Author's note

At the age of ten, one of my best friend's younger brothers was diagnosed with autism. There are many kinds of autism, "Autism" http://www.worldbookonline.com/advanced/article?id=ar038765&st=autism, World Book, 20. Dec. 2010

Rodier, Patricia M, accessed: 12. 18. 10.  Her brother had a less severe form of autism, called Asperger syndrome. People with asperger syndrome, don't pick up social cues, and find it harder to relate to other people ("Asperger Syndrome", https://health.google.com/health/ref/Asperger+syndrome).

Many kids were afraid, and intimidated by him. 

Many children with Asperger syndrome are often fascinated, or obsessed with particular subjects. He was very intelligent in math. He was also obsessed with animals. He was smart, and curious, and had many good qualities. But his bullies didn't seem to notice these qualities. He was often picked on/ taken advantage of by younger kids, because he felt defenseless. Unfortunately, this was not the first incident of an autistic person being mistreated. 

A similar sad story is: "Foxnews.com", Thursday September 23 2010, viewed on 12.17.10, "Autistic Child Beaten on School Bus" http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/dpp/news/douglas-co-autistic-child-beaten-on-school-bus-092110 

To bully anyone is bad. But to bully someone who is mentally challenged is the most heartless, and shallow thing I can think of.

Being afraid or intimidated by things you don't understand is normal. 

Once you understand what autism is, you understand that the kids who teased him were missing out. If they got to know him, they would realize you could hold the most deep conversations with him about anything from the jungle, to why multiplying two negatives is the same as multiplying two positives. You begin to realize how autism can become a beautiful and fascinating thing. 

Jamie, in this book, represents an autistic child. Though he is different, he is not bad, and above all wants to be accepted.

He represents all the children with all the different types of autism who want to be excepted in society.