Are They Autistic? – Renee (Pixar’s Loop)

Hello everybody, this is George Harvey (aka The Autistic Blogger). Welcome to another instalment of Are They Autistic?: the series where I look at characters from various forms of media and analyse whether I think they’re on the spectrum or not.

Today I decided to try something a little bit different. Instead of a character from a book or TV series, I’ll be analysing one from a short film. Specifically: Renee from Disney Pixar’s Loop (2020). Also, my reasons for choosing her are somewhat different too. Usually, when selecting characters for this series, I prefer those who haven’t been confirmed to be Autistic. The reason is it gives me more leeway to observe their behaviours and make assessments of my own. In Renee’s case, she is confirmed to have Autism. But it’s not the kind I usually analyse. Let me explain.

What’s important to remember about Autism is that it’s not one condition but several neurological ones acting together. Also, these combinations affect different people to varying degrees. Hence why there’s a spectrum. True, there are minor cases where a person only has repetitive behaviours or learning difficulties. Or milder cases (like mine) where it’s hard to process information and socialise. But then there are higher forms. In these cases, people struggle to develop basic motor skills where even speech is difficult. I may not have this form myself. But I have witnessed firsthand how severe it can be when visiting special needs schools. It gave me a newfound appreciation for the personal carers who’re committed to helping such people.

Going back to Renee, she’s advertised as a non-verbal Autistic character. I was keen to see how well-handled her condition would be in this short. After all, it’s one thing to claim a character is highly Autistic; it’s another to portray them as such – there have been misinterpretations before. That being said, I was confident in the studio behind this story. Why? Because it’s Pixar. Yes, the company responsible for innovating mainstream computer animation has also produced multiple short films over the years. Whether it’s their classics like Luxo Jr. (1986), award-winners like Bao (2018), or visual masterpieces like Piper (2016), they always make sure to research the subject thoroughly before putting pen to paper. With this in mind, I knew they wouldn’t take a topic like Autism lightly. So let’s take a look.

As the short begins, we’re immediately introduced to Renee. She’s sitting in a canoe at a campground, listening to a ringtone on her phone. Other kids have already gone paddling ahead, but Renee is too fixated on playing the sound over and over again.

Within the first 30 seconds, the animation establishes a common Autistic trait. When you’re on the spectrum, it’s easy to focus on just one thing rather than everything around you – it’s less stressful that way. As an audience, we can see the other kids paddling away in the distance. But when looking through Renee’s eyes, they’re almost out of focus. All that’s clear to her is the phone and the sound it makes. There are other indications of her condition, as well. She doesn’t look at people when they approach her; she retracts if they get too close and makes loud groans to show her displeasure. Even her facial expressions are realistic, with her glassy eyes and limp smile. Director Erica Milsom knew she had to get Renee’s character across to the audience quickly. And with everything that’s presented visually, it’s clear Renee is Autistic without anyone needing to say it.

However, the short isn’t really about discovering Renee’s condition. Instead, it wants to teach viewers about its effects and how best to interact with someone who has it. To do this, they pair Renee with someone who’s her opposite.

Back on the riverbank, a boy named Marcus arrives. He’s running late and eager to catch up. But the camp counsellor asks him to go with Renee today. He’s somewhat reluctant at first because of her reputation, but the counsellor assures him she likes canoeing too. He also gives Renee some reassurance before pushing them off.

Two things are highlighted in this scene for me. First off, Marcus probably doesn’t know about Renee’s Autism. The way he describes her as “that girl who doesn’t talk” is evidence of this. As such, the audience identifies with him as someone who’s learning about the condition for the first time – maybe like they are. The other point is with the camp councillor. He’s actively trying to encourage better interactions among his campers. It’s mentioned, for example, that he usually goes with Renee in the canoe – implying the other kids keep their distance. However, he knows that’s not the way forward. Although he’s aware putting her with someone else will make her uneasy – because making the slightest change to an Autistic person’s routine can do that – he wants to ease her out of her comfort zone. That way, she’ll be more willing to try new experiences. He also wants Marcus to get along with different kinds of people. It’s a learning experience for both kids.

Out on the lake, things are challenging for Marcus and Renee. At first, Marcus tries speaking to her like any other teenager. But he quickly realises that’s not going to work. She’s too focused on something ahead, keeps listening to her ringtone and doesn’t take notice of him. But it’s not because she’s ignoring him; it’s how her mind processes what’s around her.

As I alluded to before, there are times when we’re shown Renee’s point of view directly through her eyes. Whenever that happens, almost everything we see becomes light and blurry. It emphasises how Renee struggles to focus on anything that isn’t at the centre of her attention. She prefers to concentrate on things she’s familiar with and for everything else to be quiet. 

That being said, there are also moments when she’s overly sensitive to her surroundings. For example, as Marcus tries speaking again, his voice sounds like a distant echo to Renee. She’s still fixated on something else, so his words aren’t processed very well. Meanwhile, sounds such as Marcus knocking his paddle or sniffing are magnified in volume. To almost any other person, these sounds would barely register. But for Renee, they’re so sudden and unexpected that it shocks her attention to them. It’s usually louder and scarier noises that set her off.

I can think of one other time I’ve seen something that displays an Autistic person’s perspective so efficiently. Several years ago, I attended an Autism Awareness convention in London. While there, a tech company showed me a video program they’d made on a virtual reality headset. Watching the video, you’re looking through the eyes of a boy who’s at a regular shopping centre with his mum. The mother tells you to wait while she does something at a counter. There’s nothing unusual about that. But then things start to happen around you. Footsteps, ringing mobiles, people talking; all these everyday sounds are made much louder in the video, and you can even see the vibrations emanating off them. Eventually, you’re being overwhelmed by so many sounds you can’t help looking around at where they’re all coming from. By this point, the mother has returned and is trying to ask you what’s wrong. But you barely notice her because you’re still trying to locate all the sounds. Soon it becomes too much to bear, and the footage blacks out. For anyone who’s not highly Autistic, this video shows exactly what kind of stress those people experience almost every day.

Now, to be clear, although Renee finds it hard to process what people say, that doesn’t mean she can’t understand them at all. She does, for example, register when Marcus asks her what she wants to do. It seems she wants to tell him something but can’t express it in words. So instead, she looks around, groaning and breathing heavily, as if trying to find some other way of letting him know.

Assuming Renee can’t think of anything, Marcus decides they’ll do a quick paddle around and then get her back to camp. She seems fine with what he says at first. But then he starts talking too fast and spinning the canoe in a circle. The movement freaks her out, and she begins physically rocking the boat from side to side – almost tipping them over. Marcus understands and stops to try and calm Renee down. He suggests taking her back to camp. But that only sets her off rocking the canoe again. It’s not what she wants. 

As the scene progresses, we can see Marcus is getting more frustrated. It’s understandable why. He has no idea how Renee will react to anything he says or does, and it might end up being dangerous. Even so, he manages to stay calm and asks her what she wants again. Once more, his voice sounds like an echo to Renee. She doesn’t even look at him when he speaks because she’s anticipating another noise to happen somewhere. She does, however, pick up on something he says: if she wants to do something specific, she’s got to help him out.

That’s when Renee gets an idea. She shows Marcus a ‘poop’ emoji on her phone. He’s confused at first, but then he notices some portable outhouses on a nearby riverbank. Renee somewhat gestures at them too, and he realises that’s where she wants to head. Smiling, he begins slowly paddling over.

I want to say, at this point, how much I admire the short for highlighting technology as a means of communication; many video programs and applications are being made nowadays to help Autistic people develop life skills. Going back to the time I visited a special needs school, there was a boy there who was just as non-verbal as Renee. To help him communicate, the care workers gave him an iPad with an application that spoke simple sentences. All he had to do was remember the right combination of buttons they’d taught him, and he could let them know how he was feeling or what he wanted at any given time. It was a simple repetitive action that helped make all the difference.

Repetitiveness is also shown in Renee. As she and Marcus approach the riverbank, they pass by some water reeds. Renee reaches out because she likes how they feel on her skin. It’s then Marcus realises she never wanted to use the restrooms at all. Renee only wanted to go through the reeds and used the emoji to clue him in on the direction. After passing through them several times, Renee starts listening to her ringtone over and over again. Seeing how much she enjoys it, Marcus has an idea. 

It’s clear by now the ringtone is a source of comfort for Renee. Unlike many other sounds, it’s one she has control over and likes hearing. It’s similar to me in a way. When working on long articles like this one, I sometimes have to stop for a few minutes and watch short videos online. It gives me a brief moment of entertainment, so I’m not overwhelmed by the workload and can reset my focus. Other people listen to music or play games for similar results. Everyone needs something they’re familiar with to guide them along.

