What Color is Monday? How Autism Changed One Family for the Better
As the Cariello family faces challenges and fears, readers find wisdom and inspiration in the ingenious love that never gives up. This is a family you'll hold to your heart long after you've turned the book's last page. --Mary Johnson, author of An Unquenchable Thirst: Following Mother Teresa in Search of Love, Service, and an Authentic LifeCarrie Cariello gives the reader a positive perspective on the challenges of raising a child with autism without sugar coating some of the struggles along the way. The strength of Carrie and Joe and the love that they obviously share for each other and their family is incredibly inspiring. Perhaps, the best advice that Carrie gives in What Color Is Monday is to Stretch, don't Break ----Doug Flutie, Former NFL Quarterback, President & Co-Founder of the Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation for Autism and Father of Dougie Flutie, Jr.One in 88 children receives an autism diagnosis, according to a 2008 study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Though so many families are affected, there doesn't seem to be enough information or support to relieve the sense of isolation intrinsic to the diagnosis. Cariello's second son, Jack, who is on the autism spectrum, sees the days of the week as colors, hence the title of her book. This family memoir is a heartfelt, honest, often tongue-in-cheek view of life with an autistic child, showcasing Jack's laugh-out-loud escapades and his keep-your-hanky-handy triumphs. The thematic visual of snowflakes "similar but unique...drifting, melting, re-crystallizing" is used to represent his autism, and is particularly poignant. However, the worry and frustration that are an inevitable part of parenting, and most especially special-needs parenting, are not glossed over, but celebrated as signs of growth for the family as a whole. A short glossary defines terms that may be unfamiliar to readers. VERDICT This upbeat, inspirational title will appeal to those interested in autism, family dynamics, and parenting. --Virginia Johnson, Weymouth P.L., MA --Library Journal