Special Needs Children Books

Dr. Oas has firmly stated his thoughts about ADD/ADHD in his book. I have personally visited Dr. Oas with my children and have found his "techniques" helpful. However, the book is not a "how-to" book. Rather, it is a scholarly work documenting the dangers of medicating children and the future consequences of doing so. Dr. Oas teaches parents how to raise respectful, obedient, attentive children who will grow up to be respectful, attentive, successful adults. I would like to see Dr. Oas write a "how-to" book for parents who are unable to travel to the Florida panhandle to visit him.

As a mother of three. I, like everyone else who has more than one child would agree that all children are different. Taking the responsibility as a parent to differentiate the differences in them takes alot of time. What works for one doesn't neccessarily work for the others. I appreciate Dr. Oas's courage to be so straightforward about his findings and beliefs. It is a breath of fresh air to hear that we as parents do still indeed have authority. I do not understand people not wanting to take that role. Children find alot of security when mom and dad take authority. My thanks goes out to Dr. Oas for giving us this information. Oh how we as a generation could HEAL our children. Let us all step up to plate and be great parents. This is a must read book. Thank you Dr. Oas

What an eye opening experience! Curing ADD/ADHD Children is a refreshing book about actually "curing" ADD/ADHD without using drugs as a temporary fix it. Dr. Oas provides examples of his own ADD/ADHD cases and how he has cured patients. His knowledge of good parenting and teaching techniques provides readers with the knowledge to help their children without the use of drugs. After reading this book, parents with ADD/ADHD children will realize that they have choices - Drugs or discipline & consistency. This is a must read book. Thank you Dr. Oas for providing an alternative to drugs.

As a mother of three. I, like everyone else who has more than one child would agree that all children are different. Taking the responsibility as a parent to differentiate the differences in them takes alot of time. What works for one doesn't neccessarily work for the others. I appreciate Dr. Oas's courage to be so straightforward about his findings and beliefs. It is a breath of fresh air to hear that we as parents do still indeed have authority. I do not understand people not wanting to take that role. Children find alot of security when mom and dad take authority. My thanks goes out to Dr. Oas for giving us this information. Oh how we as a generation could HEAL our children. Let us all step up to plate and be great parents. This is a must read book. Thank you Dr. Oas

This is the first book on this subject that focuses on CURING Attention Deficit Disorder. What a novel idea! Dr. Oas expertly demonstrates how this non medical condition does not have to be "grown out of," medicated away or adjusted to. It can actually be cured. A whole generation of drugged kids can learn how to be non-ADHD and become what all parents want their children to be: Competent, secure and well adjusted members of society. He backs up his claims with responsible research, hands on experience and professional expertise. A super job by a phenominal practitioner!

"A guide to diagnosis for parents and professionals". That's an accurate description of what this book is all about.

The book is divided into 9 chapters. The introduction tells us why diagnosis is important - not so much to label the child but to empower parents with the knowledge to seek proper treatment.

The next chapter highlights some of the early signs that make parents suspect if their child may be autistic. Chapter 3 deals with the history and theories or the causes of autism. Even the experts don't know everything and new insights into ASD are gained every day.

The couple of chapters will turn an uninformed layman into an informed one. Most of us think of autism as a single disorder with its classic signs. It is more accurate to view autism as a spectrum of disorders that can vary from individual to individual. The 5 ASDs are namely:

1. Autistic disorder
2. Asperger's disorder
3. Pervasive developmental disorder
4. Childhood disintegrative disorder
5. Rett's disorder

The author explains each disorder within the spectrum in great detail. Even though a lot of jargon is used, concise explanations are provided. The curious reader has much to gain from all this.

The next couple of chapters deal with the diagnostic process. The author emphasises on a multi-disciplinary approach. However, parents would know that the ideal diagnostic team is seldom possible. Most children are diagnosed by a lone psychologist. The final chapters deal with treatment. The author discusses the pros and cons of drug treatment, various teaching methods, inclusive schollong etc. Many real life experiences of parents with children with ASD are briefly mentioned in the book. I find it useful to let the reader know about what other parents are doing and have gone through. I have no problems digesting all the information in the book, but some of the less curious readers may want a book more suited to "dummies".

