Meet Alfred, a neurodivergent 14-year-old teenage boy whose world is comprised of his mom, his favorite Soho Glob cookies, a Ninja named Naruto, baseball stats, and chess. Alfred has difficulty making friends until his mom decides it’s time to change things up and hires Coach.
Coach uses Alfred’s passions to help guide him. Among Alfred’s many lessons, he learns:
Not to be a know-betterer
How to use humor to spread cheer
Why it’s important to hear people’s unspoken words
Ways to be generous that matter most
Why a “reset” is not a “checkout” when it comes to self-care
How dogs simply make the world better
New characters emerge in this quirky tale, and because nothing is a straight shot, Alfred has some setbacks as he revisits family history and learns about the dad he never knew.
Parents, coaches, teachers, mentors—anyone engaged in helping adolescents grow—will find some useful entry points for conversation, done with a lightness of touch.
What Readers Are Saying
What readers are saying:
“I didn’t expect to learn anything from a book about a coach teaching people skills to a neurodivergent teenager. Boy, was I wrong! ”
“Everyone learns how to work with the strengths they have and how to see from others’ perspectives in order to be more kind and thoughtful without being made to feel flawed or needing to “fix” themselves in order to fit in. I have loved watching Alfred learn and grow, and I think we can all find something to help us in our own journey to be liked in reading this book.”
“This surprising book engaged me in a relationship with a quirky teen that I never expected. Each episode with Alfred seduced me and taught me.”
“Alfred’s Journey has humor, wisdom, and grace. A very good read.”
“I am a retired pediatrician and have watched many many children and their families cope with all sorts of the difficulties growing up can bring. This book provides a clear, intelligent and empathic pathway for parents and all adults who teach or care for children. It provides accessible examples and experiences that can be shared with any young teen. I loved going on this journey with Alfred, Coach, Alfred’s Mom and the friends he makes along the way. I hope to be able to go further with them. Highly recommend.”
“We have a front-row seat as Coach helps him peel back his pure intellect, layer by layer, to uncover his humanity. Jill Ebstein spins this heartwarming tale of a boy who goes in search of himself; we watch as he develops a sense of empathy and winds up attracting a village of caring, loving connections, including Coach.”
“There are many Alfred moments that resonated with me, but one in particular that stands out is when his mother introduces the idea of Coach and Alfred says,”I’m fine”; and his mom says “you’re more than fine but you could be better.” That moment struck me both as a mom as well as a therapist. We tell ourselves we are fine, and maybe we are, but there is room for feeling better than fine.”
“We could all (re)learn a thing or two from Alfred’s journey. Thoughtful and heartfelt. Wish more people had a Coach to guide us, to remind us what is meaningful and how to thoughtfully navigate life’s struggles.”