Marcus paddles the canoe inside a large sewer pipe. The confined space echoes the sound of Renee’s ringtone, which seems to please her. Marcus admits he likes it in there, too: “[it’s] a good place to be when there’s too much other stuff happening out there.” 

So perhaps Marcus does understand Renee a little. This dialogue implies he knows what it’s like to be overwhelmed by problems in the outside world. He thinks it might be an idea if they stay there a while, so Renee doesn’t have to deal with sensory overload.

Suddenly there’s a problem. Renee hears the sound of a speedboat approaching outside. Terrified of the monstrous noise being amplified within the pipe, she frantically paddles for the exit. Marcus doesn’t seem to understand and tries fighting against it. He steers them clear of the oncoming boat, but the force of his paddling knocks them both ashore with the canoe. He demands to know why Renee did that. But Renee has gone into a complete meltdown. She cries out in fear and rage, refuses to let Marcus touch her, and even throws her phone in the water by accident. She then hides under the canoe, still crying and trying to block out everything around her.

I respect the short for not shying away from this drama; sometimes, no matter how cautious you are, an Autistic person will have emotional breakdowns. And they will be challenging to deal with because you don’t know how that person will act in their state. However, when they do occur, it’s essential to stay calm and work out the cause of stress so you can put them at ease.

Marcus immediately realises his mistake. But rather than do anything that might worsen the situation, he leaves Renee to calm down. A long time passes, and she still hasn’t come out. So he sits down to talk to her. He admits that she’s an “intense” person to deal with at times. But he “messed up” by shouting at her. He doesn’t always know what to do – not like their councillor – but he understands he needs to be patient. 

I love how Marcus is honest in this scene; of course, he wouldn’t know what to do in this situation; it’s a first-time experience for him. And someone like Renee would intimidate him at first; he isn’t familiar with how her condition makes her behave. But the experience is meant to be a realistic one for the audience. It’s something they can learn from along with Marcus. 

Eventually, Renee comes out and plays with the water reed that Marcus left her. Marcus copies the sound of her ringtone, and she repeats it back to him. It’s then that she finally looks at him and gives him a half-smile. With everything calm now, and the sun beginning to set, they both get back in the canoe and paddle towards camp. In a post-credits scene, it’s revealed they’ve stayed in contact and occasionally go canoeing together still.

And that’s Disney Pixar’s Loop. In summary, it does an excellent job of representing non-verbal Autistic people. Not to mention what first interactions with them could be like for others. The plot may not have much of a set-up, and the ending is a little ambiguous. But Renee’s condition is always at the forefront of the story. Whether it’s her facial expressions, her unique point of view or her emotional outbursts, the animators did everything they could to make sure Renee was portrayed accurately – which isn’t surprising considering they consulted the Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN). Even if I went into this not knowing about Renee’s condition, it would still be clear to me that she’s on the spectrum.

So yes, it goes without saying that I believe Renee is highly Autistic. However, I also can’t stress how appealing this 8-minute short is. My descriptions don’t even begin to do it justice. So, if you have Disney+ and ever get a spare moment, definitely watch it for yourselves. You might find it teaches empathy in ways you never could’ve imagined.

That’s all I have to say. If you have any questions, please leave me a comment below. And, until next time, stay tuned.

PS. I am still recovering from having Covid 19, but I think I’m past the worst of it. Also, I’d like to give a special thank you to Wendy Jones. She commented on my last post and asked if I’d like my blog to be included on her list of resources, which she provides to parents to help share Autism with their children. I’m always happy to share my work with others.

Image courtesy of: https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/pixar-sparkshort-loop-promotes-autism-acceptance-celebrates-difference-and-helps-inspire-change/

The Promised Neverland Review

Before you ask: no, this series has nothing to do with Peter Pan or anything J. M. Barrie-related. The closest comparison you can make is both stories heavily feature children, and that’s all. As for how it relates to any bible tales – I’ll talk about that when I get to it. There isn’t too much that ties in.

Every once in a while, there comes along an anime which gets everyone’s attention. Opinions may vary, but there’s no denying the incredible success it has. The manga sells like wildfire, YouTubers react to the whole series, and you even get live-action adaptions made in both Japan and other countries. There have been many mainstream animes like this in recent years: Death Note, Attack on Titan and Sword Art Online, to name a few. But then there was 2019. And everyone agreed the masterpiece of that year was The Promised Neverland. Initially released as a manga in Weekly Shounen Jump, the anime adaption became highly praised within the otaku community. It won two Crunchyroll Awards in 2020 and is widely considered one of the best animes of the 2010s. How did it earn that moniker? Let’s take a look.

Before we start, I should warn you: the first episode contains a major plot-twist. It’s one of the highlights of the series if you don’t know what’s coming. So if you’d rather not be spoiled, I’d recommend at least watching episode 1 before you continue. If you’ve already seen it – or you don’t care that much – I’ll carry on.

In the year 2045, three bright young kids: Emma, Norman and Ray, grow up in the Grace Field Orphanage – alongside 35 other siblings. For the children living there, Grace Field is a paradise. They have warm beds, delicious food, a loving caretaker who acts as their mother. And aside from the occasional schooling, they’re free to roam the big forest and fields and play to their hearts’ content. Putting it simply: their lives couldn’t be happier. However, nothing is as it seems. One night when one of the younger girls is adopted, Emma and Norman realise she left her toy bunny behind. They go to the gate to try and return it. Only to discover the horrifying truth. The outside world is full of demons! Giant, hideous, flesh-eating monsters. Worst still, their orphanage is no orphanage. It’s a farm! Kids who’re adopted get slaughtered and sold as human meat! And it’s their mother, Isabella, who’s selling them off. Desperate not to lose any more family, Emma and Norman join forces with Ray. Now they have to come up with a plan to escape with their siblings before the next shipment.

As you probably guessed, the big plot-twist is the revelation of the demons. What makes it so shocking is how utterly unexpected it is. Nothing ever hints at their existence. The opening credits don’t show them; the promotional trailers don’t reference them; not even the DVD/Blu-Ray case implies anything – unless you notice it says horror next to the rating. Another reason it works so well is how it drastically alters the episode’s tone. Beforehand, everything we see shows the kids living happy, joyous lives. It tricks us into a false sense of security, making us feel as they do. There are some hints that something more is going on – most noticeably the ID numbers on the kids’ necks. But until we see the first victim’s corpse, nothing prepares us for the horrors to come. The fact they kill off Conny – the sweetest most innocent girl – shows us they’re not messing around. The Promised Neverland is a dark fantasy.

Perhaps more impactful than the twist, though, is what it represents: a loss of innocence. These kids have spent their whole lives in a safe, warm environment where nothing can hurt them. They’re ignorant of the outside world, believing it’s a place where they can live out their hopes and dreams – a promised land if you will. However, nothing is ever so simple. As you get older, you realise how dangerously unforgiving life is if you’re not prepared for it. In the case of these children, their fantasies are slaughtered the moment they step outside. It’s even worse for Emma. After witnessing Conny’s death, her child-like spirit is broken. She tries denying what she saw; desperate to believe her siblings aren’t dead and her mom isn’t evil. But as reality sets in, she’s overwhelmed by grief – letting out a horrifying scream. From then on, she has to be the grown-up; forcing herself to smile and be brave for her siblings. Emma can never go back to those blissful days – no matter how much she wants to.

Do you know what’s impressive? Everything I’ve brought up so far only takes place in the first episode. The rest of the series is just as mindblowing. There are cliffhangers, red herrings, moments of pure joy or hopelessness, and a whole abundance of information. The more that’s revealed, the more you want to rewatch the series to pick up on everything it foreshadows. The episodes know how to keep their audience engaged. Especially with their characters.

Firstly there’s Emma, an amply optimistic girl who’s the most physically-skilled of the kids. Before discovering the truth, she was the life and soul at Grace Field; caring for the little ones and playing in a lively manner. She loves her family and can’t bear the thought of anyone dying. Additionally, she’s a fast learner and adapts quickly to situations. She even comes up with ideas to rival her friends’ intellect. What I love most about Emma, though, is her diversity. She’s mature for her age but still has vulnerable moments. She tries to stay positive but will occasionally cry. And although she gets along with most people, she can show aggression or hatred towards them. Emma is a multilayered individual – which is what I admire in a female lead.

