Wild Orchid - Summary

Wild Orchid

Wild Orchid (Red Deer Press, 2005) is a Young Adult novel about searching for independence. Taylor Jane Simon is an 18 year old girl with Asperger’s Syndrome, a high functioning form of autism. When she discovers she has to accompany her mom to Waskesiu Lake for the summer, she freaks out because she hates change. But due to her ingenuity and perseverance, the summer turns out to be not so bad. Taylor gets her first job. She sees her first real play—The Birthday Party—a unique look at social interaction by Nobel prize winning playwright Harold Pinter. And she makes headway in reaching a personal goal—acquiring a boyfriend. A novel that celebrates the differences among people as well as the universals we share, for ages 12 and up.

For more information about Asperger’s Syndrome, seek an Autism Support network in your community, or search Dr. Tony Attwood’s website: www.tonyattwood.com.

Waskesiu is a real town, located in Prince Albert National Park in Saskatchewan, Canada. It’s gorgeous there—go visit if you can!