Albert

Author: Donna Jo Napoli

First line: Albert sat at his table and drank tomato juice and listened to the noises of the morning.

Why you should read this book: Agoraphobic and possibly autistic adult Albert listens to the noises of the city and checks the weather out his window, but always find some sounds and atmospheric conditions unacceptable, so he never leaves his apartment. One day, when he sticks his hand outside to learn the temperature, a pair of cardinals begins to build a nest in his palm. Through the weeks it takes the eggs to hatch, he develops an intense relationship with the birds. When the last fledgling has trouble leaving the nest, Albert’s tender understanding helps both of them venture into the outside world without fear.

Why you shouldn’t read this book: You like wide open spaces but fear being trapped in an elevator.