Books on Autism Spectrum Disorders

Author Portia Iversen is a former Hollywood art director whose life was transformed twice -- when her son Dov was diagnosed with autism, and when she met Soma Mukhopadhyay and saw the amazing work Soma was doing in getting her own autistic son to communicate. The mission of these two mothers to get scientific recognition for Soma's procedures, and save their own sons -- and so many other sons and daughters -- makes this book read like a good suspense novel. 3.5 Stars

Autistic authors Grandin and Barron share the 10 major rules of social engagement that they've learned through hard experience, complete with corollaries. Then editor Zysk combines their thoughts into succinct rules and suggestions for parents to teach their children well. Those children don't have to be on the autism spectrum to benefit -- the rules will be useful for kids with a range of developmental, behavioral, or learning problems. 3.5 Stars

When the author's son was born in 1983, autism wasn't a hot topic in every paper and news broadcast and political discussion. Parents receiving the mysterious diagnosis were left, even more than now, to their own devices, with little in the way of conventional wisdom or peer support to guide them. The Accidental Teacher tells the story of Jonah from birth to age 24 with a mix of hope and resignation that will be familiar to anyone who's loved a child whose challenges don't magically vanish. 3 Stars

Thirty-eight families share their experience of raising a child with autism in short narratives and large black-and-white photos in this special-needs coffee-table book, augmented by essays on Dignity, Hope, Opportunity, and Love by Barbara Firestone, founder of The Help Group. It's a moving and beautiful package, but your enjoyment of it may depend on your comfort level with the notion that parenting a child with autism is in and of itself an act of heroism. 3 Stars

"Blessing" is a word you don't often hear used to describe autism, and it takes author Patty Corrigan Myers a while to think of her son's autism in those terms. But as the story of her son Charlie's early life, autism diagnosis, school struggles, and family acceptance unfolds, her faith leads her to accept that autism has indeed made a positive difference in the lives of all who know her son. If that faith doesn't offend you, you may find a blessing in this book, too. 3 Stars

Autism memoirs by well-educated, comfortably-off women who turn their experience as parents of special-needs children into a professional calling are not exactly few and far between. They're well-written, engaging, sometimes inspiring and sometimes infuriating, particular to one sharply drawn clan but containing wider truths. If you enjoy these sorts of sharings of family development, Making Peace is a captivating way to spend your time. If not, the story may leave you saying, "Yeah? So?" 3 Stars

The title of Saving Ben suggests that this will be a triumphant recovery story, and it tries hard to be, but life keeps getting in the way of miraculous intervention. The many cures proposed for autism are hard, life-consuming work, and have little regard for the fact that parents have jobs and relationships and their own demons to fight. Though Ben does improve with time and, perhaps, some help from all his therapies, in the end it's more a story of a father's tranformation than a child's. 3 Stars

Savantism and Tony DeBlois are both fascinating subjects, and the book does indeed mix science, woman-against-the-system drama and personal inspiration, but the compelling part got lost in the shuffle. While "Some Kind of Genius" is certainly readable and interesting, it would have been a better book for focusing on just one of those styles. 2.5 Stars