The Rosie Result by Graeme Simsion

Don Tillman book 3. Text Publishing, 2019. ISBN: 9781925773477.
(Age: Adult - Senior secondary) Highly recommended. Fan will welcome the return of Don Tillman as he tries to juggle his life as a genetics expert with bringing up his son Hudson and keeping his family intact. With the quiet humour and empathy that readers of the previous books expect, (The Rosie project and The Rosie effect) Simsion brings his trilogy to an end in a masterful way that readers will love.
Some big themes are gently explored in the book as Don goes about the Hudson Project, trying to help his son fit into school life and hopefully be accepted into the high school of his choice. Does Hudson have autism, or is his environment and actions of his father affecting him? Should children with autism go to a special school or should they go to a mainstream school? How do parents overcome the stereotypes that teachers may have of children who are different? Can Rosie overcome the prejudice surrounding a working mother?
While Hudson is grappling with fitting in with school, Don is grappling with setting up a cocktail bar and trying to work out what he wants to do with his life as well. Both learn lots of ways to cope, especially that friends are essential in life, and the reader is left thinking about little gems like why if people are coached and practise hard for physical excellence, the same can't be done for fitting in and getting along with the system.
Readers will not be disappointed in this excellent conclusion to a feel good and very entertaining series.
Pat Pledger