Blue Bottle Mystery
Kathy Hoopmann, Rachael Smith & Mike Medaglia
Jessica Kingsley Publishers
Subtitled ‘An Asperger Adventure’ this is essentially a graphic novel for primary/younger secondary age children adapted from the original fantasy story published some fifteen years ago. Herein we meet Ben who has Asperger’s syndrome and his pal Andy who doesn’t. Their discovery of a blue flask (they dig it up in the school yard) and the uncorking of same with the traditional three wishes they make, unleashes all kinds of surprising events in their lives. Ben then passes the bottle on to his teacher, Miss Browning-Lever who seems to be suffering from mood swings, in the hope it cheers her up.

Not long after, Ben and his dad who is a widower, win a fortune on the lottery (thanks to Ben’s new pattern) – wish number one. Then Andy announces that he’s had a sudden growth spurt – school basketball team, here he comes – that’s wish number two taken care of. And number three? The boys are unable to recall what that was: surely not the blowing up of their arch enemies – or was it? Could it have been the destruction of their school perhaps?

Suffice it to say that all ends happily albeit somewhat surprisingly but to tell would make me a story-spoiler so … let’s just say Ben gets his Asperger’s diagnosis and there’s something new for Ben’s dad too.
Assuredly this is a book that offers an explanation of aspects of Asperger’s Syndrome in a fun way making it accessible to a wide range of readers, especially those (on the spectrum or not) who have a particular passion for visuals. I have to say I was somewhat troubled by Ben’s dad having a go at him about his ‘flapping’ …

and some of his other behaviours – thank goodness for his more understanding Gran. But I guess that is part of life for some youngsters on the spectrum.
All in all though, this is a perceptive, optimistic story that artfully weaves information relating to the condition throughout. It should find a place on the classroom shelves of all primary schools and in lower secondary libraries: those who read it will one hopes come away with a greater understanding of what it is to be ‘an aspie’. Let’s hear it for individuality and difference, and the way such characteristics can enrich the lives of us all.
You can order directly from the publishers JKP

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