As the parent of a son with Asperger's Syndrome, I've read many books on autistic spectrum disorders (ASD's). I found this book to be a detailed, clearly-written overview of ASD's. The book contains a wealth of information regarding how to decide whether your child may have an ASD and if so, which diagnosis might apply. The book also provides an overview of various treatments, but the main focus is diagnosis.

As the mother of a little boy with PDD-NOS, I found this an excellent, comprehensive read. The author seemed to cover the characteristic "quirks" seen in these kids in greater detail than I've found in other introductory books. For example, she mentioned an obsession with the mechanization and movement of objects, something I'd noticed in my son from an early age. I'd highly recommend this to someone just starting out on their journey to understand their child.

Did you ever wonder if something with your child was slightly amiss? Did you ever wonder if your child's behavior was developmentally on par with other children? This book discusses the autism spectrum in detail. It is not overly complicated to read and is perfect for those who want things broken down simply and succinctly. When people think of autism they tend to think of Rain Man. In reality, autism has many different levels - the spectrum. This book contains very helpful charts for parents (particularily first time parents) who wonder if their child is developing normally. It is helpful for parents who don't even know what questions to begin to ask their child's doctor. Fascinating subject matter even if you do not have a child that is affected by an autism spectrum disorder.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is one of those childhood development conditions that responds best when diagnosed and treated earlier. There are five types of autism collected under the category of ASD: Autistic Disorder; Asperger's Disorder; Childhood Disintegrative Disorder; Rett's Disorder; and Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified. Demystifying Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Guide To Diagnosis For Parents And Professionals by ASD therapist and diagnostician Carolyn Thorwarth Bruey (Managing Partner of Developmental Disabilities Resources, Lititz, Pennsylvania) is an ideal introduction for non-specialist general readers such as parents and family members with autistic children, and has much to commend it to the attention of students of Developmental Disabilities as well. Basic, comprehensive and comprehensible information is provided on the history, myths, features, diagnosis, and treatment of children with ASD. Enhanced with a Resource Guide and Recommended Readings for further study, Demystifying Autism Spectrum Disorders is a perfect addition to community library Parenting Resources as well as Psychology reference collections as well.

This book is a very easy to read and understand guide for parents and teachers. It clearly states the signs of Autism and the importance of early intervention in a nonthreating way for parents. The end of the book gives tips for teachers and parents to help their children deal with this condition.

I read this book when our state EI specialists told us that our son had developmental delays, but they weren't sure if he was autistic or not (he had symptoms both ways). It was a great place to start for me and helped me formulate questions for the therapist and the developmental peditrician (our next stop). I really liked the chapter on how to help your child at home. I also enjoyed the real examples and advice from parents.

An excellent book to get you started down what could be a very long road. It might be helpful to know ahead of going to see a developmental pediatrician that your child might have a developmental disorder. However I would not use this book as the end all and to diagnose (and I don't think the author would either).

Once you know for sure (after getting the diagnosis from your Doctor) try "Overcoming Autism" as a next step book. And settle in for a lot of reading. Stay away from the "simple cure" books too. There is a lot (too much) information out there. Take it one step at a time and talk to other parents too.

I am an employee of the school system and work with many youth who have autism. I frequently look for resources to recommend to parents so they can educate themselves about Autism and better help their child in the home environment. Wendy Stone's book would be very helpful for parents who suspect possible Autism in their young child (Under 4 years of age). It discusses what goes into the diagnosis, and emphasizes the point that parents and practitioners can't dwell on one unusual behavior or deficit when considering a diagnosis (as it involves a cluster of behaviors displayed to a certain degree). The book also discusses strategies for parents to help their children in the home environment. A strength of the book, is that it has accounts from a family as they go through the process of diagnosis and treatment. Also, the book informs the reader of what to expect during the evaluation process, and includes frequently asked questions.

