Temple Grandin Book Review by ChristineMM
Title: Temple Grandin: How the Girl Who Loved Cows Embraced Autism and Changed the World
By: Sy Mongomery
Genre: juvenile literature, nonfiction, grades 5-9
Publication: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, April 2012
My Star Rating: 5 stars out of 5
Summary Statement: Engaging – About Temple Grandin’s Life, About Inventing, About Autism and About Humane Treatment of Farm Animals
The publisher states this book is for kids in grades 5 through 9. Being a homeschooling mother I am a frequent reader of juvenile and young adult books. I have a personal interest in Autism and learning disabilities since people I am related to and others that I know have various diagnoses along the spectrum and/or learning disorders. I have read two of Grandin’s own books about her life and her visual thinking abilities have seen the HBO bio-drama and have read many books on Autism and learning disabilities.
I enjoyed the book and feel that it is well written. Montgomery writes in a non-patronizing tone and I felt the book was engaging. The book remains interesting by switching around from topic to topic. This is a complex topic as it seeks to not just tell the biography of Temple Grandin but it also serves to educate kids about some of the challenges and perceptions that people along the Autism Spectrum have. The book does not preach but somehow gently encourages readers to have empathy and respect for those who are not neuro-typical.
Although it was a short section, not to be missed was the message that what medical professionals in our society deems abnormal and gives a diagnosis label to are not always real problems, such as a mental health disorder diagnosis given to slaves who tried to escape was called “drapeomania” and also mentioning that for 3500 years our people were not reading text so something like dyslexia was non-existent!
Another message was clear: that often people with Autism have special gifts specifically because they DO have Autism, they have talents and gifts that some neuro-typical people wish they had. Grandin is quoted as saying if she had a choice she would not remove her Autism as it is what makes her who she is. Without her different sensory perception and without her visual thinking abilities she never would be able to have perceived what life for animals is like which led to her various inventions that helped farm animals have a more comfortable life and to be treated more humanely. There is a fair amount here also about inventing which will be of interest to even more readers.
This book has fairly large font and a fair amount of white space which will make it easy for younger readers to read. It has full color photographs which enhance the reading experience. There is resource section which provides websites and books to read to learn more about learning styles, Autism, Temple Grandin and animal rights.
I feel that Montgomery did an excellent job writing to the audience of readers in grades 5-9 to tell the story of Temple Grandin, some history of Autism diagnosis and treatment in America, and to show how someone who struggles with certain things in life was able to lead a happy life and to make a difference through her career and inventions. The reader cannot help but feel empathy and respect for people on the Autism Spectrum after reading this. This book will open the eyes of young readers.
Highly recommended reading for all kids, since Autism now affects 1 in 100 children and since children with Autism are mainstreamed by public schools, kids need to know something about what their peers are living with. Empathy is the first step toward enhancing tolerance and acceptance and to help reduce bullying.
Disclosure: I received an ARC of this book from the Amazon.com Vine program for the purpose of reviewing it for their website. I was under no obligation to review it favorably or to review it on my blog. For my blog’s full disclosure statement see the link near the top of my blog’s sidebar.