OctoberPalooza Continues: Amplified by Tara Kelly

     I read Tara Kelly's debut novel, Harmonic Feedback, and there was so much in that book to love.
     What I loved the most was the main character, Drea. Drea calls them as she sees them, and she made me laugh and she made me cringe. Hey, she's a human being. She's entitled. What I really loved was how Drea is this real person who happens to have Asperger's syndrome. This is one aspect of her, and this is not what the book is focused on--it's just part of who she is.
     I was thrilled to read a book that had a character with Asperger's syndrome, but the Asperger's was just an organic part of the story. 
     I thought that this was masterfully done.
     The writing--beautiful. The story--moving. 
     If there had been an After School Special in the Eighties about Asperger's, it would have had AFTER SCHOOL SPECIAL stamped all over it. Much as I appreciate the effort to Get Issues Out There, mawkish and maudlin and sentimental often ruled the day.
    Asperger's, or Autism Spectrum Disorder, is quite common. I have had many students throughout the years, and the important thing to me is not their label. It's who they are.
    So I read this book and I thought, this author knows what's important. And, boy, can she write.
   And then I saw that she had a new book coming out. In October! On the 23rd! In time for OctoberPalooza! 
    It is a joy and a privilege to get copies of this book out to you. Three copies will be sent out when the contest closes at 5:00 PM EST on Sunday, October 24. This time I am ordering from another fabulous independent bookstore, A Whale of a Tale in Irvine, California.
     Same rules: A comment on any post enters you in the contest; a comment and a follow count as two entries; and a comment, a blog follow, and a follow on Twitter count as three entries.
     I am excited about this author and her new book. Let the comments fly!