Following Ezra

My goal is to read 100 books by the end of 2013.  I just finished book 4.


Following Ezra by Tom Fields-Meyer
Summary:  This memoir is written by a father about his son Ezra, who was diagnosed with autism when he was 3.  He shares experiences and memories from Ezra's birth until his bar mitzvah at thirteen, although the book isn't written in chronological order. 

I have a personal interest in autism and have read a lot about it.  I thought the book was well-written and enjoyed it while I was reading it, but it wasn't difficult to put down.  It was heartfelt and humble.  Ezra may not be the son they expected, but they've done a terrific job of adapting their family to meet Ezra's needs and celebrate him just the way he is.  What I appreciated about the book, and what made it different from some other memoirs about autism that I've read (there are so many to choose from!), is that it's strictly a personal story - there are no statistics or opinions about causes, treatments, etc. 

I'm neutral about my recommendation.  I would definitely recommend it to someone that had already shown interest in the book or the topic, but I wouldn't recommend it if you're not familiar with autism or are looking for more of an informational guide.

Quote of the Blog:
“Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”  ~ Albert Einstein