Spark, The

When Kristine Barnett was told her autistic son Jacob would never be able to read, she began an emotional and unrelenting journey to have Jacob ready for Kindergarten by age five. Her memoir records Jacob’s life to age fifteen, including her role as an autism activist and his experiences with prejudice, social struggles, and misunderstandings at the same time as his passion for, and extraordinary ability in, light, math, and astrophysics emerged. Suitable as a literature circle book for grades 10-12, and as a reference book for teachers, counsellors, and parents.