Are You Seeing Me? by Darren Groth

Let me just say from the start that I like Darren Groth as a writer, a champion of great causes and an all round nice Canadian-Australian guy. I also like his new book Are You Seeing Me?, but I don't love it.

Groth has said previously that Are You Seeing Me? "is a gift to my daughter" and it's not hard to see why. The story revolves around twins Justine (Just Jeans) and Perry (Pez). Perry has "a brain condition that can cause him to feel anxious or upset in different places and circumstances. He has trouble with people - mixing with them and communicating with them - and it sometimes results in inappropriate behaviours. I appreciate your understanding and patience." Darren himself has twins one of which, his son, is diagnosed with autism. And there in lies my problem with this book. Darren is so close to the subject matter that it hard to see this as a work of fiction but more of a personal testimonial for his children.

But let me try forget that I know Darren's back story and look at the book as a stand alone piece of work.

The story is told as a dual narrative with both Justine and Perry given an equal voice. Justine takes Perry on a trip to Canada and North America after the death of their father. Some might see is as a holiday (or creating memories) before Perry moves into the Fair Go Community Village but its more than that. Justine is trying to connect with the mother that abandoned them when they were very young but she doesn't tell Perry about this.

We don't find out what Perry's "brain condition" is but it's not really that hard to figure out. Perry is obsessed, a part of his condition, with three things Jackie Chan movies, earthquakes, and Ogopogo all which comfort him when life outside his mind becomes too difficult. One of the ongoing themes around Parry is his 'pshycic" ability. Which doesn't exist but plays on the misled belief that all people with autism have some special skill (i.e. Rain Man). This is not true and it is one of the better things that the novel deals with. As Justine says "... amazing in his own right, and no better or worse than anyone else".

Playing centre stage in the book is their Dad. We get his thoughts throughout thanks to a journal that he left for his children. I don't particularly like this trick. We could get his love, his fears and hopes for his children through their voice without having to resort to this.

There is none of the wit that has been in Groth's previous work and although I liked Perry, Groth's previous character (with a brain condition)  Kieran Monk from his novel Kindling, comes across much stronger and altogether more believable. Maybe I am just to old now to understand YA!

3/5 stars