• Age: 13 to 18
• Grade: 8 to 12

At seventeen, Del’s world seems to be falling apart. He’s managed his Asperger’s well, has a solid group of friends in his special needs class at school, and even manages to get by among people who don’t understand his brand of communication. But his parents are splitting up, and Del is certain he can save his family. To do it, he decides he needs to live out his father’s dream of musical stardom. He gets together with some of his friends and they form The Turing Machinists, an all-Asperger’s rock band. But they’ll need help – and Del seeks that help in the form of his neighbour, a reclusive rock legend who would rather have nothing to do with the music scene.

Born in Chatham, New Brunswick, M.E. Reid has lived in Cold Lake, Alberta; Edmonton, Alberta; Petawawa, Ontario; and West Germany. She currently lives in Kitchener, Ontario, and is the mother of two children with autism (one with Asperger's). The Turing Machinists is her first book for young adults.

M.E. Reid's profile page

• Commended, <i>Best Books for Kids and Teens</i>

“This is a remarkable book … the novel [goes] beyond the realm of being an “issue” work into one with a unique intelligence worthy of the reader’s attention.” E for Excellent

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“Reid is able to do what very few previous authors before her have accomplished, creating naturalistic portrayals [of children living with Autism Spectrum Disorder] that embed cultural differences alongside differences related to ability—and she does this with finesse … she delivers a masterfully unique montage of a story that offers the utmost respect for difference while at the same time employing the perspective of a very reliable and self-smart narrator who completely wins our hearts. Reid is certainly an author to watch. Highly Recommended.” ****/4

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