Can You See Me? written by Libby Scott & Rebecca Westcott, reviewed by Stephanie Wilson

Summary:  Tally is nervous about starting sixth grade at her new school. Tally has a secret she desperately wants to keep. She has autism. Tally’s behavior often frustrates and baffles her family, friends, and classmates. She likes to sneak out and sit on the roof of the shed. Tally would wear her Tiger mask all day every if she could. Her story alternates between a traditional narrative and Tally’s diary entries. Tally’s plan to be like everyone else quickly falls apart amid typical middle school struggles. A mean boy targets her for daily insults and teasing. Her former best friends are moving on without her. They are more interested in boys and makeup and Tally feels left out. Tally’s older sister, Nell alternates between protecting Tally and screaming at her. Tally’s parents are clearly trying to do what is best for her, but Tally doesn’t make it easy for them to help her.

Straight Talk for Librarians:  I really wanted to like this book, but I ended up feeling ambivalent about it. The subject matter is timely, and the concept sounded interesting. Unfortunately, the writing was incredibly choppy. The transitions between the two authors were glaringly obvious. I am certain the decision to use co-authors of different ages was a factor in this. Tally came across as spoiled even though she was meant to be a realistic portrayal of a child with autism. Her frequent meltdowns and the situations she experiences don’t feel authentic. Autism is a spectrum-disorder and not everyone experiences it the same way or has the same symptoms. However, Tally exhibits all the symptoms of a person with autism no matter where they fall on the spectrum. She admits she is able to "hide" her symptoms which is at one end of the spectrum. Her stimming and hand flapping are usually seen in people at the opposite end of the spectrum. It felt like Tally was meant to represent all people with autism which is impossible. The book aimed to help neurotypicals better understand those with autism. It was a good effort, but it fell short of its goal.