You also have Ray, the strategist of the group who tends to think more rationally. Although he has a somewhat distant nature, it’s evident he’s been friends with Emma and Norman for years. He’s on board with helping them escape, but he tends to clash with some of their ideas. Particularly, Emma’s insistence on saving everyone. He knows the more kids who try to run, the harder it’ll be. Plus, they have to consider how they’ll all survive once they’re free. It’s not that he’s selfish. He’s just considerate of his best friends – they mean the world to him. I could elaborate more on Ray’s character, but that would be going into spoiler territory. Instead, I’ll say we never learn his full story until the very end.

Then you have Norman, who’s arguably the smartest of the three. He comes up with most of the escape plans and knows what to do if things go wrong. He even outwits Emma and Ray sometimes. Furthermore, he’s the middle ground between them. He loves his siblings as much as Emma, but he understands Ray’s point about there being too many. Regardless, he often takes Emma’s side. Partly because she’s morally correct, and partly because he has feeling for her. It’s her determination that keeps him going most of the time.

In summary, Emma, Ray and Norman are very close, very intellectual characters. You could argue they seem too smart for 11-year-olds. But it’s established early on why that is. Plus, their loyalty and friendship are what makes them so believable. Together, they’re a formidable threat to their enemy. And who is their enemy? The one they thought cared about them for years – the mother of Grace Field: Isabella.

What makes Isabella so intimidating is she appears so trustworthy. On the surface, she’s a soft-spoken, affectionate young lady, who loves all the Grace Field kids as if they were her own. But behind her warm smile lies something sinister: a cunning, manipulative woman who cares only about profit. Everything she does is to ensure her kids grow up healthy and happy, with rich and developed brains. That way they’ll be tastier for her masters. She may claim to love her children. But when it comes time for shipping, they’re nothing but products.

This kind of emotional detachment brings something to mind. Think about how we run our farms today. We do our best to make sure all animals are treated humanely; giving them free-range, plenty of food and a life without suffering. Yet we still cage and slaughter them. And all because we’re the dominant species and like the taste of their meat. Is this honestly much different from Isabella? Could there be a social commentary here about animal cruelty? I digress.

It doesn’t take Isabella long to realise somebody knows the secret. So she implants new measures to keep things under control. These include hiring an assistant (Sister Krone) and revealing to the kids (indirectly) they have trackers. Her actions cause Emma and the others to rethink their plans and ask questions. What’s the best time to escape? How do they deal with the extra security? Should they tell the other kids what’s happening? Would they believe them? What if one of them is a spy? How do they work out who it is? It becomes like a mental game of chess, with both sides vying to outwit their opponent. On top of that are some of the characters’ more drastic actions. I won’t reveal anything here, but it’s honestly shocking to see just how far they’re willing to go to succeed – even if it’s inhuman.

Now, at this point, you may be wondering about the other Grace Field kids. Unfortunately, they don’t feature very much. Not that we don’t see them all the time. It’s just they don’t have any influence on the main plot. They’re mostly just there to remind us how grand the scale of escape is. There are, however, two notable exceptions.

Partway through the series, Emma and her friends recruit Don and Gilda (two ten-year-olds) into their plans. Don is a headstrong boy, who’s somewhat impulsive. And Gilda is a sensitive girl, who helps with the little ones. What’s significant about their involvement is how it changes the others’ mentality. You see, initially, Emma, Ray and Norman don’t reveal the whole truth to them. Instead, they claim their siblings were sold through human trafficking. They know Don and Gilda have emotional weaknesses. So they stay quiet about the demons. However, the two find out they’ve been lied to – which leads to friction within the group. It’s groundbreaking because it shows how Emma and the others had little faith in their siblings. They need to start seeing them as allies rather than burdens.

Another game-changing character is Sister Krone. Before anything else, I have to address the elephant in the room. There are going to be people who find this character offensive. Why? Because of her design. She’s a dark-skinned, big-lipped woman, who’s always wearing an apron. Plus, she cares for mostly white-skinned children. Does that sound familiar? If not, I’ll tell you: she’s reminiscent of the now-racist mammy stereotype. What makes it worse is how she’s portrayed. Aside from being borderline crazy, she pulls countless disturbing faces, is shown to be monstrously violent – though never towards anyone – and occasionally invites children into her room. She is not the sort of person you’d want working in an orphanage.

Controversy aside, though, Krone brings an essential dynamic to the series: her ego. It’s quickly established she has a tense relationship with Isabella. She hates her belittling and wants to replace her as the mother of Grace Field. Krone will do anything for the position, even if it means allying herself with the kids. Emma and the others don’t trust her, of course. But they know she’s a valuable source of information. At the same time, Krone believes they could provide the evidence she needs to bring Isabella down. All three parties have powerful yet understanding motives. And it’s a testament to this series how well it manages them.

However, The Promised Neverland isn’t just written well. It’s also visually stunning. I don’t usually mention the animation in my reviews. But I’d be remiss if I didn’t give CloverWorks credit. They take every opportunity they can to showcase their abilities. Not everything comes out perfect; there are some lacklustre character designs and meme-worthy faces. However, for the most part, they know how to present things both creatively and symbolically. Let me give you some examples.

First of all, there’s the layout. Usually, everything is presented in the traditional format: 2D characters in a 2D environment. However, once in a while, the background switches to 3D, giving us more depth and scale to the scene. They’re also not afraid to experiment with the camera. Sometimes it swings back and forth, like a pendulum. Other times it rotates 360 degrees. And sometimes it gives us POV shots or follows along with the characters. Each time it’s meant to draw attention to someone’s feelings and build tension.

The camera also works in symbolic ways. Remember what I said about foreshadowing? The earliest example of this is in episode 1. The opening shot shows a young Emma looking through some bars, saying she’s “never been outside” – it’s the first indication she’s actually inside a cage. Another example is episode 6: several shots are made to look like somebody is spying on the kids – which it’s later revealed there is. It’s even debatable if the series has religious symbolism. All the kids wear pure white clothing, except for when they’re adopted – the black outfit they dawn could symbolise death. And when it comes to the actual escape plan, the parallels with the Book of Exodus are uncanny. There’s so much to take from these episodes if you know where to look.

In conclusion, The Promised Neverland is a suspenseful, well-crafted series, that keeps its audience on edge. With its three-dimensional characters, creative animation, and a plot that knows when to give or hold back information, it’s easy to see why it rose to prominence. I don’t say this a lot, but I would honestly recommend this series to anyone who’s old enough to watch it. Even if you’re not a big fan of anime, chances are you’ll be drawn in by the story and characters. How do I know? Because I did a test before writing this review. I showed the first episode to my dad and step-mom – two people who were notorious for disliking anime. And what happened? They were so captivated by what they saw, they insisted on watching the rest of the series with me. If that doesn’t prove how grand The Promised Neverland is, I don’t know what will.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this review. Be sure to check out the series for yourself. And I hope you’ll look forward to the second season. Stay tuned.

(Image courtesy of: Hello! Never met a Somali who watches anything other than mainstream anime, are any of you avid Anime fans? : XSomalian (reddit.com))

Wolf Children Review

A lot of people ask me why I love anime. Is it their high-quality animation. Their action sequences. The fact they come up with ideas most western studios rarely try? Well, I’d be lying if I said those weren’t contributing factors. But there is another reason. And that’s their art for storytelling. You see, in my opinion, some of the best-told stories aren’t those that focus primarily on fantasy. But rather use fantasy elements to enhance real-world scenarios. Spirited Away, for example, is about a young girl who grows in maturity to save her parents. Setting it in the real world might’ve conveyed this message fine. But there wouldn’t have been anything universally memorable about it. Incorporating the spirit world, with its bizarre and deadly creatures, better presents her fear of the unknown and what she ultimately overcomes. Additionally, the animation provides character designs, facial expressions and overall appeal that isn’t achievable with live-action or CGI – compare Disney’s live-action remakes to their counterparts for instance. Other movies use fantasised realism too; Kiki’s Delivery Service, My Neighbour Totoro, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time. And then there’s this story. Out of all the anime I’ve seen, Wolf Children arguably perfects this style the most. How exactly? Let’s start with the plot.

It’s the story of Hana, a college student who falls in love with a mysterious man in her lecture hall. This man, it turns out, is a half-wolf creature, and he’s been living a life of solitude because of what he is. Regardless Hana still cares for him, and it’s not long before they start a family together. But when tragedy strikes, leaving her single, she discovers their children (Yuki and Ame) have inherited their father’s wolf-genes. Now she has to raise them alone while protecting their secret from prying eyes.

As you can tell, the heart of this story comes from family struggles. The movie highlights different stages of the characters’ lives and what they overcome for a safer living. If you’re a parent yourself – or even a growing child – then you can easily relate to these. However, it’s the fantasy aspects which exemplify them to a broader audience. Let me explain.

