Writing & Press
Manimal Crackers
GenZ Publishing, 2025
Sixteen-year-old Jessica Rothenberg isn't like most girls. While most girls her age get excited over "Twilight" and "Gossip Girl," her idea of quality entertainment is vintage television featuring hunky British guys as sexy beasts. Literally, in the case of Simon MacCorkindale, who played the superhero "Manimal" in the early 80s. When she finds out that his ghost just so happens to live in her house, she can't help but get intrigued- what's he doing there, and why? Soon enough, though, her starstruck feelings get the best of her, and she even wills herself to work on the film version. Hey, if Stephen Merchant is interested enough, why not?
Manimal Crackers is a novel about obsession, creativity, and what happens when the line between admiration and reality gets very, very blurry. Funny, unexpected, and unlike anything else you'll read this year.
Skyhorse Publishing, 2016
Fifty lessons from someone who learned them the hard way. Not a self-help book. Not a memoir. Something funnier and more honest than either: fifty bite-sized stories from a writer who sees the world differently and has stopped apologizing for it.
A few of the fifty:
#5: Use your dreams to make a difference.
#8: You won't be perfect at everything, not even the things you do best. #18: Learn to take jokes, even your dad's.
#26: Down times will be bouncing up soon…
#27: …meanwhile, enjoy what you have.
#47: Talk about your feelings, even when it's hard.
Contributor
Love in the Age of Autism: Navigating a Joyful and Romantic Marriage in the Face of Adversity
First Hill Books, 2024
Gayle DeLong was a well-known activist in the autism community, the ‘Warrior Mom’ of two autistic daughters. She worked closely with Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. on vaccine injury issues. This book is a record (based largely on her diaries) of her happy marriage to Jonathan Rose. Love in the Age of Autism does not sugarcoat the stresses and heartbreak of raising autistic children: it is more honest about that than most other books on the subject. But it is also an inspiring love story, which can help autism parents find profound joys in spite of all the pains. It offers practical advice and models for sharing the burdens and pleasures of life, based on a strong sense of family values.
This book frankly (and with an earthy sense of humour) illustrates how autism parents can continue to enjoy passionate, monogamous physical love – and it explains how to provide sex education for autistic girls. The tale that Gayle and Jonathan tell is intensely romantic and life-affirming.
Coming Next
"[It's Not a Perfect World] offers tremendous hope and insight, especially to ASD teens and young adults. Addressing neurodiversity, biomedical interventions, and issues affecting low and high functioning ASD individuals, it opens a new window into the nature of the autistic and human experience."
- Mary Holland, autism mom, research scholar, CEO of Children's Health Defense (CHD)
"Like a ray of sunshine. Jennifer deals openly and honestly with the issues she has encountered with her diagnosis of autism but provides a refreshing, positive, and hopeful approach."
- Carmel Wakefield
This novel is funny, painful and inventive! I loved the mixed genre feel: fiction, screenplay, ghost story, comedic and honest. This young writer is someone to watch and read!
- Amazon
ARTICLES BY JENNIFER
The one where she told Morristown Green what it actually takes to grow up autistic and why the bumps are worth it.
The one where she told Research Autism what it's actually like to look for friends when you're not wired like everyone else.
The one where she wrote Age of Autism a letter her mother would have loved to read.
The one where she showed Age of Autism that some bonds don't need explaining, just celebrating.
ARTICLES ABOUT JENNIFER
The one where InsiderNJ ran out of synonyms for the word "impressive."
The one where NJ Jewish News met a young woman who had clearly not read the memo about limitations.
The one where Patch.com broke the news that an autistic college student had just published a book. Plot twist: she was just getting started.
The one where TV Tropes gave Manimal Crackers its own page.
Jennifers' World
Reflections and opinions on writing, movies, music, life, and everything in between. All in Jennifer's voice.
Coming soon
Jennifer has always believed that being different doesn't define your ceiling, it just means you need the right support to reach it. That belief is behind everything coming next.
Request a Review Copy
Are you a journalist, blogger, podcast host, or book reviewer? Jennifer welcomes review requests for both books.