Stim
GENRE
COMEDY ROMANCE YOUNG ADULT SOCIAL ISSUES
Core Theme
COMING-OF-AGE
TIME PERIOD
Contemporary
COMPARABLE TITLES
ATYPICAL, THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER, PAPER TOWNS, ME, EARL AND THE DYING GIRL
CHARACTER LIST
• ROBERT: 19. LEAD. HAS ASPERGER’S SYNDROME. BOOKISH AND NAIVE. LOOKING FOR A
GIRLFRIEND.
• CHLOE: 20. SUPPORTING. BECOMES ROBERT’S BEST FRIEND. FEMALE. COMPLEX, EDUCATED, SARCASTIC, SEXY, UNAPOLOGETIC, ASPIRING, BLUNT.
Logline
Robert is different. He has Asperger's Syndrome. He experiences the world differently to 99% of the population. This is his coming of age journey as he struggles to accept who he really is, tries to understand other people—which he cannot—and find a girlfriend. Especially find a girlfriend—he's decided it's his special project for the year. Accompanied by his quirky flatmates, Chloe (who also has Asperger's and mental illness, amongst other things), Stef (who hasn't, but doesn't mind) and their oddly-named kitten, Robert endures a myriad of awkward moments in his quest to meet a nice, normal girl ... and not even a major earthquake will stop him.
Target Audiences
Age: 18-34
Target Gender: Universal
Setting
Christchurch, New Zealand
Based on a True Story
No
Publishing Details
Status: Yes: self-published
Year Published: 2013
Starting Description
A young man, Robert, with Asperger's Syndrome, goes to University and hopes to find a girlfriend, but meets a quirky young woman, Chloe, instead, and they go flatting together.
Ending Description
A major earthquake causes all the characters to re-evaluate what is important in their lives. Robert and Chloe choose each other.
Group Specific
Information not completed
Hard Copy Available
No
ISBN
Information not completed
Mature Audience Themes
Language/Profanity
Plot - Other Elements
Happy Ending, Meaningful Message, Philosophical Questions, Coming of Age
Plot - Premise
Internal Journey/Rebirth
Main Character Details
Name: Robert
Age: 19
Gender: Male
Role: Emotional
Key Traits: Funny, Insecure, Modest, Naive, Perseverance, Aspiring, Blunt, Complex, Romantic
Additional Character Details
Name: Chloe
Age: 20
Gender: Female
Role: Emotional
Key Traits: Complex, Educated, Sarcastic, Sexy, Unapologetic, Aspiring, Blunt, Crazy, Lone Wolf, Outspoken, Perseverance, Beautiful
Additional Character Details
The author has not yet written this
Additional Character Details
The author has not yet written this
Brief
Robert is different. He has Asperger's syndrome, characterized by difficulties with social and communication skills. This is his coming-of-age story, as he tries to find out who he is, find out what other people mean - and maybe even find a girlfriend.
What We Liked
- Accurate portrayal of Asperger's syndrome - high intelligence combined with
limited social skills and obsessive behaviours.
- Uses comedy and humour to drive the action.
- A unique point of view from an endearingly likeable character.
- YA fiction dealing with issues in an honest, dignified way.
Synopsis
On his first day at university, Robert meets Chloe. Like him, she’s also on the Spectrum,
so she understands his difficulty with the world. She suggests he keeps a diary of his
feelings, to help him cope. He is on antidepressants, prescribed to him by his
psychiatrist, Doctor Meg - she has diagnosed him with AS and also depression. In
return, Robert confides in Chloe his special project - to find a girlfriend who doesn’t have
AS.
Chloe’s cousin has two rooms in her apartment for housemates, so she and Robert
move in. Despite Chloe’s attempts at flirtation, Robert is oblivious. When he meets Stef -
cool, experienced, popular - he sees her as a potential girlfriend. But he can’t pick up on
social clues and at a party together, he almost gets into a fight.
He has a rough time at work, as it is increasingly hard for him to understand the people
around him. When Chloe, his anchor, goes away to visit family, he ups the dose on his
antidepressants. He completely blows it with Stef, and goes on a bender. Chloe returns
and helps him ease off the dosage. They get a cat to celebrate (the cat is called Sex,
which leads to many humorous encounters — when the cat goes missing, Robert gets
arrested for “looking for sex”).
Chloe is always there for Robert, but he continues to look for a girlfriend in other places.
Until there is an earthquake. With everything shaken up, Chloe finally asks Robert to kiss
her. He realizes the girlfriend he wanted was in front of him all along.