G. Eric Francis
The Book of Noah is about a 10-year-old boy with the dual diagnosis of Down Syndrome and Autism. Written by his father with snippets from his mother's online blog about his journey, the book is written with humor and brutal honest about Noah's life, and how his ups and downs affect his parents, his sibling, and everyone he encounters in his life.
From broken legs at birth, to nearly dying (twice) to the little joys of hearing him say "Hi" to strangers wherever he goes, the book hopes that it inspires other parents with special needs kids, as well as offering a view to others who may judge a book by its cover instead of checking out the few pages.
Tara Woods Turner on Goodreads wrote:I'm the staff of the Autism Society in Massachusetts. I'm also a parent of an adult son with autism. One neglected area of the autism spectrum is those who have a dual diagnosis. In this case, Noah also has Downs. Therapies that work for one diagnosis do not necessarily work for the other one, compounding the struggles parents face. There is also a myth of support. In reality, parents are often left to flounder on their own. This book covers the journey Noah's parents take, fraught with set-backs, problems that don't solve easily, and small victories that mean everything. This book is honest, something that is too rare, and the picture that emerges is not one of those cute feel-good stories that show up in April. This book is about reality. For friends and family who know someone with a duel diagnosis, this book is a real eye-opener. It isn't easy to parent a child who requires so much. For professionals, this book will remind them that parenting goes well beyond an eight hour day. For parents--you're not alone. There are others out there you can reach out to who will make your journey easier by sharing their experiences. As for Noah, he is growing into a young man with a great smile, winning ways, and great parents who will help him to maximize his talents.
You don't have to be a parent of a child affected by Downs Syndrome or autism to get a lot out of this book. it is full of pain and reflection and somehow triumph and joy. I found myself saddened by any of Noah's setbacks and cheering at any of his achievements. It is rare that a book can pull you in so thoroughly. If I had to guess I would say that is because the author is an everyday dad dealing with an uncommon set of circumstances. I appreciated the fact that he was not always optimistic or a glass half full kind of father and writer. It made his story believable and relatable and that is something readers of all types can appreciate. In five years I will be waiting for the sequel!
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