The Asparagus Bunch
As seen:
By Jessica Scott-Whyte, and and, Jack Moorby
avg rating
5 reviews
A fresh and irreverent comedy starring a cast of neurodiverse characters – guaranteed to be one of the funniest novels you’ll read this year.
Leon John Crothers is 4779 days old (thirteen years and one month, if you’re mathematically challenged). He has been ‘moved on’ from six different schools and most people think he has an attitude problem. Leon doesn’t care for the label, in the same way that he doesn’t care for Tim Burton, supermarket trolleys, train fanatics or Bounty bars.
This time, however, things may turn out differently, as help comes from where he least expects it – Dr Snot, a physician at pains to help Leon navigate ‘normal’ and classmates, Tanya and Lawrence, who both face their own challenges. When school bully Glen Jenkins humiliates Leon in the school canteen and almost destroys Lawrence, Leon very reluctantly agrees to the formation of a club, The Asparagus Bunch.
How Leon manages to navigate school woes and family drama – and astonishingly ends up with not one but two friends – is nothing short of a miracle, or maybe just simply down to being different.
Shortlisted for the AN Post Irish Book Awards 2022
Shortlisted for the Juniper Book Awards 2023
Resources for this book
Reviews
recommended 11 or 12 plus - appealed to autistic humour
I thought it was very interesting.
Leon is quite a character! His comments often offend and upset people even though that wasn't his intension. I would recommend this book only to the more mature year 6 children as I feel it is pitched to slightly older children due to the language used and the depiction of secondary school.
I loved the details included about Leon's obsession with sweets and his realisation that friends are worth the hard work, effort and apologies necessary to keep them.
A marvellous insight into the neurodiverse mind, allowing the reader to understand how the thought process works. Some parts are shocking, others heart-warming.
Fantastic read! I found Leon to be a compelling character who was written sympathetically and intelligently. The Asparagus Bunch were like friends to me by the end of the book and I have enormous love for Caroline. It was so lovely to read a book from the perspective of neurodiversity written by an author who truly understands. I only wish that the bully wasn't ginger because people with red hair are frequently bullied for this trait. I also think that the author's note at the end should have come at the start as some people may switch off at the mere mention of Asperger's.
I will be recommending this wholeheartedly to anyone who will listen.