First of all, I have to praise the movie for setting the right tone early on. It emphasises realism by showing us who these characters are and what lives they lead beforehand. Hana is a university student with a part-time job and an optimistic personality. She also lives alone and is very self-sufficient. Her partner-to-be, meanwhile, seems less fortunate. He mentions just wanting to belong somewhere and works a mediocre job delivering furniture. However, he dreams about the future and proves to have a caring heart despite his distant nature. For any young adults, they can immediately see themselves in these characters. They’re both grounded in reality with nothing about them even hinting at fantasy – save one opening line. And then the man reveals his secret.

I have to say; this scene is very well-executed. Not only do we feel the characters’ emotional turmoil, but it’s something every real couple has to go through. At this point, we know the man has been hiding something. He wants to tell Hana the truth but is terrified of losing her. And why shouldn’t he be? In real life, this could be someone revealing they have a disability or criminal record: something that might discourage their partner from wanting to see them again. Yet they have to, or they’ll eventually learn the hard way. The man wants to avoid this, but Hana goes to extreme lengths to prove her devotion. After which, he stops distancing himself. And when he reveals his wolf-form, she is scared at first – naturally so. But it’s the aftermath that counts. Hana doesn’t care what her partner is. All that matters is ‘who’ he is: the same loving, kind-hearted man who would do anything for her. And it’s this love that sees her through the shock, allowing her to start a new life with him. Their relationship might seem forced or cliched at times, but it’s a beautiful story of true love and acceptance.

And that’s only the first 10mins!

Fantasised realism continues when its just Hana and her kids. No longer is she a self-sufficient college student, but a full-time mom on the verge of collapse. We do see the joys Yuki and Ame bring to her life, but it’s clear she struggles to raise them – especially as they keep switching between humans and wolves. If that wasn’t enough, Hana endures many terrible hardships; her neighbours are aggressive, social workers suspect her of neglect, her landlord threatens to evict her. And that’s on top of everything she’s given up: her job, education and her health. But the worst part is, she has no one to turn to for help. She can’t even take her children to a doctor in case they find out their secret. It starts to feel like the whole world is watching, and her kids are in constant danger. She couldn’t bear losing them like she lost her partner.

For anyone who’s never had kids, these scenes are real eye-openers. They reveal how stressful being a single parent is, with all the work and anxiety involved. Plus, the fantasy elements only magnify Hana’s problems. If her kids’ secret didn’t force her into hiding, there’d be more help available to a young mother. As it is, she’s seemingly on her own with no way out of her worrying predicament.

However, the movie’s goal isn’t to discourage its audience. Instead, it wants to show how these hardships can be overcome with the right mindset and determination. And that’s what Hana displays.

Realising the tough situation she’s in, Hana makes a bold decision to move her family to the countryside. There she fixes an old worn-down house (by herself) making it into a proper home. She then goes about learning new skills, like farming and job searching, while teaching Yuki and Ame about responsibilities. Additionally, she has to deal with them growing up and wanting to go out into the world. Namely: attending school. Hana is reluctant, at first, because her kids have never been around large groups of people. Also, there’s no guarantee they’ll control themselves – sometimes they turn into wolves when they get too emotional. These fears are common in parents with disadvantaged children. Should they send them to a public school and risk unsettlement? Would a special needs school be better? Or home-schooling? What would be the safest option? In the end, Hana allows her kids to attend public school since it’s what Yuki wanted. Plus, like any mother, she wants them to have the same opportunities as everyone else. But I digress.

Everything we see is a testament to Hana’s resilience. Her problems never go away quickly, but it’s her strong will that sees her through them. Keeping a level head lets her make the right choices for her kids – even if they’re harder to deal with than average. If you’re a single parent yourself, you can take inspiration from Hana’s story. No matter what challenges you face, if she can manage much worse, you know you can too. It’s all about finding the right balance.

Speaking of balance, I admire how this movie balances darker and light-hearted moments. There are too many to list here, but each one presents itself in a memorable way. For example, there’s the scene where Hana discovers her partner is dead. It begins with nothing but her and the sound of rain. As she looks for him, the rainfall intensifies. And when she finally sees him, there’s suddenly dead silence – broken only by her anguished screams. Alternatively, there’s a scene where she plays in the snow with her kids. There’s no dialogue or sound effects. It’s just them, some beautiful animation and an uplifting soundtrack. Sometimes that’s all you need. The movie does have moments of expositional dialogue, but there are also moments of silence. And sometimes the animation does all the talking: like when Hana learns she’s pregnant, or when she’s torn between a hospital and a vet, and especially during the forest scenes. For the latter, they use camera angles, lighting, water, shadows, and other details to show the grand scale of it. I don’t often mention the animation in my reviews. But in this case, it’s an essential supporting aspect.

Another essential aspect is the characters Hana encounters. There’s her partner (of course), who continues to influence the family long after his death. Her new neighbours, who help her settle into the countryside. Mr Nirasaki, who can be strict but well-meaning. And a boy called Souhei, who unintentionally discovers the family’s secret – leading to a scene that brings the movie full-circle.

And then you have the wolf children themselves: Yuki and Ame. From the moment they’re born, until their early teens, we see just how much they grow and develop as individuals. Interestingly, enough, the story highlights how specific influences affect a person’s mentality, setting them on a new path from when they were younger. Let me elaborate.

First of all, there’s Yuki; the older of the two siblings (who also narrates the story). In the beginning, she’s a lot more confident than her brother. She’s loud, boisterous and takes pride in her abilities as a wolf. Nothing about her is graceful or ladylike. But then, later on, she’s exposed to things like going to school and making friends, and she discovers the joys of being a human girl. After that, she gives up her wolf habits – like parts of her childhood – and aims to be the best human she can be.

As for Ame, he takes the opposite route. Initially, he’s quite timid and frail; often crying at everything and not liking change. He’s also ashamed of being part-wolf because of how society views them – particularly in children’s books. Following a near-death experience, though, he sees how strong he can be and resolves to better himself. Unfortunately, this means dropping out of school and fully embracing his inner wolf.

Now, to be fair, Ame does have a noble cause. He wants to protect nature and its balance with his newfound skills. However, it’s still a cause for concern. Hana thinks her son is choosing a dangerous lifestyle, and that he’s too young in human years. Metaphorically, this could represent parents who worry their child will fall into a life of crime or worse. It’s also worth noting that, before this, Hana wanted her children to have the choice of being wolves if they desired. Now she’s more objectional. Ame’s decision also puts him into conflict with his sister, since they don’t agree on what they are, and it leads to violence between them. A teenager’s life is complicated enough. But for Yuki and Ame to go through this unique identity crisis – as well as their changes in mentality – it adds a whole other layer to their characters. Once again, fantasy succeeds in translating a universal subject to us.

In conclusion, Wolf Children is a heartfelt story of love, sacrifice and determination. The plot does have some forced cliches, like teen romance and fitting in, but they’re honestly nit-picks at best. The narrative more than makes up for them with emotionally engaging characters, beautiful animation, a story anyone can relate to, and fantasy elements which broaden their impact. As for recommendations, this is something for the whole family to watch. Grown-ups can understand their kids’ mentality through Yuki’s narration, while children can appreciate their parents’ struggles through Hana’s perspective. It’s one of those stories that brings everyone closer together.

That’s all I have to say for ‘Wolf Children‘. I look forward to reviewing another anime movie in the future. So until then, stay tuned.

*

If you have any questions, please leave me a comment – I’ll be happy to answer them. And, until next time, stay tuned.

(Image courtesy of: https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-wolf-children-20130927-story.html)

Life, Animated (2nd Anniversary Special – Part 3)

(Continued from Part 2: https://georgeharvey2015.wordpress.com/2017/08/01/life-animated-review-part-2/)

Throughout the documentary, we see numerous people trying to help Owen prepare for life on his own. They all teach him essential skills like communication and self-awareness. However, they also express concerns about his well-being. These include him walking with his chin down, his limited knowledge of road safety, and whether or not he can cope without hands-on support. Owen does want to be independent. But he knows his condition will make things challenging. Especially when it comes to perceiving reality.

As mentioned before, Owen struggles to understand people and situations, unless they relate to a Disney film. Anything new or unfamiliar makes him feel anxious. This is a constant problem for him because the world is always changing. If he’s not mentally prepared to adapt, then his adulthood will only intimidate him.

