For anyone with an autistic child or adult, this book, The Reason I Jump written by a young Japanese boy when he was 13 will resonate with you @Naoki Higashida

When I first opened the book I felt I was immediately transported into the minds of Jack and Jared.  Although Jared is more mildly affected by Autism, I feel the book was written by someone who got inside Jack’s brain to see how it functions and of course in a way they did, as Naoki is severely Autistic just like Jack.   Naoki learnt to communicate via pointing to letters on a ‘cardboard keyboard’ and Naoki explains in his own words how he feels in regards to emotions, relationships, language, and the often baffling behaviour of people with Autism.

That smile when shared by someone with Autism is incredible, it can light up a room but it is quite rare to see, however listening to Jack bursting into laughter at midnight from his bedroom because he has clearly thought of something funny still sounds wonderful but he just doesn’t want to share this with anyone else.

Anything that spins is great fun in the boys lives, turning a book round and round in their hands, or just sitting and watching the washing machine on it’s spin cycle, this little act give so much pleasure to Jack.  Naoki says that watching spinning things simply fills them with an everlasting bliss.  Can you imagine getting so much pleasure from something that costs nothing?

And why do Autistic adults still love to watch Thomas the Tank Engine or Pingu, the same DVD’s over and over again?  Because they know there is always going to be a happy ending, they are simple stories that my son Jack can easily understand and he remains calm when watching and can just relax.

I am often asked if Jack has a hidden talent just like Dustin Hoffman in the Rain Man.  This great film gave a misconception about Autism, and unfortunately being gifted and being Autistic is actually quite rare and being asked this actually pisses me off.  No he doesn’t, but he is beautiful, complex and can line all his cars up in the right colours next to each other so to me that’s pretty amazing.

Now 24, Naoki Higashida has written another book – Fall Down 7 Times Get Up 8.  Is it as good as The Reason I Jump?  Yes!

Written now with a gentler perspective but still evocative and very emotional.  The first book made me cry because I felt I could finally understand what is going on inside my son’s brain, and be prepared to cry reading this one too.

Spoken language is a blue sea.  Everyone else is swimming, diving and frolicking, while I’m alone, stuck in a tiny boat.  Naoki Higashida