Co-written by children’s author Jude Lennon and 18-year-old Will Hawkes and illustrated by Will, they include an autistic main character, Hal.
Hal’s Books are different too as they are inspired by the life of Will Hawkes who is an autistic teenager. Will who was just 16 when his first book was launched was diagnosed with autism when he was 6. While at school, he felt there were no books with an autistic main character, so he decided to create one.
“Will wanted other autistic children to have a mascot like themselves and to help other non-autistic children have a better understanding of how their classmates may be feeling.”
Author, Jude Lennon
The stories come very much from Will’s own experiences, although the characters and setting for both books are fictional.
The first book, Hal and the End Street, starts in 1974 when Hal is 13, there are lots of fun references to the decade and how attitudes were at that time. It tells the story of how Hal copes with anxiety and social situations.
The second book Hal and the Parties, picks up Hal’s story in 1977 when he turns 16, it’s his birthday and the Silver Jubilee Year, so there are lots of parties to go to, something that Hal finds quite difficult as he doesn’t like being the centre of attention.
Will wanted his books to be as accessible to as many children as possible so we have included in the books;
- Dyslexia Friendly Font
- Easy to read short chapters
- Reader choice chapter endings
- Spaced out easy to read
- Fun illustrations
Hal and the End Street became and Amazon no. 1 Best seller in its category and has received high praise from children, parents and teachers.
“I teach in secondary school. One of my children, who’s on the autistic spectrum, told me to read this. I have bought two copies for our KS3 library and his friends are queuing up to borrow it!”
5 star Amazon Reviewer
To help teachers who use the books for reading groups at school or to read to their class we have included downloadable resources on our website. These resources include lesson plans, reading group questions, display board topics and copies of the books covers for classroom displays.
For more information visit www.halsbooks.co.uk or email at info@halsbooks.co.uk.
