A Boy Made of Blocks

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. (Sept.)