2007-08-23 Not Overly Charming

The only reason I read this book is because there is one character with autism. Katani, of Beacon Street Girls (Boston) fame has an older sister named Kelley who has autism.

Katani is friends with a group of girls in the Boston area. They call themselves the Beacon Street Girls as a nod to their neighborhood. Although I didn't care for most of the characters, save for Katani and her family and the adult characters, I did like the realistic way Kelley was presented. The second youngest of 4 daughters, Kelley has limited social skills; her verbalizations are bizarre to those who don't know her; is highly charged; cannot stand bright lights or loud noises. At the story's opening, the girls go to an outdoor festival. Disaster abounds whn the BSG mascot (an adorable mixed breed dog) runs away. The girls go frantic; send each other text messages and e-mails; blame and self recrimination abounds. Kelley has a believable meltdown as she loves the dog and can't bear noise and confusion.

Luckily, a program called hippotherapy (horseback riding treatment) for autistic youth becomes available. Kelley is enrolled. Katani is enrolled against her will as Kelley has to have "a peer to supervise her." Naturally Katani grows to love riding; proves to have talent and enjoys trotting off with her sister.

Another disaster - the stable may close due to lack of funding. As you have already guessed by now, the BSG saves the stable; the dog is returned and readers will have to wade through the book to find out how.

A bit too girly for me - I could not stand the inane and irksome "OMG" talk among other things; pink and lavender (IKKKK); those silly girls save for Katani and her sisters, but I did like the Boston setting.

A good book to pair this one with is A challenge for Brittany (Choose the right)