Simon Lynch (Simple Simon)

Simon Lynch is a main character in the American thriller novel Simple Simon by Ryne Douglas Pearson

Biography
16-year-old Simon Lynch gets a target on his head when he cracks a secret government code.

Autism
Simon is stated to be autistic within the novel. The specific terms "Kanner's syndrome" and "early infantile autism" are used. His parents initially thought he had an intellectual disability. He uses a lot of echolalia to communicate, and has little functional speech outside of that. He carries around a bunch of cards with important information, such as a list of friends (people who can be trusted), instructions for taking the bus, instructions for going to the basement when there's too much noise, etc.

Most relevant to the plot is his extreme affinity for puzzles, calculations and numerical patterns. He enjoys jigsaw puzzles and solves them face-down. He cracks a code that is considered unbreakable within minutes his head.

Adaptation
In 1998, the novel was adapted into a movie named Mercury Rising, starring Miko Hughes as Simon.