I work in the field of developmental disabilities and am a follower of recent studies and books that come out on various disabilities. Dr. Stone's book is not only educational, but is to-the-point. It is full of figures/tables to help explain the difference of the different spectrum disorders, frequently asked questions, and examples from parents with a child with autism or PDD-NOS. I would highly recommend this book if you are just trying to educate yourself about autism, or if you are truly wondering if your child does, indeed, have autism. The book is well-written and easy for the "lay person" to understand and interpret.

This book is fantastic! If your looking for a book thatexplains dyslexia and how to cut through the red tape at school, thisis the book. I finally found some answers to my questions aboutdyslexia and what I need to do to get my child help. Ms. Nosek's bookis very parent friendly. She gives you wonderful advice in a step bystep fashion. I found the most useful part of the book to be thesection on the federal laws (she gives you the public law number)thatthe schools must obey. I finally know what my rights are! You shouldread this book if you are having any problems getting your childservices. I think it would be useful to any parent of a child with alearning disability.

A few days ago I had my gut instict confirmed, my son has a reading disorder. I found this book and even though I have already started the process to get him "services" from our public school prior to obtaining this book I still had to buy it because just flipping through it I ran into several "aahh's" or "red flags" as Ms. Nosk refers to them. I knew it would answer all my new questions (in layman terms) regarding my son and his education. And let me tell you, I have almost finished it (I have had it less than 24 hours) and I could not be more pleased! I highly recommend this book for a parent of an elementary school child who is looking for confirmation of their gut instinct in regards to their childs reading.

I wrote this review in Learning A Living, A Guide to Planning Your Career and Finding A Job for People with Learning Disabilities, Attention Deficit Disorder, and Dyslexia:

Written mostly for parents, but has a few sections written specifically for the person who has dyslexia. The strength of this book is the clear step-by-step directions for activities such as obtaining and receiving an educational evaluation, advocating in the schools, applying for college, and obtaining accommodations for learning disabilities.

This book was great for some new ideals but I needed more information for 504 - dyslexia. This is a great tool for parents beginning to deal with school systems for Special Education. You will need this book. Thanks

it was very helpful in my needs for my son and another child whos parents are fighting with the school for their child.

Thank you, Donna. I am an avid fan of Donna Williams' autobiographical and other scholarly writing on 'autism'. She is a true peacemaker. In her previous book, Like Colour to the Blind, I found tremendous insight into the kinds of problems that many of us encounter when we expand our world to include that of another in an intimate partnership.

Similarly, reading Everyday Heaven inspired me to continue to understand and deepen my relationship with myself. Donna's style is ever fresh and impeccably precise. She continues to charter the borderlands of differences in thinking, feeling, perceiving and behaving that have been labeled 'autistic'. Perhaps with so eloquent a mapmaker as our guide, the rest of us can learn greater tolerance for all of the individual 'autistic' realities that we each bring to bear in the creation of this thing that we think we share called 'consensual reality'. Maybe then there will be peace and Everyday Heaven on earth.

Those who have read Donna Williams' other three autobiographies will continue to find ideas and insights that will stretch anybody's understanding of autism far beyond textbooks and what professionals have published. But more than that, even if you aren't especially interested in autism, this book is about the zest for and love of life. Considering how gloomy and bitter Williams could be if she chose, "Everyday Heaven" really serves as an inspirational memoir. In spite of the very real hardships she describes, this book filled me with joy.

Donna Williams is already one of the most famous people diagnosed with Autism in the world and people look up to her achievements and particularly perhaps, the fact that as an Autistic person, contrary to all existing stereotypes at that time, she has married and, of course, an iconic writer of heterosexual romance.

But all is not what it seems. Agoraphobic, outside of her public face, Donna is actually a relative recluse on a farm in the middle of nowhere, completely controlled by her obsessive rather Autistic-Spectrum and somewhat multiple-personalitied husband, Ian. She is beginning to discover that not all 'Auties' are nice at all and the one she's married is a doosie.

Now, on the day of their second wedding aniversary, only one week after the death of her eccentric rather bipolar father from cancer and in the middle of the filming of a documentary about her life, Donna is falling deeply 'in like' with one of the crew, Mick who himself lost the father he loved. Now Ian boldly de-masks and announces he wants to run off with the male producer!