I, myself, find change extremely difficult sometimes. I try to stay organised by writing myself timetables. But once I’m used to a routine, something new comes along and throws a spanner in the works. Maybe my hours at work will change. Maybe there’s a meeting I have to attend. Or perhaps a deadline will come up, and doing it means I’ll have less time to finish other tasks. Staying on top of things can be stressful when you’re not anticipating them.

Owen’s mother says it best: the reason her son loves Disney films so much is they’re the one thing in his life that never change. The characters don’t age. The stories don’t take drastic turns. It’s just the same scripted events, followed by the same characters, who learn the same moral lessons that Owen can understand.

The trouble is, real-life isn’t a Disney script.

Going back to Owen’s childhood, his Autism continued to be a hindrance for him. Although he was able to communicate better thanks to his parents speaking in Disney dialogue, they knew this couldn’t be a permanent solution. Eventually, they’d have to teach him to interpret reality without Disney’s help. Otherwise, his development would be slow. This was made evident during his school years.

Initially, Owen was enrolled in a specialist school for learning disabled children. It worked well for a time. But after a year or two, it became apparent he wasn’t making enough progress. His limited speech and social skills meant he couldn’t keep up with the other students – despite them also having conditions like dyslexia and ADHD. Soon after, the school decided there was nothing more they could do, and Owen was excluded.

This actually brings to mind a pressing matter in today’s society. There have been numerous cases where a child has been unjustly excluded from school – or refused entry entirely – because of circumstances relating to their disability. It is essential for teachers and parents to remember that every child is entitled to a proper education, regardless of their physical or mental impairments. Denying them that right is an unacceptable course of action.

Being taken out of school was hard on Owen. He described it as a “glop” year, where everything went downhill, and he felt his best days were behind him. He even lost his passion for animated movies. Following an extensive period of home-schooling, his parents got him enrolled in a new school for special needs children. Unfortunately, this did little to improve his emotional state. Then the bullying started.

At some point in our lives, we’ve all experienced bullying and the harsh impact it can have on our psyches. For those with Autism, though, it can be a lot more harrowing. This is because we have two symptoms that bullies like to exploit. The first is our sensitivity. Because we struggle to control our emotions, bullies know they can get a reaction from us with little provocation. The second is our literal way of thinking. Given how our minds work, we tend to sort everything into black and white areas. If anything falls into the grey (e.g. sarcasm or rhetorical questions), it can be difficult to process what’s true and what isn’t. As such, we instinctively believe what we’re told most of the time. This assures bullies that their threats will be taken seriously – even if they’re false.

In Owen’s case, the boys at his school tormented him by saying they’d burn his house down. This terrified him because he genuinely believed his family was going to be killed. The documentary illustrates this fear by showing us some frightening clips from Disney; Bambi escaping a forest fire, the wolves from ‘Beauty and the Beast’, Chernabog from ‘Night on Bald Mountain’, Jafar laughing, Simba watching his father die. There’s even one part where Owen watches ‘The Hunchback of Notre-Dame’; specifically, the scene where Quasimodo is tortured and ridiculed by the townsfolk. It’s very symbolic.

There’s no doubt high school was a dark time for Owen. But there was a light on the horizon.

Sometime after the bullying, Ron noticed his son was spending a lot of time in the basement. So one day he went down and saw Owen had been drawing Disney characters in a scrapbook. The one significance, however, was that every one of them was a sidekick – there were no heroes. Owen explains he never felt like a hero at the time. He always felt more like a sidekick. “Sidekicks”, he says, “are fun-loving, comical, wacky, playful, friendly and delightful. And they help the hero fulfil their destiny.” On the last two pages, he wrote, “I am the Protector of the Sidekicks. No Sidekick gets left behind.” What that meant was, although he doubted he would ever be a leader among regular people, he could be one to those just like him. This is likely what inspired him to start his Disney club. And what got him into writing.

‘The Land of the Lost Sidekicks’ is one of the best highlights of the DVD for me – perhaps more so than the diagnosis section. It’s the tale of a young boy, who’s awoken in the night by a storm made of garbled voices. He escapes into the forest where he meets the Disney sidekicks. They’re lost because they no longer have a hero to follow – having fulfilled their purpose in their movies. The boy is named Protector of the Sidekicks and helps them defeat the storm – which is really a demon. While they, in turn, show him the path to his destiny.

Not only is the animation here beautiful – with its pencil-esque style and brilliant use of watercolours – but the story is a creative retelling of Owen’s life. The boy is the same age he was when he was diagnosed. The demon is the stressful voices he couldn’t understand as a child. The sidekicks are the friends he always longed to have, who also give his life purpose. It’s inspiring to see how Owen took both the good and bad parts of his life and turned them into something meaningful.

This is what I want to do someday: write stories from personal experience that will help me make a difference in other’s lives.

Back in the present day, Owen’s family celebrate Walter’s 26th Birthday. After a scene where Owen struggles with his speech, we take a moment to focus on his brother. Walter admits he cares deeply for Owen and would do anything to make sure he’s okay. However, it does overwhelm him knowing he may one day have to take care of him and their parents. Every passing year brings him closer to that fate. As a result, his birthday depresses him as much as it did when he was nine.

This part opened my eyes to something. For those of you who don’t know, I have a twin sister. Unlike me, she’s not Autistic, has many friends and spends most of her time out of the house. After watching this, it really dawned on me that I’ve never asked her how she feels about my condition or its effects. I know she loves me regardless. But I have to wonder if she’s ever had the same concerns as Walter. Perhaps we should talk about it one day.

Once again, I have to give ‘Life, Animated’ credit for being so sincere about how Autism affects everyone in the family – not just the child and parents.

After spending some time with Walter, Owen’s graduation day finally arrives. The most pivotal chapter of his life is about to begin.

Continued in Part 4: https://georgeharvey2015.wordpress.com/2018/04/02/life-animated-review-2nd-anniversary-special-part-4/

(Image courtesy of: http://www.tulsakids.com/Web-2016/Life-Animated-at-Circle-Cinema/)

My Little Pony: Lesson Zero and Autism (Part 1)

Hello, everybody, this is George Harvey (aka the Autistic Blogger). And today I’m going to be looking into something I’ve wanted to for quite some time now.

If you’ve read some of my earlier posts, you’ll know I’m a big fan of the series My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. I could write on and on about why I support the fandom, and why I think the show appeals to all audiences – not just young girls – but that’s something for another time. What I want to do, instead, is focus on one episode in particular, and discuss how I think it’s significant to people with Autism.

But before I do, allow me to give an overview of the series.

Friendship is Magic takes place in the land of Equestria, a magical world inhabited by Unicorns, Pegasi and Earth Ponies – as well as other mythical creatures such as Dragons and Alicorns (winged unicorns). In the beginning, the main character is Twilight Sparkle, a unicorn who studies magic under the tutelage of Princess Celestia, the alicorn monarch of the land. Twilight is a model pupil, and she seems content with her life. But she always spends her free time studying. As a result, she never socialises with anybody other than Spike; a young, flightless dragon, who acts as her personal assistant. This concerns Celestia.

One day, the princess sends them both to Ponyvile to help with the Summer Sun Festival. As they explore the village, Twilight encounters five other ponies. Applejack; a hard-working farm pony. Fluttershy; who loves animals and gets scared easily. Pinkie Pie; who’s full of energy and loves parties. Rarity; who dreams of opening fashion boutiques all over Equestria. And Rainbow Dash; who thinks she’s the coolest flyer around and plans on joining the Wonderbolts aerial team. At first, Twilight wants nothing to do with these ponies. Even when they join her on a quest to stop the evil alicorn, Nightmare Moon. As they journey to the villain’s lair, however, Twilight realises her companions represent the Elements of Harmony – honesty (Applejack), kindness (Fluttershy), laughter (Pinkie Pie), generosity (Rarity) and loyalty (Rainbow Dash). More importantly, though, they’re her friends! Together with Twilight’s own element of magic, they defeat Nightmare Moon and restore her to her true form; Princess Luna. After the festival, Celestia allows Twilight to stay in Ponyville so she can learn more about the magic of friendship.

Now the premise might sound cheesy, I know. But you’d be surprised how seriously Friendship is Magic takes itself. Unlike previous generations of My Little Pony, the show doesn’t appeal to audiences by being over-the-top and girly. Instead, it focuses on teaching universal morals that everyone can relate to. These morals include: being open about your problems, discovering your purpose in life, and staying true to yourself no matter what tries to sway you. Some episodes even touch on deeper subjects like depression, racism and civil war.

Additionally, the show has run for over six seasons because its characters are always developing. Fluttershy is now braver and more assertive, Rarity and Rainbow Dash have achieved their dreams in fashion and flying, and Twilight herself has become an alicorn princess with a student all her own.

