Customer Reviews

Sibling Stories: Reflections on Life with a Brother or Sister on the Autism Spectrum

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In this book Lynn Feiges paints a realistic, devastating yet ultimately optimistic approach to coping with having a sibling on the Autism spectrum. In any time of crisis, one needs a friend who can empathize and share their common experiences. Feiges provides us with 20 such individuals who provide honest, (sometimes brutally so), voices with insights to various components of coping with a sibling on the Autism spectrum. The result is a compelling combination of narrative and first person interviews. A book that is both a reference source and a poignant portrait, Feiges provides compassion, realism and hope to anyone who is a sibling to an individual with a lifelong disability.

There seem to be few books that focus solely on the siblings of learning disabled children. I think this book would be very reaffirming for families with autistic children and could encourage discussion on difficult family issues. I also think that this book would be helpful to parents of children without learning disabilities. As a parent with 2 non-learning disabled children, I read this book to better understand sibling relationships in general. Many of those interviewed shared so much of their pain and joy. I found it very compelling and insightful. I could not put it down and read it in one evening. I really felt like I had met these people.

Sibling Stories is an excellent compilation of information. It provides families and friends with invaluable resources including organizations and associations as well as a broad range of emotional perspectives that so many readers can relate to. The interviews are poignant and honest. As a sibling of a sister with a disability, I recognized myself in so many of the siblings interviewed in this book. Although Sibling Stories is about ASD, it is appropriate for any family member that has a sibling or child with a disability. This book is rich in content and emotion - a book to always keep readily available on your bookshelf!