In 300 pages, Me and Sam-Sam Handle the Apocalypse is, so far, the best of the books I've read on this year's list. Author Susan Vaught has finally brought us the character that others have only tried to convey - a girl with high-functioning autism. Jesse reacts to bullying in a way that a high-functioning autistic child might really react. Her new friend Springer is amazing in his ability to soothe Jesse's meltdowns and help her understand what is happening.
The so-called Apocalypse turns out to be a tornado that destroys Jesse's house, along with many other structures in town. With our local knowledge of tornados, I kept thinking the tornado would become a big event that took over the plot, but Vaught successfully made the storm into the story. I was the vehicle that brought the book to its conclusion.
From Goodreads: I just wonder if he knew about me. |