The Rosie Result

Don responds the only way he knows: with a project. Teaching Hudson to ride a bike, to make friends and to cope with the social demands of school becomes a carefully planned campaign, and Don's long-standing allies, including his friends Gene and Claudia, are drafted into service. He even ends up opening a cocktail bar. Along the way he is forced to think seriously about whether he himself is on the autism spectrum and whether a label would help or hurt his son.

Simsion handles the question with real care. The novel presents different perspectives within the autistic community and resists easy answers, while never losing the humor that made the first book a hit. Don's literal-minded narration is as charming as ever, and his love for his family is unmistakable.

The plot meanders more than in The Rosie Project, and the subplot about Don's career is less engaging than the family story. But as a conclusion it is generous, thoughtful and satisfying. Readers new to Don should start with The Rosie Project, since much of the pleasure here comes from seeing how far he has traveled since then. About 368 pages in the Text Publishing paperback.