The de-masked Ian clinically announces how he has now qualified for being two years in the marriage and, hence, is entitled to half of everything she ever made from her internationally bestselling books. To boot, she has only a few weeks before flying to America to give a talk about being happily married and on the Autistic Spectrum before a massive US audience!

As Ian packs up the furnishings and strips their house bare and the cameras keep rolling, Donna's 'in like'with Mick has turned to being in love and after she starts a smart drug she finds herself developing lust for the first time in her life at the ripe old age of thirty-two.

But Mick has his own challenges with love, sex, identity and alcohol and with the help of a colorful hippy eccentric dance teacher, Margo, Donna finds herself on the road again. More alone as famous than she would ever have been otherwise, and deeply traumatised by the death of her father, she confronts her sexual orientation and attraction to women, going to a gay club specifically to meet 'someone'. She ends up in a torid sexual relationship with an alcoholic lesbian, Shelly. Then her best friend, Margo, goes suddenly into a coma, then dies from a brain haemmorage, and soon even Donna's beloved cat Monty joins the 'other side'.

It's like everyone is dying and she is surrounded by their 'ghosts'. But among the ghosts awaits an angel named Chris who in rescueing him from his own messy love triangle, she rescues herself from the edge of breakdown.

Everyday Heaven is a humorous, moving, riveting, roller-coaster of a book.

Of all Donna Williams' books, "Everyday Heaven" is one of my very favorites. The fourth in her autobiographical series, this part of her story invites us to be a fly on the wall while she navigates life and love in her thirties. Donna's unbridled candor draws you in, and her clarity and insight hold you fast. When you read it, you'll want to have a box of tissues near by, and also a friend to share some of her humorous anecdotes with. What strikes me in this book, is that in spite of the horrific circumstances she survived in her early childhood, and to whatever extent her Autism continues to impact her daily life, there is never a moment of blame or bitterness. She personifies resilience and a lust for life. If you dare to read any of her books, Donna Williams is someone who will take all of your excuses away. "Everyday Heaven" is a heavenly read.

Donna is changing the way that, hopefully, millions of people think about 'Autism'. Everyday Heavan gives a wonderful insight into the world of a fantastic lady on the Autism spectrum. In this fascinating book Donna shares the ups and downs of relationships, exposure anxiety, information processing, connection, tolerance, contol, dietary difficulties and many more experiences that she has had. You will be captivated by the warmth and passion that Donna brings to the Neuro -Typical world of Disabling barriers.

This is the fascinating true story of a little boy who through no fault of his own is incarcerated in one of the appalling Irish industrial schools in existence in Ireland until 1970. He suffered physical, emotional and sexual abuse and as if this were not enough, he was then taken by the nuns of the industrial school and left to spend years of his precious life in different hospitals where he appears to have been no more than a guinea pig and was left with a permanent disability. Up to this day, no-one within the system has accounted for the brain operations, his eventual disability or any reason why he was in the different hospitals.
The book is very well written and although it describes the horrors inflicted on a small child, the sadistic treatment he received in the hands of the nuns, one can sense a healthy resignation which comes across every page thus making the unbearably sad story a little easier to read.
I found the book an inspiration, an ode to life, for after the total deprivation of affection, protection, a simple toy even, and having had his life taken away from him and practicaly destroyed, he not only survives with sanity but he wins in a superhuman way as he tells with such dignity about the perverse system under which he and so many other children were detained.
It must have been very difficult to relive the horrors whilst writing this very informative book. And for such an effort, I am indebted.

When The God Squad was first published in Ireland in 1988, the Irish public were confronted with the reality of life behind the walls of religious-run orphanages and industrial schools. However, perhaps because it was seen as just one unfortunate boy's story, there was no general sense of outrage directed at the perpetrators or at the system which allowed supposedly 'religious' men and women to ill-treat children entrusted to their care. That had to wait until another expose by the journalist Mary Raftery eight years later.

But Paddy Doyle broke the silence and for that we must all be grateful. This book is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the real Ireland of the recent past. Paddy tells his story eloquently and without self-pity. The God Squad will break your heart. Read it.

