Review: I have learned much from this book
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 06 11, 2012
At age 2, my granddaughter started school. She is on the autistic spectrum. As a Grandma, watching at a distance, I could participate only in minimal ways.This wonderful book is about a Dad, Ben, meeting his autistic son Kyle for the very first time, when Mom dumps him suddenly on his doorstep, saying she can no longer take care of him. Through the eyes of Ben, we get a glimpse of both the challenges and joys of being a parent of a child who sees the world in different ways.Unlike some stories that speak of autistic children, this one brings a wealth of hope and information! As we look over Ben's shoulder, we see a glimpse of the learning tools currently being used in the classroom today, and we get glimpses of things that could be helpful in the day to day life of an autistic child.Two months ago, my granddaughter ended up in the emergency room. They thought she had appendicitis, and the world was very scary. She still talks about the CT scan. She thought it was going to make her go upside down. Technicians weren't as sympathetic to her needs as they could have been. So watching Ben and Kyle at the emergency room was both intriguing and informative. I would never have known or thought that something as simple as the weighted X-ray apron might help her in such a traumatic situation!I appreciated this story on several levels. First I enjoyed the story of Ben discovering what it means to be a parent, especially a single parent. It is amazing how little children can wind their fingers around our hearts. Second, I enjoyed watching Kyle find his own means of success in this new and upside down world. I enjoyed the glimpse into classroom life and options available today. Finally I enjoyed the quiet romance between Mel and Ben.After reading this book, I had the privilege of speaking to an Occupational Therapist for an Autistic classroom in our local town, who attends one of the churches I lead. She was able to affirm all of the techniques used inside of this book as being used in her classroom.I was offered the opportunity to receive a complimentary Kindle edition of this book so that I could read and review it. I am so very grateful for the gift of this book, which really opened MY eyes to much that I did not know about autism!Edited - April 2013Since writing this review, our daughter and granddaughter have moved back home with us. I find myself going back to this story again and again to find ways to see the world better through my granddaughter's eyes and to help her to function more easily in the world we live in.I have visited her physical therapy instructor, her classroom, and worked with her and her Mom, and I am doubly - no triply grateful for the insights given in this book!