But I don’t want to ramble for too long.

The episode I’m going to discuss is called Lesson Zero (S2, Ep3). Admittedly, this is one of the older stories in the series, now. But it’s significant to me for various reasons. Not only was it the first episode of ‘Friendship is Magic’ I ever saw, but after watching it again, I realised something familiar about Twilight’s behaviour. Specifically, she showcases many autistic traits throughout the story. For a brand that used to be all Happy Rainbow Butterfly Pony Flowers (Animat, 2012), I think it was admirable of the writers to take My Little Pony in this direction.

Just for the record, I don’t think Twilight is autistic – there’s plenty of evidence to suggest that she’s not. But I do see a lot of myself in her. Even her friendship experiences are similar to mine. For example, if you listen to the extended version of the Friendship is Magic theme song, Twilight sings:

“When I was young I was too busy to make any friends. Such silliness did not seem worth the effort it expends. But my little ponies, you opened up my eyes. And now the truth is crystal clear as splendid summer skies. And it’s such a wonderful surprise.”

This is my life in a nutshell.

Also, I’m not the only one to make a connection between Twilight and Autism. Many parents have watched this episode, and they agree the writer (Meghan McCarthy) must’ve had some experience with the condition. If you want to know more, I’d recommend watching Bronies: The Extremely Unexpected Adult Fans of My Little Pony. For now, though, let’s take a look at Lesson Zero.

*

The episode begins with Twilight and Spike making a list of everything she needs to accomplish by the end of the day. Item 1: create said checklist.

Straight away this relates to Autism. A lot of people write lists to remind them of things. But it’s especially helpful if you have trouble processing large quantities of information. When I have multiple thoughts on my mind, it’s difficult keeping track of them all – sometimes I focus too much on certain tasks and forget about doing others. That’s why I write checklists/timetables. If I know when, and how long, to work on something I feel more in control. And it keeps me from stressing out. The only downside is I literally have to note down everything – to the smallest detail.

This is sort of what Twilight does. Her first task is to create the checklist she’s writing; mine is to wake up in the morning. Her last item is to triple-check her list to make sure she didn’t miss anything when she double-checked it; mine is to get to bed by a certain hour. Twilight is definitely a well-organised pony who enjoys doing things by the book. We even see she has a list of materials needed to make a checklist (quills, parchment, ink, etc.).

Back onto the story; Twilight gets ahead of schedule, so she and Spike go to Sugarcube Corner. There, they collect some cupcakes for an afternoon picnic with her friends. When she opens the box, however, there are thirteen cupcakes instead of twelve. The store owner, Mrs Cake, says she had one extra, so she made it a “baker’s dozen”. Twilight appreciates the thought, but she’s concerned that icing from the thirteenth cupcake is getting over the one next to it – thus making them uneven. She tries to balance things out. But ends up removing all but a drop of icing from each cupcake.

I have to say, this might be the most memorable moment of the entire series for me. Twilight is acting more Autistic/OCD here than she ever has in the show’s history (i.e. letting a small change throw her off and trying to fix something that’s not a problem).

Technically, yes, there’s nothing wrong with the cupcakes. But for Twilight, there’s a major issue. She doesn’t want her friends to think she’s valuing some ponies over others by giving them more icing. You might say this is overreacting a bit, but it’s easy to see a small problem as something bigger – especially when you’re autistic. Plus, Twilight feeling this way isn’t unreasonable. In a previous episode, she couldn’t decide which friend to take with her to a party, and it caused some friction within the group (S1, Ep3).

It’s also established that Twilight is a perfectionist and prefers doing things exactly right. However, being this way 24/7 has its drawbacks. In some cases, you end up making a problem worse rather than fixing it. Case in point: me and my writing.

If I were in Twilight’s predicament, my problem wouldn’t be with the icing, but rather the number of cupcakes. Since you can’t divide thirteen by six (evenly), I’d want to get rid of that extra cupcake. It probably wouldn’t even occur to me to just save it or give it to Spike – which I’m surprised Twilight didn’t think of.

It turns out, though, this scene only foreshadows a greater problem to come.

With the cupcakes in tow, Twilight and Spike head home. Spike has a “claw-cramp” after holding the checklist all day and says he’s glad they don’t have anything to report to the Princess this week.

Before I go on, let me explain.

At this point in the series, Twilight would write letters to Princess Celestia at the end of every episode. The letters would express the moral of the story and what lessons she learnt about friendship – you know, typical kid’s show stuff. Here’s the thing, though; Celestia never said this was a weekly assignment. You could assume she mentioned it off-screen. But it makes more sense to think that Twilight decided this deadline herself. We know she takes pride in being Celestia’s student and is determined to prove her worthiness. So it’s natural she’d want to set herself personal goals.

As we find out, though, trying to do too much too soon can have disastrous consequences.

Twilight looks over her journal and discovers it’s been almost seven days since she sent her last letter. Which means, if she doesn’t send one by sundown, she’ll be late for the assignment – something that’s never happened before. Spike tells her not to worry because he’s sure the princess will forgive her for missing one little deadline. But Twilight doesn’t want to take the risk. In fact, she’s concerned what might happen if Celestia thinks she’s slacking off.

Remember that greater problem I mentioned earlier? This is it.

(Continued in Part 2: https://georgeharvey2015.wordpress.com/2016/10/22/my-little-pony-lesson-zero-and-autism-part-2/)

(Image courtesy of http://www.brony.com/brony-facts-faq/my-little-pony-cast/)

‘Lola Rose’ Review

This review has been a long time coming. I’m glad I’ve finally finished it. Enjoy.

