The Reason I Jump, Naoki Higashida, Sceptre Books.
Title: The Reason I Jump: One Boy’s Voice from the Silence of Autism
Author: Naoki Higashida, translated by KA Yoshida and David Mitchell
Genre: Non-fiction
Publisher: Sceptre Books
Publication date: 1st July 2013
Rating: 8.5/10
Over the last two weeks I have undertaken a work experience placement in the Sales department of Hodder & Stoughton. I thought it would be both relevant and interesting to review one of their titles whilst I was there, for an example of the kind of work they publish. The Reason I Jump was published by Sceptre at the start of Summer 2013, and since then its sales have had a steady momentum of popularity and success. The book consists of 58 questions and answers about autism, with Naoki’s creative writing pieces dispersed in between. So, in true Naoki Q&A style, here is my review…
Q1) What intrigued you about The Reason I Jump?
Written by a thirteen-year-old autistic boy, The Reason I Jump is a handbook of answers and explanations to aid the parents, friends, teachers and generally anyone who encounters autistic people. By using an alphabet grid and keyboard, Naoki Higashida is able to give the autistic population a voice, where some would otherwise be unable to communicate or express themselves.
Naoki’s concise explanations to frequently asked questions shatter the stereotypical preconceptions of autism as a self-involved, ignorant and anti-social condition. He, rather, unveils the truths of being an autistic person, and invites you to understand the real people behind the condition, and the hardships they go through. According to The National Autistic Society, nearly two-thirds of adults with autism in England do not have enough support to meet their needs. This statistic alarmed me: The Reason I Jump offers you an insider’s view of the effects of such neglect, and pleads for help and empathy from so-called “normal” people.
“Can you imagine how your life would be if you couldn’t talk?”
Q2) Did The Reason I Jump help to explain the differences between “normal” and autistic people?
Yes. The distinction between “normal” people and autistic people is insisted upon by Naoki, and he maintains a distance between ‘us’ and ‘them’ throughout the book. This is saddening, but true. There is a definite barrier in communication for autistic people, triggering problems with conversation, emotions, reactions; basically being unable to express any indicator of feelings. Due to this impossible obstacle, autistic people are very much separated from “normal” people, leaving them at times miserable, misunderstood and trapped inside bodies that they cannot control.
Naoki Higashida, author of The Reason I Jump.
Photo by Miki Higashida
In one of his answers, Naoki writes about his fascination with nature, and the autistic perspective in relation to the natural world. It seems that, in some unknown way, autistic people do see the world in a different light to “normal” people. Surely we all have the same eyes and senses – but perhaps, some senses are heightened than others with autism, and weakened in other areas like communication.
When asked if he would want to be “normal”, interestingly, Naoki declines the offer. Just as autism is The Unknown to us, being “normal” is just as mystifying to him. As autism has no cure, it is all about learning to live with this very difficult condition, whether you’re “normal” or autistic. The Reason I Jump would be such a useful and fascinating guide for someone like a parent or teacher who can identify the autistic behavioural patterns in their child or student, and then get answers why they do this, or why they don’t do that.
“[…] Those people who help us study, they actually need more patience than we do. They need to understand our eagerness to learn, even though from the outside we may not appear to be keen students. But we are. We, too, want to grow.”
Q3) What did you like the most about The Reason I Jump?
What I find most remarkable about this book is the short story ‘I’m Right Here’ included at the end. Naoki well and truly obliterates the common myth that autism hinders creativity and empathy. Very skilfully, he crafts a heartfelt story of love and loss, Heaven and Earth. This ability is usually believed non-existent for an autistic person. Not only does Naoki anticipate the emotional impact of his story, but he also manipulates the emotions of the reader. Through this burst of creativity and imagination, Naoki proves that autism does not render you emotionless or unable to empathise with other people. For me, this really underlined the poignancy of this condition. To feel everything “normal” people feel, yet to be unable to show it, must be very lonely indeed. The Reason I Jump opened my eyes to the realities of autism, and I have so much respect for people with this condition now I have read Naoki’s account.
“One of the biggest misunderstandings you have about us is your belief that our feelings aren’t as subtle and complex as yours. Because how we behave can appear so childish in your eyes, you tend to assume that we’re childish on the inside, too. But of course, we experience the same emotions that you do.”
Q4) Where can I buy The Reason I Jump?
The Reason I Jump is available in Hardcover, Paperback and eBook formats through Amazon.
The Readersphere 