Voices of Autism: the Healing Companion

May 1, 2008
The fifth entry in the "Voices" anthology project from the Healing Project, this work includes over 40 different stories and vignettes written by parents, teachers, and people with autistic spectrum disorders (ASD) that showcase how families and caregivers measure perseverance, understanding, and success. Many of the selections stand out, including an sf author's account of her autistic son, a seventh grader's perspective on her two siblings with autism, a memoir by an adult with autism who relied on a tire advertisement to get through tough times, and an account of the challenges of dating an adult with Asperger's. The book's real strength are the adult-penned passages, which will give readers a better sense of what autism truly is. Taken individually, the stories show glimpses of the impact that autism has on individuals and those they love. Taken collectively, they paint a rich landscape that many will find familiar. Highly recommended for public libraries and academic libraries with disability collections.Corey Seeman, Kresge Business Administration Lib., Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor

Copyright 2008 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 1, 2008
Adult/High School-This is a rich collection of essays not only by those who have been diagnosed with conditions along the autism spectrum, but also by their parents, siblings, teachers, caregivers, and doctors as well. In An Aspies Guide to Everyone Else, a teen who has Aspergers syndrome attempts to explain the differences between him and those he calls neurotypicals or NTs. Another boy opens The Price of Talk with these words: My name is Michael. I am 14, and I have autism. Some say that I am nonverbal, but I can communicate]. Not being able to talk is very frustrating. My mind knows what I want to say but my lips, tongue, and breath cant make it happen. In My Special Brothers, a 13-year-old girl writes, I think it is the coolest thing to have brothers with autism. Anyone can learn a lot from them; I have. In The Reward, a parent with autistic twins says, ]I learned that until you are confronted with severely life-changing situations, you can never know the extent of your capacity to love. For teens whose lives have been touched by this baffling condition, and even for those who just want to better understand it, this book is an invaluable resource."Pat Bangs, Fairfax County Public Library, VA"

Copyright 2008 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.