Delightful. I love that there are lots of adults who treat Eddy in lots of different ways. Mom expects different things from him than Dad does, the principal seems fairly incompetent, Coach Vang is matter-of-factly perfectly supportive, therapist Tiffany tries but doesn't quite empathize.... I do think it's a bit implausible that Eddy abruptly collects so many friends, almost against his will, but it could happen - and should.

And I really loved all the factoids. For example, I did not know that newspaper recyclers liked to add magazine content; I always thought magazines, being glossy, were more of a bad thing. And I had not remembered that Iron is not the only magnetic material. Here's more on that:

Tom H answered 7 years ago
Almost all materials are magnetic in the following sense: A material will fall into one of three categories.
1) Paramagnetic
2) Diamagnetic
3) Ferromagnetic

Ferromagnetic is what you are talking about & only a few pure elements are ferromagnetic. Iron (Fe), Nickel (Ni), Cobalt (Co), and Gadolinium (Gd) are all ferromagnets. But like the others have said, Fe is much stronger than Ni.

A paramagnetic material is like a ferromagnet, but very much weaker. A diamagnetic material is actually repelled by a bar magnet (the opposite of paramagnetic), but the force is so weak that you'd have a tough time measuring it.

Teach your kids the whole truth even if it is a little over their heads!
Source(s):
A Ph.D. in physics.

(http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20060811093944AALIrPk) ( )

There is much to like about this book. How Eddy's friends stick with him and the gradual way Eddy realizes they are his friends is the main and best storyline. Unfortunately, somehow Eddie's voice does not ring true and this is particularly illustrated with the last line in the book. It was too much of a leap. ( )

Awesome story about a boy on the spectrum and his different way of navigating and applying intelligence. I will incorporate this book if working with third graders, especially if they have an autistic student in their grade. ( )

When Eddy doesn't win the science fair he is astounded. How could he not have won? Eddy suffers from autism and to some he seems very strange. He has trouble in crowds and with loud noises. He is socially out of touch. What I mean is when the school bully picks on him he doesn't understand he is being picked on. With a head full of scientific facts he tends to ignore those who are interested in the things he is interested in and trying to be a true friend. It takes one persistent person to show Eddy who his true friends are, what friendship is and how to stand up to Mitch the bully. He learns that sometimes change is good. I found this book to be very realistic. As a middle school teacher I run across people like Mitch and Edison. It has been my pleasure to work the few autistic kids that have crossed my path. They have taught me so much. I think this should be required reading for all teachers since so many of them are clueless about kids like Eddy and don't really try to figure them out. ( )

[B]The Reinvention of Edison Thomas [/B]by Jacqueline Houtman

There seems to be a trend of books written from the point of view of autistic boys. This one is about an autistic middle-school boy, Edison, who is really into inventing gadgets. As smart as he is about mechanics, he has no social skills and has trouble reading emotions on other's faces. He is clueless that the school bully has targeted him, but thinks the boy is actually being friendly. Edison falls for his pranks until a brainy geek befriends him and sets him straight about the bully. Despite his tactlessness, Edison makes two other friends who seem to appreciate his quirkiness and in the end, he finally recognizes what he has and appreciates his friends.

This book was a quick, fun read. It seemed total not based on reality--more like a fairy tale of how we would like middle-schoolers to act toward kids that are different--but it is an enjoyable dream. And who knows, maybe it will inspire some middle-schoolers to think differently about those students who don't fit in. ( )