House Rules is about Jacob Hunt, a teenage boy with Asperger’s Syndrome. He’s hopeless at reading social cues or expressing himself well to others, and like many kids with AS, Jacob has a special focus on one subject – in his case, forensic analysis. He’s always showing up at crime scenes, thanks to the police scanner he keeps in his room, and telling the cops what they need to do…and he’s usually right. But then one day his tutor is found dead, and the police come to question him. All of the hallmark behaviors of Asperger’s – not looking someone in the eye, stimulatory tics and twitches, inappropriate affect – can look a heck of a lot like guilt to law enforcement personnel -- and suddenly, Jacob finds himself accused of murder. House Rules looks at what it means to be different in our society, how autism affects a family, and how our legal system works well for people who communicate a certain way – but lousy for those who don’t.
House Rules came out yesterday! I collect all her books, but I usually wait for the paperback. Watch the book trailer:
She puts out a new book every year...it takes her nine months to write one. Here's what she has to say about her 2011 book:
It is going to explore embryo donation, and gay rights in America. What’s particularly unique about the novel is that the main character is a musician/singer, and each chapter will be the name of one of her songs – a song that reflects what she’s feeling at that point in the book. Accompanying the novel will be a CD of these original songs. A really talented friend of mine, Ellen Wilber, is writing the music for them, while I write the lyrics. We’ve already started to work on them, and I think you’re going to be blown away! I want this character to come alive for the reader – to reinforce the fact that gay rights isn’t about issues – it’s about PEOPLE.
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