A Boy Made of Blocks

November 21, 2016
This debut by U.K. video game journalist Stuart is a funny and insightful novel about a neurotypical father’s struggle to connect with his autistic son. The story begins when Alex, a mortgage advisor in Bristol, England, is at a particularly low point in his life. He and his wife Jody have split and are sharing custody of eight-year-old Sam. Alex has lost his job and is crashing at the apartment of his childhood friend Dan. As Alex works through all of this, he spends more time with Sam and they begin to bond in new ways, particularly when they play Minecraft, a video game that encourages creativity and teamwork. Sam gains confidence and even enters a Minecraft competition. The story is inspired by Stuart’s own experience with his son, Zac. He writes that Minecraft allowed Zac to express himself and helped his family “to see and appreciate him as a funny, imaginative, and perceptive child.” This enjoyable novel will also educate readers about autism and the ways family members can connect despite their neurological differences.

July 1, 2016
A father discovers that the foundation of his relationship with his son is paved in pixelated blocks.Alex isn't sure his marriage will be able to survive his 8-year-old son Sam's diagnosis of autism. Frustrated by Sam's frequent outbursts and tantrums, as well as his growing list of social anxieties and quirks, Alex decides to take a break from his chaotic home and shaky marriage; armed with a duffel bag stuffed with his belongings, he'll be crashing at his old friend Dan's apartment indefinitely. Soon after the separation, Alex loses his job, sending his life further into a tailspin. Though Alex clearly loves his son, he has trouble finding ways to relate to him. When Sam becomes obsessed with the popular video game "Minecraft," Alex is initially skeptical, worried that having an Xbox in his bedroom will only cause Sam to retreat further into himself. Eventually, though, the two begin playing the game together, and Alex too begins to obsess over it, realizing that instead of driving Sam inward, it is actually helping his development. Every obstacle in life now has an in-game counterpart, an extended metaphor to help Sam cope with frightening dogs, loud noises, and cruel peers. As they work together to build a castle within the game, Sam begins to open up to his father, sharing parts of himself that Alex never thought he'd be able to access. And as much as young Sam is growing and evolving throughout the novel, so is Alex, who lets go of some childhood trauma, dreams of a new future for himself, and explores the possibility of rekindling his relationship with his wife, Jody. The characters are well-developed and vulnerable, learning to navigate and make sense of a world filled with obstacles. Stuart's debut novel is a charming and timely tale of learning to connect in the digital age.

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Starred review from August 1, 2016
Alex's path to developing a deeper understanding of his autistic son comes through a video game. He and his wife have been struggling to manage life with Sam, an eight-year-old who, while considered high-functioning, is overwhelmed by interacting with the world. Sam throws high-octane tantrums over seemingly tiny setbacks, requires a detailed schedule of his day, and hardly ever communicates with his parents about his inner life. The challenge is so severe that by the start of the novel, Alex has moved out while he and his wife begin a trial separation. But as his life is falling apart, Alex finds a way to connect with his son in a most unexpected arena. They begin playing Minecraft together, a video game that gives the players complete control over building and managing their world. For Sam, it's a place where he can be himself without the confusing messiness and unpredictability of reality. For his father, it's a lifeline that allows him to understand his son on an entirely new level. The novel is inspired by the amazing impact Minecraft had on the author's own son, also autistic. Stuart writes with powerful, plainspoken emotion, beautifully illuminating not only the challenges that come with an autistic child but also the unexpected moments of grace. This is a luminous portrait of the world and the relationship that a father and son build together.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)