‘Will you be my friend:’ Teen publishes best-seller

Shelby Township author writes kids book to inspire others with autism

An elementary school talent show has inspired a

Shelby Township teen to write a best-selling children’s book.

Grant Harrison, 17, recently published “Will You

Be My Friend: Based on a True Story Through the Eyes and Ears of Autism.” The story is a retelling of Grant’s participation in the

Wiley Elementary School talent show, which took place several years ago while he was a fourth grade student.

Grant, who is a gifted drummer, has Asperger syndrome (or Aspberger’s), a neurodevelopmental disorder that is on the autism spectrum. Grant is doing well. Not only does he maintain a high grade point average at Utica High School, but he is also going on to Oakland University in the fall where he plans to study Computer Science (a goal some of his early educators doubted was possible).