Rain Reign by Ann M. Martin

Rain Reign is the story of Rose Howard, a 5th grader with Asperger's syndrome who lives in a small town in the state of New York. The main characters include Rose, her distant father, her beloved Uncle Weldon, and her dog Rain. The story revolves around what happens when her father lets Rain out during a hurricane.

My favorite aspect of the book is that Rose narrates the story. Since she is a child, this makes the writing simple and easy to read. Even better than that, though, is the fact that the first person narration allows readers to see from the perspective of a person with Asperger's syndrome. I teach several students with either Asperger's or Autism, and this book made me understand and appreciate them more.

I recommend Rain Reign to upper elementary students who are up for reading a book that will both open their minds and touch their hearts. I also recommend it to students with Asperger's or Autism themselves. Thanks to author Ann Martin, you can finally read a good story to which you can personally relate!

By Mrs. Norton