This is an interesting combination of fiction and therapy. Baj, who lives on a techno-planet known as Anlar, is a boy with communication problems. He is also great fun, and the descriptions of him and his friend Anda, his sister Risa, and their exploits on flying bicycles and other hi-tech gadgets makes for a good adventure story. The heart of the story, though, is Baj's relationship with the communications counsellor at his school, Mr Pilma, and the three afternoons a week they work on his problems. 'Mr Pilma was helping Baj to use his words more appropriately, so he could match his words with his feelings and actions.' In order to do this, Mr Pilma produces a Communication Clarifier Kit, which consists of a Calming Cape, Listening Aids, and a Word Launcher. Throughout the book we learn how Baj learns to use each of these magical instruments in turn and how altogether they work so well that by the end he is no longer needing them. He learns the difference between 'have to's' when people tell him to do something and he must do it, and 'choose to's' when he has a choice. He also learns lots about interaction with friends and family and about controlling his spells of intense anger. The device of using a science fiction story, which removes the action just that bit from the 'earthling', is a good one, and children should respond very well to it. The style is slightly unusual in that it is aimed very specifically at children with AS. Feelings are discussed freely - necessary given the themes of the book. Available from Amazon or from the publisher at www.jkp.com.