For readers interested in gender differences, those found in children with Asperger’s syndrome are more pronounced than those between normally developed children. We know the number of girls with ASD is about 1 in 189 (Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network 2014), and the number of girls with Asperger’s may be higher than we assume. After having read the book I am sure that many of the issues this book addresses regarding girls with Asperger’s, also could be generalized towards girl with different autism spectrum disorders, which makes the book interesting also for parents and professionals dealing with other diagnoses on the spectrum.

The chapters in this book address different topics, such as diagnosis, meeting challenges, education, social issues, understanding relationships, puberty and sexuality. Gender differences in Asperger syndrome and all of the autism spectrum disorders are manifested in various ways, and indeed they are in normally developed children. Sadly there is not much work on this topic. As a father of a girl with childhood autism, I have encountered the same difficulties as many parents of girls with Asperger syndrome, which can give an impression of not belonging anywhere on the spectrum since the classification of autism spectrum disorders is often based on larger populations of boys with ASD.

The book presents many interesting aspects to think about as a parent of a girl with Asperger syndrome. Also for me as a father of a girl with childhood autism the book is easy to read, and focused on some of the most important aspects to consider in girls with Asperger syndrome, e.g. friendship, bullying, education, becoming a teenager, and the relationships occurring during this age period. Experiences which are natural for normally developing children, but which might be challenging for the group are discussed.

I found this book to be a resource for parents, and possibly also for teachers who are coping with girls with Asperger’s on an everyday basis. Commonalities among same-sexed children and differences between genders are an interesting but not very researched area of ASD. I would not at all have any doubts in recommending this book to a mother of a girl with Asperger’s syndrome. On the other hand, the book could at times be less general and more specific—that said it is not possible to address everything. Every child and adolescent is different, especially those with an ASD diagnosis.

The book provides valuable information and help for parents and may also be suitable for older girls with Asperger’s who might be in need of answers they otherwise would not find in the academic literature. I would recommend this book for parents and girls with Asperger’s who want to learn more about the road from diagnosis to becoming an adult.