Ever since finishing my review of ‘Lily Alone’, I’ve been eager to read another Jacqueline Wilson book. And for while, I couldn’t decide which one to choose from the collection I have. Eventually, I decided to go with ‘Lola Rose’, since it handles not one, but two real-world issues – which few other authors dare to attempt.
It’s the story of Jayni, a young girl who lives with her brother (Kenny), mother (Nikki) and father (Jay). The family lives in constant fear of Jay because he’s a rageaholic and unpredictably violent – he’s even put his wife in hospital several times. One day, Jayni gets the surprise that her mother has won the lottery. This seems to put Jay in a good mood. But after drinking too much, he hits Nikki over something petty and then attacks Jayni when she tries standing up to him. Seeing this as the last straw, Nikki gathers her things and tells the kids they’re running away. With the lottery winnings in hand, they travel to London in hopes of starting a new life. They even change names: Nikki becomes Victoria Luck, Kenny becomes Kendall and Jayni becomes Lola Rose. Everything appears to go well to start with. Unfortunately, the money can’t last forever. And things get scary for Lola when she learns her mum might be dying.
Just reading the book’s blurb is enough to make you feel tense. Domestic violence is one thing, but running away and changing your name, so the person you’re escaping can’t find you, really emphasises how serious the situation is. Not to mention, the artwork gives off a sense of danger. The front cover is red (like blood) with a shadow of Jay standing over Lola and Kendall, whilst the back cover features a shark – a recurring motif throughout the book. Also, the blurb says “For Older Readers”, so the audience know this isn’t going to be one of Jacqueline’s light-hearted novels. They say you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but in this case, the cover actually gets the reader in the right frame of mind, before they’ve turned the first page.
Despite the powerful build-up to domestic violence however, it’s not the biggest focus of the story. It’s only after we start reading that we discover the book’s second real-world issue. Cancer.
This is a subject I can personally relate to. I had a nan who was diagnosed with cancer when I was in secondary school. I tried to stay hopeful for her, but she sadly passed away two months later. Back then I was in my teens, so I couldn’t imagine what the experience was like for younger children.
Before the first chapter, Jacqueline Wilson explains how many people – parents and children – wrote to her about cancer. Their longing for a book which addressed the subject was what encouraged her to create ‘Lola Rose’. Her aim wasn’t to assure readers that everyone survives cancer – since no one can promise something like that – but to portray cancer in a realistic manner; showing how it can take hold of someone’s life and affect everybody around them.
Victoria doesn’t have cancer in the beginning of the story, nor does it suddenly appear out of nowhere. Instead the illness is foreshadowed and slowly develops over time. The first chapter mentions Lola’s grandma had cancer before passing; Victoria’s breasts become saggy and lumped; Victoria is urged to see a doctor; and so on, until one day she’s right as rain and the next she’s fighting for her life. The story also does well to show how Lola feels at every stage of her mother’s diagnosis – from her initial suspicions, to her growing anxiety, to the absolute terror of learning the truth.
Although Jacqueline Wilson herself admits the story is sad and she puts the family through a lot of hard times, it’s all done for realism. Cancer doesn’t care who you are – even if you’re a single parent looking after two children. It’s an unforgivable disease that can claim the life of anyone at any time.
What makes the issues in ‘Lola Rose’ so strong is how believably they’re portrayed in the story. This is largely thanks to the realistic way the characters are written.
First there’s the main character, Lola Rose (Jayni). Like most Jacqueline Wilson heroines, she’s very mature for her age and seems eager to grow up; she dreams of becoming a model like her mum, with a slim body and long flowing hair. Also, she’s aware of everything that goes on in her family (beatings, finances, housing, etc.). Sometimes she has to take responsibility because her mum makes foolish decisions or doesn’t think things through seriously enough. At one point, Lola even sounds like Victoria’s mum: “I’ve been worrying myself sick wondering where you [were],” (p95).
No matter how grown up or responsible she acts though, the story never fails to remind us that Lola is a child. She enjoys making collages out of scrap magazines and has many typical fears for a girl her age (e.g. sharks). The fact that she’s also scared of her father and understands such adult things as money, prison and abuse goes to show us what she’s unfortunately been exposed to early in life.
It’s sad when a child has to act grown up. But it also makes us proud of Lola when she takes mature actions for the well-being of her family. She refuses to listen to the “Voice of Doom” in her head and faces her fears by standing in front of a shark tank for an hour. Things get desperate, but she doesn’t resort to stealing. She even tracks down a distant relative to help the family when they’re at their lowest point.
Lola’s role in the story is to be someone readers can relate to and/or learn from. Which is why it’s essential that the narrative be told entirely from her perspective.
There’s also Lola’s younger brother Kenny/Kendall. Unlike his sister, he doesn’t understand the situation with their father and keeps expecting him to come back. He’s a terrible nuisance for Lola and Victoria, because he whines all the time and often lets slip information about their past lives. His purpose is to show the struggles carers have with younger children – especially in situations the latter can’t comprehend. Having a little brother also gives Lola more of a reason to act responsible when her mother isn’t around.
Victoria is a responsible woman and loves her kids dearly. But the story often shows how weak and simple-minded she is. A lot of her mannerisms can be considered childish; she chews her thumb when she’s nervous, dots her ‘i’s with hearts, fantasises impossible things (like becoming friends with Victoria Beckham) and sometimes loses her grip on reality. It’s even mentioned that Victoria gave birth to Lola when she was just 17. Plus, she admits to being “a kid at heart,” (p4).
Her low self-esteem is probably why she’s unable to stand up to Jay, and allows him to beat and control her. It’s only after he punches Lola that she finally has the integrity to leave him. She also takes things more seriously when she realises the lottery money is running out; she finds herself a job, gets proper accommodation, and enrols her kids in a local school. Unfortunately, some of her old habits die hard and it causes all sorts of problems for Lola.
And then there’s Jay. He’s not featured in the story a lot, but he certainly leaves his impression. The first two chapters establish how violent and intimidating he is; we don’t just hear about him spending time in prison for GBH, we’re also shown him punching his daughter. Plus, the way Lola describes Jay only makes him scarier: “he can make you feel so special – but he can also smash your face in,” (p7). She even compares him to a shark: “he smiled…a shark smile,” (p270); “it didn’t stop me worrying about the shark swimming silently in and out the windows and doors, looking for his family,” (p114).
There’s no denying Jay is a terrible father and his actions can’t be condoned. But the most important thing about him is that his character is portrayed believably. Lola explains how he and her mum genuinely fell in love when they were younger. She also mentions how Jay sometimes regrets his violence and even cries about it. This really humanises him, because it proves he’s not 100% evil – no person is. It just goes to show that anyone is capable of causing harm under the right circumstances. Lola even admits after running away that whilst she hates her father and is scared silly of him, she does still love him (p49).
Finally, there’s Auntie Barbera – the family’s guardian angel. She’s introduced late in the story, but she doesn’t feel like an ex-machina (since her existence was established beforehand). She takes care of Lola and Kendall in their time of need, showing how loyal family can be in dire situations.
From beginning to end the story is character-driven. Everyone is so engaging and relatable that it’s hard to believe we’re reading a novel and not an autobiography.
Another thing that makes the story believable is its real-world references. Anyone who’s been to the London aquarium will recognise the room with the giant shark tank – and could easily picture Lola standing there. Also, the text mentions shops like Tesco and HMV; restaurants like McDonalds and T.G.I. Fridays; TV shows like ‘South Park’ and ‘Thomas the Tank Engine’; movies like ‘Jaws’ and ‘The Wizard of Oz’; stage productions like ‘Beauty and the Beast’ and ‘Chitty Chitty Bang Bang’; singers like the Spice Girls and Kylie Minogue; songs like ‘I Should be so Lucky and ‘Follow the Yellow Brick Road’; and so on. It depicts a world that’s familiar to any reader.
In conclusion, ‘Lola Rose’ is another Jacqueline Wilson classic, with sincere characters, strong messages, and a plot with high and low points throughout. It’s also very creative with its writing (e.g. the shark and “Voice of Doom” metaphors). Some elements do feel like they were added in for plot convenience – the most obvious being Victoria winning the lottery – but it really helps us think about the subjects we’re reading. We know that people in real life won’t be as fortunate as Lola’s family. Even the book’s ending is ambiguous, so we’re not entirely sure if it’s happy or sad.
I also noticed similarities between this story and ‘Lily Alone’. There’s a mum who acts childish and falls in love with a college student, a mature girl who acts responsible and likes being creative, a younger sibling who always causes trouble, etc. I’m sure I’d feel the same way about ‘Lily Alone’ if I’d read ‘Lola Rose’ first though.
For this book, I have a couple of important recommendations. I would recommend this to readers who haven’t experienced domestic violence and readers who are experiencing cancer. The former can appreciate how harsh and frightening other people’s lives can be, whilst the latter can use it as a guide to help them through some difficult times.
That’s it of this review. I really enjoyed reading ‘Lola Rose’ and I look forward to picking up another Jacqueline Wilson book in the near future. Until next time, stay tuned.

If you enjoyed this review, then please check out some of the other things I’ve critiqued on this blog, my Amazon profile (https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/profile/A2AR00PMKLC1TG?ie=UTF8&ref_=sv_ys_3) and Autistic Blogger Reviews (https://autisticbloggerreviews.wordpress.com/). Leave me a comment to let me know what you think – or if you have any questions. And, as always, keep an eye out for the next post.

(Image courtesy of Wikia: http://jacquelinewilson.wikia.com/wiki/Lola_Rose/Jayni)

‘Lily Alone’ Review

Hello Internet. This is George Brian Harvey, otherwise known as ‘The Autistic Blogger’. Now, this week, I decided to post something that’s a little bit different than normal. This won’t be a post where I talk about Autism or my experiences with it. This will actually be my first ‘Review’.
When I started this blog, I had two main goals for it. The first was to express myself as an advocate, since I’m very passionate about raising awareness of Autism and its effects. The second was to showcase my skills as a writer. However, I also had a third objective: to let people know exactly what I think are some of the best examples of influential work.
Autism is my primary focus, but I understand how important it is for people to know the effects of other real-world issues and disabilities. And there’s no better way to raise awareness than through the media. Every so often, I come across a book, TV series, movie, etc, which I think does well to emphasis how certain issues effect people and society. When that happens, I defiantly feel it’s something everybody should watch/read. This is why I watch TV shows like ‘My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic’ or read books that are aimed at young children. It doesn’t matter to me what their target audiences are. If their morals are universally appealing then they’re worthy of my praise and attention. The message of a story is always more important than the story itself, I feel.
One author I really look up to as a writer is Jacqueline Wilson. From foster-care, to divorce, to social anxieties, her books touch on a number of issues that many people can relate to and learn from. I hope someday I’ll be able to write books as inspiring as her’s. To honour this, my first review for this blog will be on her (2011) novel, ‘Lily Alone’.

