Beth Brust, the mother of an Asperger's child, coauthored Quirky, Yes—Hopeless, No: Practical Tips to Help Your Child with Asperger's Syndrome Be More Socially Accepted. While Brust offers a parent's perspective, Dr. Cynthia La Brie Norall provides an expert's point of view. Together, they synthesize years of training Asperger's kids at their after-school "Friends Club." Fashioned after Dr. Spock's guidebook for parents, the book serves as a sort of bible for parents and educators dealing with children on the autism spectrum.

Just three takeaways:

1. "Aspies" can, in fact, learn people skills and become more socially aware. But this growth requires practice. Breaking down skills into small steps sets them up for success.
2. Looking people in the eye can be very distracting and stressful for Asperger's kids, causing others to misinterpret their behavior as rude or disinterested.
3. Bullying is prevalent among children with Asperger's, so learning strategies for stopping it is essential. (Note: Norall and Brust felt this topic was so important that, in addition to a short chapter about bullying, they provide additional information in the Resources section.)

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