1. Alvin Ho by LeUyen Pham
2008 Publisher: Schwartz & Wade books an imprint of Random House Children’s Books
- Fear
- Self-Help/Personal Growth/Self-esteem
- Friendship
- Emotions/feelings
- Social issues
- Psychology/Emotions
Similarities:
Dealing with fear and its effect on decision-making (in school, esp.); violence (a punching); bullying; quirky behaviors; humorous; voices-funny; loves super heroes
Differences: Devin doesn’t have an issue speaking in school, but his fear is more of paranoia; verbal strength
2. Shredderman: Secret Identity (series) by Wendelin Van Draanen
2004 Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf
- Bullies/Juvenile Fiction
- Comics/Superheroes
- Teasing
- Humorous stories
- Social issues
Similarities:
Nolan – math genius, yet can’t keep shoes tied (has huge gap between intelligence and organization/physical abilities)
Differences:
Nolan is called ‘nerd’ whereas Devin is called ‘weird’
3. Big Nate Series by Lincoln
2010 Publisher: HarperCollins Children’s Books, a division of HarperCollins Publishers
- Behavior
- Juvenile fiction/humorous stories
- Social issues-friendship
Similarities:
Both characters have a problem with organization, detention; have a goal of ‘surpassing all others’ (though Dev’s is really his sister); humorous; same audience; Nate calls himself ‘awesome’, Dev compares himself to geniuses ‘Michelangelo,’ ‘Divinci.’
Differences:
Nate is not sibling-targeted; Dev not written as a comic (but he’s a great comic-writer); Devin has superior verbal abilities; Nate not disability- related
4. Rules by Cynthia Lord
2006 Publisher: Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic Inc.
- Autism
- Brothers and sisters
- Social issues-special needs
Similarities:
You can compare this book to Callie’s perspective living w/Devin (constant embarrassment)
Differences:
From a different perspective; not seen through the eyes of the autistic child
5. Troublemaker by Andrew Clements
2011 Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division
- School issues – friendship
- Behavior
- Family-siblings
Similarities:
Office visits; getting in trouble
Differences:
Poor choice making not so much disability-related
6. Captain Nobody by Dean Pitchford
2009 Publisher: G. P. Putnam’s Sons, a division of Penguin Young Readers Group
- Family/siblings
- Halloween
- Social issues – self-esteem & self-reliance
- Juvenile fiction/comics & graphic novels
Similarities:
In the shadow of older sibling; Halloween reference; Comic book interest
Differences:
Not disability-related; Devin not interested in being a hero, just wants to “win” over sister
7. Roscoe Riley Rules (series) by Katherine Applegate
#1 Never Glue Your Friends to Chairs 2008 Publisher: Harper Trophy, registered trademark of HarperCollins Publishers
- Bullies
- Humorous stories
- Juvenile fiction/school & education
Similarities:
Convinces himself bully stole toy (like Devin convinces himself sister is a shape-shifter)
Differences:
Target is different – bully vs. sister; not disability-related
8. Justin Case by Rachel Vail
2010 Publisher: A Feiwel and Friends Book, an imprint of Macmillan
- Social issues – emotions & feelings
- Worry
- Humorous stories
Similarities:
Boy growing up, becoming a bit braver (more enlightened); soccer references; a worrier
Differences:
Devin is not writing journal entries to reader, but recalls of his entries into his ‘Book of Mysterious Events’ while the events took place
9. Journal of a Schoolyard Bully – Notes on Noogies, Wet Willies, and Wedgies by Farley Katz 2011 Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin
- Humorous Stories
- Bullies
- Juvenile Fiction/Comics & Graphic Novels
Similarities:
Bullying is an issue within story
Differences:
He’s not the bully, so much, but rather is a target due to by-product of his behavior (as well as dealing with those common bullies in school); not disability-related
10. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon
2003 Publisher: Vintage Books, a division of Random House, Inc., New York
- Autism
- Social issues
Similarities:
The autism or way of thinking greatly affects choices of character; neither book explicitly says ‘autism’; inner workings of autistic mind; written from point of view of character w/all their quirks and still make them lovable
Differences:
Dev is for younger audience; Dev has lighter tone; The Curious… does label with ‘Asperger’s syndrome’ (which is the same thing…); targets are different (sister and dog)
11. Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney
2007 Publisher: Amulet Books, an imprint of ABRAMS
- Family life
- Humorous stories/juvenile fiction
- Comics & graphic novels
Similarities:
Some mean humor (Devin has a sarcastic-negative tone toward others); lack of physical skills (clumsiness)
Differences:
Not disability-related; Devin’s outlook is altered by his way of thinking;
