The White Bicycle

Reviewed by: Karli 

By Beverley Brenna

Red Deer Press

216 pages

The White Bicycle is a book about Taylor Simon, a teenage girl with Asperger's Syndrome. Taylor lives with her mom and her mom's boyfriend in Paris for the duration of the summer of her 18th year. Her mother's boyfriend is an artist, who sells most of his paintings freelance. While Taylor is in Paris she builds a friendship with the most unlikely of neighbors. Ninety-two year old Adelaide becomes Taylor's closest friend and mentor during the duration of her stay. She uses her rusty white bicycle to find her way to Adelaide's for afternoon tea and garden walks. Adelaide has a beautiful butterfly garden that calms Taylor when she feels anxious or frightened. She doesn't mind living in Paris, but at first it is hard for her to adjust to her new living situation. Along her journey, Taylor makes many friends and discovers many things, making the transition to Paris much easier on her. This is a great book for young people that are still trying to figure out their identity.