Nuala Gardner

Wow! Whenever I see a kid having a screaming tantrum now its going to make me think twice. Autism and its many offshoots is a complex and exhausting disorder that can be hard to diagnose correctly. This books helps you understand it a little better as well as offering, in this particular case, an amazingly unexpected solution. Make sure you have plenty of tissues on hand when reading this. Very moving....

A very moving telling of a mother's efforts to break into her autistic son's world but also to get all the help she could for him. Even to getting a dog, which became the path through the fog to connect him to the world.

This is a lovely true story about how parents and a dog unlocked the world of an autistic boy. The mother is the first person narrator and it's as much her story as the others. An easy, human and uplifting read.

Synopsis: When Nuala and Jamie struggled to enter their son Dale's world of autism, they looked for help. They sought professionals, schools, and intensive therapy - but nothing connected to Dale as well as a golden retriever named Henry. Dale was able to bond with Henry and communicate to and through Henry. With the dog's help, Dale soon began to thrive and come back into his parent's world.

Pros and Cons: As a relative and special education teacher for students with autism, I am always show more critical when I read a book saying someone/something has "unlocked" the mystery of autism. It is not that easy. Nuala writes about the struggles: the tantrums, the frustration, the drive to advocate for her child. I appreciated that she was honest and that the Dale was not "cured" when Henry came into the picture. She discussed the emotional toll that her life had on her. The chaos of living with someone with autism is also felt.

This is a success story in that Dale eventually was able to communicate with people, make friends, and be mainstreamed in school. It took a lot of hard work from Nuala & Jamie, Dale, his team, and a special dog. The bond between Henry and Dale is clearly displayed throughout the book. Included in the book are some of Dales words on his life, a few photos and some artwork that Dale drew. Highly recommended.

The only thing that bothered me was that the book could have used some editing. show less