Just read the most fabulous book of non-fiction by award winning author Ron Suskind. Years ago I had read his fabulous take on affirmative action, one boy's story, A HOPE IN THE UNSEEN, which is now required reading for a freshman entering Dartmouth College. That book was a real page-turner and tear-maker. This book's poignancy went beyond, since it is Suskind's personal saga about his young son, Owen, who lost language as a young toddler, and had to find his way back to language, his parents and the world through the world of Disney films. The book not only traces Owen Suskind's journey back to the world of the living, but also his parents and his brother's journey to discover what Owen is about, and to learn the language he speaks. How does a family handle an autistic child and learn to speak his particular language, particularly as young Owen attempts to define who he is--a sidekick, a hero--while watching, repeatedly, every Disney film that speaks for his own, particular emotional landscape? Reading this gave me enormous respect for Owen, but also his family who consistently went that extra mile to help Owen find his place in the world.
The next few days my blog posts will be from LIFE ANIMATED, since I plan on writing a picture book about Disney and autism, and also because the journey of this family has inspired me!
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