I know this book is not out of print because I ordered it and read it in one day. Any intelligent reader knows that the mark of a good writer is the ability to write masterful, engaging narrative, and Paddy Doyle tells the story of his young life honestly and directly. It is this straightforward essential truthfulness which will keep your attention from page 1 through the epilogue. Of particular import in this literary journey is the challenge to see that the beauty of life is not there because of or in spite of what one survives, but because the human spirit, so brilliantly demonstrated in the Irish spirit of Paddy Doyle, is a fire that cannot be damped down. It's also a fine example of what happens when the church and state relationship gets too cozy; something we Yanks take for granted won't happen. Point and click your way to owning this book, it *is* available!

Excellent and a very good read. I have read a few books about Ireland's Industrial Schools and saw the movie "The Magdeline (sp?)Sisters." All are helpful in understanding what the children Of Ireland's Industrial Schools went thru. Although Paddy only wrote about his experiences in "The God Squad," I feel great love and compassion and sadness for these children as well as a sense of great strength coming from them as adults to have the courage to tell their tales. God Bless every one of them and hope that they can find a sense of release and closure from the pain by letting the rest of the world know their stories.

"The God Squad" by: Paddy Doyle is an extremely well written book that took me through the whole range of human emotion. I laughed, cryed, was angry and happy as the author led me through his life from 4 1/2 years old through the epilogue. It is a book that I could not cast aside to finish later.....the 236 pages were rapidly devoured in a few hours. I recommend it very highly to everyone. The education, alone, is very well worth the price that one would pay for ANY book!....No wonder that it was a best seller in the United Kingdom. It will hit the USA in a big storm too!

Excellent source for parents of teens transitioning into adulthood and independence. Great tips for school meetings.

Learning Disabilities do not have to be a giant neon sign blinking "I can't" over ones head - they can be overcome just like any other disability. "Guiding Teens with Learning Disabilities: Navigating the Transition from High School to Adulthood" is a comprehensive guide for guidance counselors and others responsible for assisting these individuals onto the next stages of their life. Advice on understanding the transition planning process under the IDEA of 2004, how to accept these individuals more, and how to prepare them for their life long careers. "Guiding Teens with Learning Disabilities: Navigating the Transition from High School to Adulthood" is a must have for any educator in charge of these special needs students and for community library education shelves.

Dr. Roffman has thankfully written exactly the guide book I needed as my Down Syndrome son turned 16. As a parent, I had no training in how to think about transitioning my son to adulthood. He has been in an inclusion school environment all his life, from infant day care to high school. But the transition to the wide-open space of adulthood, when the structures of schooling were gone, was a complete mystery to me. How could I prepare? How could my son be best prepared during his final few years of secondary education?

Roffman's guide is a step-by-step roadmap for parents, of what to do, what to ask, who to ask, and when to ask. It is also useful for anyone on the service side of transitioning learning disabled teens. The book seems most specifically addressed to the parents and service providers of children with more common learning disabilities than Down Syndrome. Yet it helped me to raise my hopes and standards of what to expect for outcomes of my son's transition as well. For example, with proper preparation, perhaps my son could attend a community college or build a more advanced skill set toward future employment than I was thinking previously.

When I attended his 10th grade IEP review meeting, I felt completely prepared, and for the first time, I knew what I wanted to have happen during the meeting, and it did! This book made the difference. I have recommended Roffman's book to everyone in our school district's SPED PAC, to those who work with my son in the high school, and to members of the school committee. I no longer feel like "the blind leading the blind." Instead, I feel confident that I will be able to support my son's transition with confidence, even if I don't know all the answers yet. Now I know how to ask the questions, of both my son and his service providers, in time for us to figure out the best answers together. If you are parenting a learning disabled teen, or providing services for ld teens, I highly recommend you get a copy of this book. You'll be glad that you did.

This book is organized well. It explains what you need to do in a step by step fashion. It has tables, and checklists. It pulls in essential information that you need in reference like style that is easy to go back to.

Other books on this topic, which I've obtained, review, and returned because they read like a story book because they were difficult to reference later on. This one is not a story book, by an emotional author. Its written with facts, objective recommendation and suggestions that you can apply to your own situation as you see fit or as you need.

