Customer Reviews

Rex: A Mother, Her Autistic Child, and the Music that Transformed Their Lives

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3 star:		(1)
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"Rex", by Cathleen Lewis, is the remarkable testimony of what a mother's love, determination and faith can accomplish in spite of overwhelming challenges. This inspiring story, infused with pure grit juxtaposed with artistic prose, is a beautiful book about a remarkable child with an amazing gift to share. Read it and pass it on. A perfect Christmas gift in the spirit of love!!!

I just finished "Rex" by Cathleen Lewis, about a mothers complete devotion to her child who was diagnosed with a large brain cyst at birth then 6 months later with blindness due to an underdeveloped optic nerve. It is so completely moving and keeps you right in the moment with both of them. The transformations that occur in their lives are charged with so many emotions, which are expertly conveyed by the writer. With every small success Rex has, a new roadblock seems to be thrown down. To say it is inspirational is a tremendous understatement. This is a fantastic book for anyone to read. Enjoy!

This is the story of the transforming power of love, specifically a mother's love for her child. It is the story of the awesome gift of music and its healing power. It is the story of rediscovered faith with all of the strength and hope that only faith can offer. Cathleen's son has autism and is blind. She tells her story of overcoming tremendous odds to reach her son and help him overcome so many of his hardships through his gift of music. I cried but also felt tremendous joy. This book will touch your heart.

I recently finished the book Rex by Cathleen Lewis. I thought this was an excellent book about an amazing story. Rex is a boy that was born with an unfortunate variety of problems that left him blind, and incredibly sensitive to both sound and light. The amazing thing is that through all this, Rex has become an incredible piano virtuoso and can play pretty much anything after hearing it only a few times. You may have seen Rex and him mom Cathleen interviewed on 60 minutes in the last few months. I think that part of the story that is even more amazing than Rex's story is the life changes his mom goes through as Rex is born and grows up. The book is written by Cathleen Lewis, Rex's mom, and so there is a lot of insight into her struggles as a mother that wants nothing but the best for her child and has to come to terms with the fact that her son is not going to be like all the other kids. Another great aspect is the spiritual journey that Cathleen goes through; the anger and arguments with God, the pleading and reasoning, and then realization that God was still going to use Rex for amazing things, just not the same things that she originally expected.

Overall, this was an excellent book about a very true story, and I would highly recommend it.

Cathleen Lewis tells a truly remarkable story of motherly love coupled with faith and steely determination. This well-written book is a page turner, you simply can't put it down as you travel with her through the depths of the challenges and the highs of the victories as they unfold. To me it was the story of both hope as well as an account of what patience, love and determination can bring to the life of a child who otherwise might never have blossomed. Bravo to Cathleen Lewis!

I worked with special needs children for six years and I can tell you right now that it was never a picnic. Taking care of the children can be absolutely painstaking, but when you see the random glimmer of a smile or hope spread across their face, it all seems worth it. This was the background I had coming into Rex, and now, seeing it from the perspective of a parent, I was touched. Imagining the heartache of discovering your child is blind, only to find out later he's also autistic... my God. Questioning God, as Lewis did, would likely be the first thing I would do and possible the last time I would ever consider God again.

But their journey is far from over, and the promising effect Rex had on other children, special needs and not, was so thrilling. Yet, while the story was amazing, Lewis' writing was simply average, nothing too outstanding. She can hold her own against young authors, with some basic, yet sublime, imagery, but I doubt I would buy another novel from her. This is the story of Rex, however, and it is one definitely worth reading, especially for the millions of parents who have to power through a traumatic event similar to that of Lewis.

Reading Rex introduced me to autism, a subject I had never contemplated before, and I embraced the experience. Told by a gifted storyteller and mother, this tale encompasses compassion, courage, valor, and sheer holding on for both mother and child. They share a mutual experience that grows richer for the telling, and their gift to all of us has the makings of a classic.

Some places I wept; at other times I celebrated, as these individuals melded together for Rex's good. Lewis' faith remained, her courage didn't flag, her encouragers supported their needs, and somehow the money flowed for the inevitable journey that thrust itself upon these two indomitable individuals.

You may not enjoy this book in the usual sense, but your heart and mind will remain captivated long after you read the last page. As I said, a classic has been forged within the book's pages.


Reviewed by Audrey Hebbert, M.A., author of Green Light Red Light

I read this book in about 5 hours taking two days. I found it to be a very interesting book and I enjoyed reading it. I didn't agree with a few things Cathleen did, but then I haven't walked in her shoes either with a boy that requires 24/7 care.

As an older mother, Cathleen had an adorable baby boy, Rex, who was born with a cyst in his brain. Then, when Rex was six months old, his parents learned he was blind. After another surgery, at the age of 1 year, to put a tube into the brain cyst, Rex became quite different and Cathleen learned he was autistic (until the surgery, he had seemed to be a normal blind child--right after the surgery, he became autistic. Did the surgery cause the autism, or was it a coincidence? That seemed to never be addressed). Then when Rex was two, his Dad left the family, so Cathleen became a single mom with lots of problems to cope with. HOWEVER, I consider that Rex was pretty lucky, as his mother was able to take full time care of him. She noticed that music calmed him, and then later found out that he could just hear a piece of music, and play it on a small piano. The became his way of communicating with people and learning things at school. In the meantime, Cathleen learned that God is always there but doesn't always answer the way we want him to--she changed her outlook on religion completely.

This was, to me, a fastinating book partly because I have always been interested in genius savants. It seems amazing what they can do--way beyond the normal. This account of Rex goes from just before he was born to when he was about the age of 12. If possible, I would like to know how much he develops past this age and what his life is like as a young adult.

I loved this book! A TRUE story of a mother's unconditional love for her child. I loved reading when Rex made another mile stone.

This book shows what a mother can do to make the life of her child better.

I was a little upset that it didn't seem that Rex's father wasn't in the picture more. I think he should have been there cheering Rex on also.

I absolutely loved this book! I found Rex's story to be fascinating and encouraging for parents who have children with Autism. Rex is a musical savant with God given talents. This book is definitely worth your time, and will keep you reeled in from one page to the next!