• Age: 11 to 15
• Grade: 6 to 10

As an awkward junior high student, Ben Boudreau had big dreams for a season of volunteering at a summer camp. Surrounded by ‘in-crowd’ counsellors, he hoped their confidence and popularity might just rub off on him or, at the very least, he’d become cool by association. Instead Ben came into his own with the unlikely help of a new friend: seven-year-old Pete. In Say It’s Okay Ben explores their unique friendship and the purpose and perspective he gained by learning about Pete’s autism. From summers by the lake to weekly visits throughout college, Ben and Pete went from rocky start to comfortable routine as their two worlds continued to change around them. And Pete liked his routines. In fact, they were essential. From watching the same two minutes of Scooby-Doo to always ending the night with soup, the repetition fueled his natural rhythm which Ben was careful to protect. But when an ill-timed power outage throws one visit into chaos, Pete leaves Ben in the dark as they struggle to restore the balance.

As a retired blogger of mild renown, Ben Boudreau has shared more with the internet than any sane person should. After being the first cast out of the inaugural CBC Canada Writes top five, he went on to earn three Canadian Weblog Awards and a single tweet from Kelly Clarkson. Recent projects include spending far too much time writing this short bio.

Benjamin Boudreau's profile page