our little angels such insight into the the workings of the autistic mind. this book should be read by everyone in a family and the people that interact with an autistic person, on any level. i love my grandson so much it hurts and i am so happy to have further insight to his inner being. please give it a listen. i am so thankful i found it! i was intrigued by the title as my grand loves to jump. now i understand why he does so. you just may find an answer to a question you have had for a long time.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5There's some skepticism and criticism for this book questioning whether this thirteen year old nonverbal boy actually wrote it and/or that it speaks in too big of generalizations. I agree with the generalizations bit but, putting that aside, there is value in this read and I enjoyed it.
The structure of the book is in an easy Question and Answer format addressing some of the most common questions people familiar with a person on the spectrum wonders.
Questions like:
Do I want to or like being alone?
Why do I like to watch things spin?
Why do I ask the same questions over and over?
Why don't I use eye contact?
Why do I wiggle my fingers in front of my eyes?
Why do I make noises?
Do I want to be touched?
Why can't I speak?
Why do I have meltdowns?
Why do I line things up?
Why do I cover my ears?
Why do I bolt?
Why do I like water?
Why do I like doing the same things repeatedly?
and so on...
The answers are straight forward, interesting, and articulate. The use of the royal "we" is often applied which can make it sound like the answers represent everyone on the Autism Spectrum and I think readers could get into trouble there.
Autism affects people differently in addition to whatever unique personality quirks each person has (hence the Spectrum) so the experience and reasons for Naoki's actions should be taken as just that, his. However, his answers do provide some general insight, as well, so there are takeaways.
The main takeaway I had is that there is a full person inside the individual with Autism regardless of speaking ability, stims, distractions, or being "in their own world". As a mother of two kids on the Spectrum I already know this but further insights are always appreciated.
With the use of technology, people on the Spectrum that were once locked in their bodies can have a voice and it's amazing to hear it. Naoki is just one. For skeptics of ability of those on the Spectrum, I recommend watching Wretches and Jabberers and Loving Lampposts which show numerous examples of the intelligence and full personalities held within.
I have the audiobook version of "The Reason I Jump" and have to say that the narrators were excellent.
Overall, I found this to be a helpful book and recommend it as a read to anyone interested about those on the Autism Spectrum. - Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5Very intriguing book that gave me A LOT to ponder. The last couple of chapters were a bit far-fetched for my liking.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5great book!!!it helps you understand so much more!!! love it!!!
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5This book gave me a lot of insight and was helpful to understand more of how maybe my autistic grandson is feeling. The truth of the matter is I cried through most of this book because listening to him how he felt sad & how he was afraid I can’t bear the thought of my grandson feeling like that for one second never mind a lifetime.