‘Lily Alone’ is the story of Lily Green; the eldest of four children, who lives in a rundown flat with her mother and three half-siblings. Lily struggles to care for her family, since her siblings (Bliss, Baxter and Pixie) are very young, and her mother (Kate) is often too sick or depressed to look after them. It doesn’t help either that Lily seems to be the only one in the family who takes matters seriously. One night, Kate meets Gordon, a young man who she agrees to go on holiday with. Despite Lily’s protests, Kate leaves a message for her ex-husband (Mikey) to look after the kids and departs for Spain. However, the next day Lily gets a call back from Mikey, saying he can’t come as he’s away in Scotland for the week. Now with limited food, no money and no front door key, Lily has to find a way to support her siblings, whilst making sure nobody finds out about their secret.
It’s clear from the premise that ‘Lily Alone’ deals with issues of child neglect – as well as responsibility and young caring. How the narrative expresses them to the reader is by telling the story from Lily’s perspective (1st person). Every emotion she feels, or opinion she has, we agree with because it’s how she sees the world. If the story were told from another perspective the feeling and moral would arguably be a lot different. But since the purpose of the story is to emphasis Lily’s struggles, it makes sense that things are shown through her eyes. Jacqueline Wilson has mastered her style of writing to not only raise awareness of real-world issues, but also to make sure her morals are expressed by the right character.
Another thing I like about the story’s narrative is how it always feels believable. Jacqueline Wilson uses many real-world references to emphasise that the story takes place in modern day Britain. Some references include The ‘Secret Garden’ (novel), ‘Chessington World of Adventures’ (theme park), TV shows like ‘Coronation Street’ and ‘I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!’, and other things like Smarties, ‘The Wizard of Oz’, Batman, Spider-Man and McDonalds. Wilson even mentions the TV adaption of her ‘Tracey Beaker’ book and the Disney Pixar movie ‘Up’ (2009). Everything makes the story feel realistic and gives the impression that ‘Lily Alone’ is based on actual events – which is just the feeling you want to get from a book like this. The references also advance the plot or express Lily’s mindset (e.g. Lily compares her mum to step-mothers in fairytales, or imagines herself as Peter Pan). There’s even one scene where she describes herself ‘crushing’ fairytale characters inside a book as she closes it.
It’s easy to understand why each character has the personality they do in the story – just as if they were real people.
Bliss is the most sensible and well-mannered of the three younger siblings. She clearly enjoys the affection from Lily and her mother, which is probably why she always tries to be a good girl. However, like most kids her age, she occasionally makes a ruckus and wants things she can’t always have.
Baxter (Bliss’s twin) is the complete opposite of his sister. He’s the hardest to deal with, because he’s violent, reckless and always wants to be in charge. He likes the idea of killing animals; wishes he could join a group of older boys with their beers and cigarettes; swears even though he’s six; sometimes runs off on his own; looks at rude, inappropriate magazines; refuses to be kissed, etc. His behaviour probably stems from his father, Mikey, who Lily feels is too rough and not a good influence on him. She even implies that Mikey has his own knife and let’s Baxter play with it sometimes.
I actually think Baxter represents the problem with most young children today: they don’t act their age. Kids these days use swear words, know sexually inappropriate things and just want to act as grown-up as possible – as quickly as possible. It really concerns me how they’re essentially throwing away their childhood, because of influences they get from their parents. If their parents swear, they think swearing is appropriate; if their parents are aggressive, they think violence is appropriate; if their parents smoke, they’ll want to buy their first packet of cigarets as early as secondary school – possibly even sooner. Whether intentionally or not, I think Jacqueline Wilson raises this issue in ‘Lily Alone’ and emphasises how parents (like Mikey) should be more considerate when speaking and behaving around their children.
Pixie is the youngest of the three siblings and still has a bottle, buggy and cot. By her age (3) she probably would’ve been taken off such things, which implies to me that she may have problems with her personal development. This could be because her family is disorganised and unable to give her the proper growth she needs.
And then there’s Kate. You might think that she’s just a selfish, heartless woman, who would abandon her kids in a heart-beat to go on a holiday. But that’s actually not her character at all – if it was, she’d be stereotypical. Kate’s problem is that, for the most part, she’s still a child herself. She gave birth to Lily when she was just 15, so she’s young enough to be her older sister. The two don’t even act like mother and daughter most of the time – sometimes Kate calls Lily her “best mate”. It’s clear, too, that Kate doesn’t always take her role as a mother seriously. She acts more childish than Lily and never seems to think things through (e.g. money issues or how she’s going to get back from her holiday). What’s more, Kate doesn’t always learn from her mistakes. She’s committed credit card fraud multiple times, had kids with three different men and been to court – all before her 27th birthday.
So can Kate be described as a bad mother? Well…yes. But she’s not terrible. She does understand child neglect and tries to avoid it by setting things up with Mikey. However, just leaving him a message and expecting him to look after the kids isn’t the wisest decision. She doesn’t know if Mikey has plans. And why would he want to babysit for her if he knew she was going to meet her ‘new’ boyfriend?
There’s no denying Kate has faults as a mother, but you can’t really hate her for it. She’s not a bad parent intentionally. She’s just young and misguided. She really loves her kids with all her heart and would do anything to keep them by her side.
This is what makes the story more believable to me; it proves that parents don’t always have to be cruel or uncaring to commit child neglect. Sometimes it just comes down to the circumstances and making the wrong decisions. What’s important is Kate learns her lesson by the end of book – even though it might be too late.
Finally, there’s the main focus of the story: Lily. When we’re first introduced to her, it’s clear she shoulders responsibility well; she’s glad to look after her siblings so her mum can rejuvenate. However, it’s also clear that she isn’t entirely happy with the life she has. She understands the sort of person her mother has become and doesn’t want to end up like her – hence she never wants to have a boyfriend, get married or have children. Her dream is to live in a luxurious house, alone, where she won’t have to worry about caring for anyone but herself.
As the story progresses we see just how old Lily is for her age. She knows about things like the Magistrates’ court and paying the bills, even though she’s eleven. It feels like she’s always taking care of the family even when her mum is around. And when Kate leaves for Spain, Lily doesn’t allow herself to cry or question things, like her siblings, because she’s the oldest and has to keep them happy. Speaking of which…
Despite her plans not to be a mother, Lily really knows how to look after kids well. Some of the things she does in the story could even be considered genius. She knows how to keep Baxter under control; she knows how to keep Bliss smiling; she watches Pixie to make sure she’s kept out of harm’s way, and she keeps the kids entertained with stories and made up games. All the while, she manages to do all the necessary things, like making sure everyone has clean clothes and the right nutrition – like a real mother would. The siblings love their “Lilymum” and Lily almost reconsiders wanting to live alone.
However, Lily isn’t ready to be a parent. She’s just too young to handle the enormous responsibility. Throughout the book she shows signs of still being a child herself, like enjoying fairytales, fearing the dark and constantly wishing her mum would come back. There’s even one scene where she cuddles a pillow, with her mother’s scent on it. The pressure soon gets to Lily, as she begins resorting to more drastic things, like running away from the flat, eating out of the rubbish and even breaking into somebody’s house for food – which just goes to show what real children in similar situations would do to survive neglect. Plus, there’s the constant threat of strangers and somebody discovering their secret. In the end, Lily is close to breaking point, before help arrives. And even then she blames herself and refuses, very stubbornly, to accept that she needs support.
It’s almost upsetting to know how quickly Lily’s had to grow up and how responsible she thinks she is. All she wants is to be a family with her mother and siblings again.
The hard situations Lily and her siblings go through are padded out by people being nice to them (e.g. an ice cream man, a fish and chip shop owner and an elderly couple). However, children in similar situations probably wouldn’t be so lucky. Jacqueline Wilson understands this and so, for realism purposes, she doesn’t make clear whether the ending is happy or sad. Instead she leaves things open-ended for the readers to work out what logical events will likely follow the story’s conclusion. It’s one thing for a story to blatantly express its morals to a reader, but it’s another thing to actually challenge them to think about what lessons they’ve being taught. That’s what I admire about Jacqueline Wilson.
In conclusion, ‘Lily Alone’ portrays a very realistic situation of child neglect, with highly believable characters and an ending that really makes you think about the universal moral. I would recommend this book to any fans of Jacqueline Wilson, since it’s definitely one of her finer works. I would also recommend it to first-time readers of the author, who want to understand her writing style – and mine. But most importantly, I’d recommend ‘Lily Alone’ to anyone who wants to understand the realities of child neglect, young caring and responsibility. I think there’s no better way to learn about such issues than through the eyes of a child.

If you enjoyed this review, then please check out some of the other things I’ve written for this blog. Leave me a comment to let me know what you think, or ask any questions. And keep an eye out for the next post. I don’t know yet when my next ‘Review’ will be, but I have some ideas for the future. Plus, you can follow the link below to my Amazon page to see some of the other things I’ve reviewed over the years. I hope you enjoy them. Stay tuned.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/pdp/profile/A2AR00PMKLC1TG/ref=cm_cr_dp_pdp

(Image courtesy of Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lily_Alone)