By
Rebekah Heinrichs
Reviewed by:
Louisa Carroll, Psychologist, Outreach & Consultancy,
Autism Association of NSW
Published by:
Autism Aspergers Publishing Company (AAPC)
Available from:
AAPC, www.asperger.net |
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Perfect Targets' begins by providing an overview of the theoretical constructs that underpin our understanding of bullying (victims and perpetrators), interspersed with a series of vignettes relating bullying experiences of young people with Asperger's Syndrome (AS), that add a personal and emotive element. The conclusions drawn by the author are not for the faint-hearted, painting a confronting picture of the incidence, pervasiveness, and extent of bullying in schools, although for many, this is no doubt already a sadly acknowledged but well-known reality of the difficulties challenging young people with AS. The second part of the book is dedicated to ideas for minimizing bullying in schools, outlining a three-tiered approach to addressing bullying at the school, class, and individual level. It draws together an interesting collection of ideas, and once again, uses vignettes of individuals' own experiences, with a final segment containing ‘personal perspectives on bullying' that was particularly powerful in highlighting the issues raised by the author. At a more practical level, the book suggests strategies to implement with teachers, parents, and peers, lists a range of resources on bullying and related topics, and also includes a questionnaire that can be used to gather information from students.
For me, both the strength and the limitations of this book lay in its blending of the evidence-based research with the obviously strong beliefs and emotional conviction of the author. Her at times impassioned tone lends a strongly personal feel to the book, but this is at some cost to the work's credibility as a balanced and factual account. That being said, in ‘Perfect Targets' Rebekah Heinrichs tackles a hugely pertinent issue in the world of AS with compassion and insight – a recommended read.
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