This is a concise, well-written, very understandable guidebook for parents and teens with LD facing a challenging time in their lives. Most delightfully, this book is very positive (while realistic) in its tone and suggestions. For a small book, it is simply packed with practical strategies (with emphatic finger-pointing bullets!) and guidance. The timetable is an easy to use resource for those with attention challenges! Dr. Roffman intersperses case vignettes to show the human side of these issues, and she shows what the individuals can and did do to deal with the challenges. Very good role models for success! All in all, an excellent book. I'll keep this copy on hand to show parents and will certainly recommend it to staff and patients. It's a must read roadmap for families who find themselves at this intersection.

Jerome J. Schultz, Ph.D.
Clinical Neuropsychologist
Director, Center for Child and Adolescent Development
Cambridge Health Alliance/Harvard Medical School

This book sheds such light on autism and people with autism. They are not autistic first. They are people first with autism. Reading his words were so eye opening is helping to discover what goes on in an autistic person's mind. The capabilities are endless. There is so much hope. Their mind is wired differently than a so called "normal" person...whatever that means. Easy to understand now why the medical profession believes Albert Einstein was a high functioning person with autism. The focus, the introversion, the dislike of change, having like clothes to wear on a daily basis. Just a few of the examples given. Great seller as well. Fast shipping!

This book was one of the best books I have read about autism. I feel like I understand my son (with autism) so much more than I did before. The author was excellent at helping us understand how he perceives the world. It is amazing to me how much people with autism are misunderstood. This book makes it clear that autism is not a disability of the mind but rather an alternate way of perceiving the world around us. This book is a must read!

It was an awesome book! I loved his earlier book "The mind tree" and this book is just as good. Tito's early and vivid memories of his childhood at such a young age is truly amazing!

His poetic and visual writings allow me to see things from his point of view and opens a window into the world of autism through his eyes.

His book is truly a voice and a wake up call to all those who don't believe in the hidden intelligence that the mayority of people with autism possess. It's really a matter of opening our eyes and forcing us as society to look beyond the physical, what we see on the outside. The famous old saying "don't judge a book by it's cover" truly applies to autism.

Thank you Tito for continuing to teach us to look beyond the superficial and into the soul of the person. You are so blessed to have had Soma in your live and we are so Blessed to have her in our kid's life. Thank you for sharing her with the world! She truly is amazing as you are.

Ivonne Fernandez (CA)

This is a front row seat on a journey through the mind of a phenomenal young man ! Tito articulately and artistically addresses some of the most common misconceptions about Autism ! Many things this author wrote about from his own experiences I found similar to my own son who is autistic. Tito offers his readers a unique outlook on autism . One that the rest of the world needs to take a good long look at!

An inspirational and poetic story that gives a unique window into the perceptions and experiences of a non-verbal autistic boy from a very young age through young adulthood. Also, this book tells a wonderful story of Tito's mother Soma, who along with Tito, gave up their family, culture and daily comforts in search of a way to allow Tito to communicate and share his world. This search led to a lifetime of work and sacrifice which has resulted in Tito being able to share his life with us through this book. Tito wonderfully describes the misconception of autism as a "disease" rather than a "disability", and the perhaps misplaced need for families, and indeed society, to find a "cure" for autism rather than focusing on maximizing the true (and often hidden) potential of autistic persons through meaningful education, support, dignity and respect. This story is a rare, first person account of Tito's growing up with autism and being able to perceive and understand the world around him, while at the same time being unable to communicate his experiences until learning to write. Tito sums up his story with, ". . . I feel blessed for being what I am." We are blessed and privileged to share his story.

The daughter of social psychologist and mental retardation services advocate Barbara Munster suffered brain damage in a brief childhood illness. How The Lilies Grow: Considering The Needs Of A Developmentally Disabled Child is the compelling story of Barbara's experiences in dealing with all of the guilt, anger, exhaustion, and despair when dealing with the behavioral health-care system of the 1960s. This is also the inspiring story of her emerging vision of equipping communities by changing perspectives and practices nation wide in order to both give to, and receive from, disabled community members like her daughter. How The Lilies Grow is especially recommended reading for care-givers having to deal with developmental disabled within their own families and communities.

