Customer Reviews

A Different Kind of Kin: For Relatives of Persons with Autism

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The author of this book offers the reader a very personal view of autism from her vantage point as the older sister of an autistic child. The book, although quite small in size, comes up big as an informative guide, incorporating not only family photographs and resource lists, but also a peek into the fifties when the disorder was less common and often misdiagnosed.

From personal experience, the author shares the ups and downs, highs and lows, and the often stressful and chaotic lives of families where at least one member is autistic. It also illustrates the effects of the disorder on the other family members who are determined to deal with each day as it comes.

I would recommend this book to parents, siblings and relatives of autistic persons, not only as a resource guide, but also for the sharing of experiences about a disorder that requires a loving and supportive family network.

Rated: 4.5 stars

Amanda Richards, February 10, 2008

As faculty in a baccalaureate nursing program I found this book provided a different perspective for nursing students than "this is the disease, symptoms and treatment" typical of a nursing textbook. It offers a touching view inside a sister's heart and a poignant description of how the family is affected.

For nursing students this means helping them to easily "see" feelings that are sometimes difficult to query and then accurately interpret. This would be an excellent reading assignment for students in pediatrics and family oriented courses.

I enthusiastically encourage all faculty in Schools of Nursing to add this to their student's required reading lists.

Awesome book!!

Especially since it deals with her sister and as ABC noted in a piece this week, there is so little coverage of females with Autism. Most stories deal with males.

Chapter Ten also shows how far we have come when it comes to mental health issues, since in the past most children with Autism may have had parents who were told by doctors or teachers that the only place for the child was an institution or state hospital. One can only imagine what parents went thru when told to do something like this to a seven year old child which was the age of Jan the authors sister.

Pages 108-110 have some excellent suggestions for parents as well as the whole family. A must read book for anyone interested in Autism.

Especially those who have friends with a family member with autism because the authors firsthand experiences are like a great for helping you be a better friend to the family.

"A Different Kind of Kin" was a fascinating book, full of stories and insights into growing up with an autistic sibling. It helps those who grew up with a "different" sibling understand they are not alone, and also helps those who did not, understand some of the challenges faced by families with special needs children. It also contained many references and resources for families of autistic children that will be very helpful to many people, who might not be aware of just how much support and help there is available now. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is coping with an autistic family member and their friends.

The sepia cover with the altered family photo tips the reader off right away to the time period and family problems. The book takes you to the 1950s where you experience Annette Wood's childhood years as part of a Kansas farm family. The descriptions of home, school, church and family sound as familiar to me as Sunday dinner of chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy. That could have been my family and childhood she was describing. The difference is Annette's younger sister, Jan, grew up autistic. In the 50s, little was known of this problem and the family struggles with the special needs of such a child.
Annette faithfully chronicles her life, giving us a view into this earlier time. As the family seeks answers to Jan's increasingly disruptive behavior, Annette finds escape through reading. The topsy-turvy family life will strike a chord in anyone with a special needs sibling. The author touches on her own guilt feelings that she couldn't help her mother more and that eventually her sister was institutionalized.
In the latter part of the book, she interviews other families coping with similar situations. Boxed sections provide further information: tips, a list of books by autistic authors, a list of fiction and non-fiction books about autism, and information on research into autism. At the end the book includes an extensive bibliography on the subject and a list of websites.

A Different Kind of Kin was a poignant, insightful and nostalgic yet candid reading experience. The story of growing up with an autistic sibling at a time when autism was a mysterious, almost exotic, and little understood condition was compelling.

Wood's realistic portrayal of her experiences revealed the author's deep love for and appreciation of her sister. But she did not sugarcoat her story. Wood was courageously honest about the positive and negative feelings and effects, in both the short and long term, of her sister's autism. Those effects were portrayed from a personal perspective, that of the immediate and extended family, and the community.

"Kin" also offers support and hope in the form of resources for learning about and living with autism. The research is impressive and a valuable source for others to tap. I recommend reading this book to all, whether or not there is a person with autism in their life, as they will be enriched by the experience.

This is a touching, moving, compelling book, both a personal story and a resource for others. "A Different Kind of Kin" held my heart and attention. It is fresh, lovingly told, and honest. It offers a valuable glimpse into the topsy-turvy lives of families challenged with autism. It has enlarged my compassion for people grappling daily with how to live a 'normal' life when autism is part of it. Unless your family includes autism, you may not have a clue about this baffling condition, and since autism is inexplicably on the rise, more and more we will all be touched by it. I am glad I read this book, you will be too.

This memoir gives fascinating insight into the lives of people growing up with an autistic loved one. The author also shares many facts about autism, expertly woven together with her own real-life experiences and those of others in a format that made for entertaining and informative reading.

The list of available resources will be very helpful to families dealing with autism. I would recommend this book highly to friends and families of autistic persons.

This is such an important, moving book and so helpful to any sibling of someone with a disability. People often overlook how important a part a brother or sister plays in the family when there is a child with a disability like Annette's sister.

Mary McHugh Special Siblings: Growing Up With Someone with a Disability

"A Different Kind of Kin," is not only for "relatives of persons with autism." Annette Wood's book helps all of us understand the challenges presented when one lives with a person affected by autism. Annette lived with a sister who was autistic, interviewed others with similar experiences, and widely researched the subject. She inspires us with her story and the stories of others. She stirs our empathy on a personal level and awakens our awareness of society's need for greater understanding and research. Autism is a growing problem.