Julia Romp

If it's not a classic, I tend not to read or review holiday books. There are a slew of them every year at this time - almost uniformly heartwarming and sentimental. I just don't do heartwarming and sentimental, too often it just makes my teeth hurt because its overly sweet.

I was sold, however, on The Cat Who Came Back for Christmas - it was partly the cover (yes, it's a super cute kitten) and partly that I'm really missing my cat, Tucker, who left this world in October. It was risky, this show more book, with its cute kitten cover, but it was a risk worth taking. I enjoyed every minute of the book, although in retrospect I'm not sure it's really a holiday book.

I remember when I was pregnant being afraid of the usual things that pregnant ladies worry about - physical disabilities, mental disabilities, congenital conditions - the list goes on. I was especially terrified of autism because it's always seemed such a horrible condition to me - children and adults trapped inside their own heads. 21 years later and the world is a much kinder place with regard to autism - treatment and understanding have progressed by leaps and bounds. Julia Romp's memoir won't allay any fears anyone might have about autism, but her story is inspiring that all the fears seem reasonable, but in the end wholly unimportant.

Ms. Romp is a single parent raising an autistic child with little to no money and little to no help beyond her family initially. Imagine being convinced that your child would be okay if you were a better mother, and having this thought legitimized by people in authority all around you. It all seems so hopeless until a small black-and-white cat enters stage left bringing with him a new relationship that opens up life in an entirely new way for George, Ms. Romp's son. With a pull quote from Temple Grandin and a clear unflinching story, The Cat Who Came Back for Christmas will put life in perspective, give you a new sense of what courage really is, and a deeper respect for our fuzzy cat companions who really are much smarter than us. Recommended as a great non-saccarhine holiday read. show less

Courtesy of Penguin Group Plume through Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.

A heart-touching book that let's us take a peak in to Julia Romp's life as a single young mother and her son. Julia always knew that George was different, but no one would listen to her for years when she said that George had problems, in fact, most insisted that he would eventually grow out of it. That day never came and after ten years George was finally looked into seriously and was diagnosed with autism. show more Thought now that Julia knew what George had it didn't make life simpler, but it made moving forward and teaching him correctly easier.

George has always been withdrawn and lost to the world. So when Julia encounters a stray that captures the little boys attention and heart, Ben the cat makes a big mark on their little world. Bonding with Ben had opened up George in a way that Julia didn't believe was possible, and with that they had made big progress and even gave Julia a chance to connect and communicate with George. When Ben accidentally goes missing, George regresses and all his progress goes backward and Julia finds herself on a mission to find the missing cat and bring her family back together.

Touching, lovely story that welcomes us into the private world of the author and really makes you feel connected. It had me smiling, shedding tears and at times giggling. A dynamic range of emotions that make this book such a wonderful read for the holiday or honestly any time of the year. Ben is an adorable little cat who was really attached to George, and spent every waking moment either following George around or playing with him. Julia becomes a character in her own to connect with, a strong independent woman who wanted and did everything she could best for her son. show less

This book so warmed my heart. It is a true story about a Mom, her autistic son and a stray cat, named Ben. Julia is a single Mom with a autistic son, George, who is locked inside his own world. George cannot communicate well, doesn't get along with people nor can he express himself or his feelings. A stray cat enters their life and George begins to open up, show emotion and converse with his Mom in "cat talk". This story takes you on a journey of how a beloved cat opens up an autistic boy show more and brings true happiness into his life for what seems to be the first time in his life. Suddenly, the cat disappears and George reverts back to his ole self, growing more and more despondent. The story leaves your heart pounding page by page as you hope and pray along with Julia that their beloved cat, Ben will miraculously return and life will return to "normal" in their household.
This book is a wonderful read and gives one a little insight into autism and the miracle of a cat named Ben. show less

Straightforward account of a young mother's efforts to reach out to her autistic son and the role played by a stray cat. Also highlighted are the misunderstandings and at times ignorance of educational and psychological specialists and an institutional unwillingness to listen to a mother.

Yet again this illustrates the difficulties of getting specialist input and help parenting a child with special needs.
As expected from the subject matter a heart warming story.