THE WORRY KNOT

A middle-grade novel that focuses on the lives of a neurotypical middle schooler, his neurodiverse brother, and their classmates.

Rourke, the narrator, is starting seventh grade and feeling apprehensive about again being in the same school as his brother, Carson. Carson has autism, is fixated on stickers and keys, and is prone to seizures and unsocial behavior; as such, he’ll likely need assistance from others for the rest of his life. His condition makes him a target for bullies and draws heavily on family resources—particularly his and Rourke’s parents’ attention. Rourke has other concerns in his life, though, including a fascination with a new girl in school named Grace who clearly has secrets; she has strange bruises and scars, a stash of food in her locker, and impressive archery skills. Rourke also has an imaginary friend, Sam, who pops up whenever the boy is in trouble. The story notes some of the traits of Carson’s autism, including his need to focus on one task at a time and his struggles with reading body language and maintaining eye contact. The author also effectively explores the range of emotions that family members of people with autism have; for example, Rourke is reluctant to walk Carson to school even though he loves him deeply and wants to help him; he worries that his sibling has “no way to keep safe.” He also comes to realize that dealing with his own family’s issues might be preferable to dealing with those that Grace is facing. The writing style is appropriate for the target audience, and Rourke comes across as an emotionally aware but still immature teen. The weakest parts of the book, though, are the short, personal thoughts from various characters that start each chapter. While these give us insights into their minds and motives, readers may wish that these were shown through their actions instead of stated outright.

A kind and realistic depiction of living with autism that will educate and engage young readers.