The daughter of social psychologist and mental retardation services advocate Barbara Munster suffered brain damage in a brief childhood illness. How The Lilies Grow: Considering The Needs Of A Developmentally Disabled Child is the compelling story of Barbara's experiences in dealing with all of the guilt, anger, exhaustion, and despair when dealing with the behavioral health-care system of the 1960s. This is also the inspiring story of her emerging vision of equipping communities by changing perspectives and practices nation wide in order to both give to, and receive from, disabled community members like her daughter. How The Lilies Grow is especially recommended reading for care-givers having to deal with developmental disabled within their own families and communities.

The daughter of social psychologist and mental retardation services advocate Barbara Munster suffered brain damage in a brief childhood illness. How The Lilies Grow: Considering The Needs Of A Developmentally Disabled Child is the compelling story of Barbara's experiences in dealing with all of the guilt, anger, exhaustion, and despair when dealing with the behavioral health-care system of the 1960s. This is also the inspiring story of her emerging vision of equipping communities by changing perspectives and practices nation wide in order to both give to, and receive from, disabled community members like her daughter. How The Lilies Grow is especially recommended reading for care-givers having to deal with developmental disabled within their own families and communities.

Whether or not a parent is raising a developmentally disabled child, this wonderful book contains the theme of helping children find their God-given purpose in life. The author also provides the formula for encouragement, empowerment, and a proven program for children. In addition, the poignant story about the author's disabled daughter Lori covers the issues of experiencing guilt, anger, exhaustion, despair, and eventual hope. The author's writing style and life is a superlative quest. She was featured on national TV and reviewed in 16 magazines including "People." The photographs and the lilies metaphor add realism to this true story.

The daughter of social psychologist and mental retardation services advocate Barbara Munster suffered brain damage in a brief childhood illness. How The Lilies Grow: Considering The Needs Of A Developmentally Disabled Child is the compelling story of Barbara's experiences in dealing with all of the guilt, anger, exhaustion, and despair when dealing with the behavioral health-care system of the 1960s. This is also the inspiring story of her emerging vision of equipping communities by changing perspectives and practices nation wide in order to both give to, and receive from, disabled community members like her daughter. How The Lilies Grow is especially recommended reading for care-givers having to deal with developmental disabled within their own families and communities.

Sarah Lamstein had me wrapped around her storytelling finger. Her ability to create powerful characterizations with an economy of words and her choice of sensory detail and unique particulars gave this gem of a book poignancy and punch. Lamstein's writing anchored me in Ruthie's heart, mind and world. I wanted the story to go on and yet knew where it ended was exactly right. A gem of a book that puts you right back into your 11-year-old shoes.

I'm thinking of Norma Klein's books and The Summer of the Swans.
I'm 39 (and a half!) but I was completely engrossed in ruthie's first person perspective on her family ... and reading this as a mother myself, it was a fine reminder of how a child experiences a parent's anger. (and I really appreciated that Ruthie's mother wasn't some sort of wicked witch - her circumstances fuelled her behavior and on some level, you feel for her.
This would be a great title for mother-daughter book clubs.

There is an immediacy to this slim gem of a book that tugs at you, that instantly transports the reader back to childhood and forward to children yet unborn. Ruthie's mother's kitchen is full of the high peaks of egg whites and the lows of yolks beaten. This is a story truly spoken from a child's mind and each disarming vignette pulses like a heartbeat. I want to read this book over and over again, and remember....

I went to bed last night and woke up this morning thinking and caring about Ruthie Tepper -- her open heart, her longing and confusion, her shoulders shaking from trying to hold in her giggles. Sarah Lamstein has created an unforgettable character. Every moment of her story seems true.

Hunger Moon is an unforgettable book. Told in first-person vignettes, protagonist Ruthie does not embellish these scenes from her life; she merely lays them out with unflinching honesty and dares the reader not to blink. The emotions readers feel are unmanipulated and achingly real. Sarah Lamstein's spare prose haunts as you realize this is not a quiet book at all. Hunger Moon tells the truth about pain, and ultimately edges uneasily toward toward hope and healing. Exquisite.