2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Soars!, December 2, 2004
This review is from: The Flight of a Dove (Hardcover)
When Betsy, then 3 is first enrolled in school, she is autistic and nonverbal. Betsy's mother said that Betsy developed and spoke within normal limits until she was a year old.
Betsy's behavior fits the classic profile of Infantile Autism. She "self-stims" by rocking, squinting and engaging in other singular motor activities; she does not speak nor interact with anybody. School personnel tell the girl's mother that they can make no promises and will do what they can to help Betsy adopt more socially appropriate behaviors and self help skills.
Brownie, a male beagle mix and a dove are the ones who catch Betsy's attention. She is first captivated by the dove and by watching this free bird, she begins exploring her surroundings and interacting in small increments. She initially ignored Brownie, but he was determined to get her to play with him. In time, she befriends the lovable hound.
The only thing I didn't like in this book was when the author described autism as "a cold gray autistic world." Not necessarily. That neurotypical misperception cost this book one star. For a person with autism, the world is not necessarily bleak. Autism is a neurobiological condition that impedes communication and social skills to varying degrees, based upon the individual.
By the book's end, Betsy finds her way of soaring. To the author's credit, Betsy is not miraculously cured.
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1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
The Flight of a Dove did not impress this parent, November 25, 2005
This review is from: The Flight of a Dove (Hardcover)
Consisting of twenty-seven pages in a tall picture book with pastel illustrations, The Flight of a Dove is too complex for children to really comprehend. Autism is not this simplistic and will give families unrealistic expectations.
The Flight of a Dove follows a little girl known as Betsy to Green Meadows School where the head teacher is Mrs. Bouvier. There are various snipets on the pages showing Betsy isolated in her own world, usually sitting in a corner. Her mother Jeanne explains how Betsy does not eat solid food, makes hissing and clicking sounds while sitting still for hours.
Sometimes the illustrations show Betsy's eyes closed, her hands stiff by her side or clenched fists. Sometimes she is even barefooted. Her condition is mentioned as being extreme. Eventually over time Betsy would eat crackers while at Green Meadows School and play with blocks. Betsy made the same patterns with cards and when the teacher would turn away she would change the patterns.
The Flight of a Dove seemed to jump around a bit without any explanation of why Betsy preferred to do things a certain way, and how this is typical of children on the Autism Spectrum. Children with autism play the same way with their toys, lining items up or sorting in a particular sequence. One illustration has the teacher's one-year old daughter babbling beside Betsy as the baby tried to get closer. Finally someone removed the baby, but why was a teacher's baby at the school in the first place? This seemed a bit bizarre to me with no rhyme or reason.
The Flight of a Dove introduces the resident animals - a cat, two rabbits and a parrot. The animals were popular with the other children, but clearly Betsy was uncomfortable around these animals. Seasons changed with Betsy now being at the school for one year.
Up to this point nowhere in the book does the reader see this knowledge they supposedly have, there is no discussion of Doctors, visits with therapists or really understanding and patience. Instead they are pushing a baby into the girl's space and bringing animals around her when she is visible upset by the changes taking place.
Another day Betsy seems to be the only one in a classroom with a teacher and kissing the Dove. Then Betsy started allowing the other animals to close to her and she became involved with the other children in games that meant dancing and holding hands with other children and the teacher.
I am really not sure who the targeted audience is for and feel the book takes us back to the dark ages in keeping quiet about autism. The author has no experience with autism and makes it seem very easy to overcome and magical at that.
I personaly would not want classmates of either of my children to peruse through this book and think this is what my children are like. Readers with knowledge of autism will know that Betsy depicts traits of autism, yet it is not mentioned within the pages of the book.
The illustations showcase the isolation at first in the darker colors and stillness at the school. Yet once the dove enters the classroom the vibrant colors take over. Even the clothing on Betsy seems to be more appropriate as she enjoys the classroom more.
This is a book I would not purchase as the parent of two children on the Autism Spectrum. The cover of the book rubs me the wrong way, as well as how the girl says Mommy at the end. This book could really depress parents when they find that this is not the norm with children on the Autism Spectrum and create false hope.
Clearly not a book for families who just received a diagnosis of autism. Use caution when sharing with children who might have siblings and/or relatives on the Spectrum and wonder why their family member does not respond magically like Betsy did.
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