In this intriguing and moving (Examiner.com) first novel, a recently separated woman rises to the challenge and experiences the exhilaration of independence with the unlikely help of her brother with Aspergers.Seven months after her husband leaves her, Lana is still reeling. Being single means she is in charge of every part of her life, and for the first time in nineteen years, she can do things the way she always wanted to do them. But that also leaves her with all the responsibility. With two teenage childrenByron and Abby, who are each dealing with their own strugglesin a house she can barely afford on her solo salary, her new life is a balancing act made even more complicated when her brother Matt moves in. Matt has Aspergers syndrome, which makes social situations difficult for him and flexibility and change nearly impossible. He only eats certain foods in a certain order and fixates on minor details. When Lana took him in, he was self-medicating with drugs and alcohol to numb his active mind enough to sleep at night. Adding Matts regimented routine to her already disrupted household seems like the last thing Lana needs, but her brothers unique attention to detail makes him an invaluable addition to the family: he sees things differently. A lively, engaging, and heartfelt tale of learning how to cope with change (Publishers Weekly), The Art of Adapting is a feel-good story that celebrates the small moments and small changes that add up to one great life.
