The Siege: A Family's Journey Into the World of an Autistic Child [Paperback]

Clara Claiborne Park (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 30, 1982

This classic work tells the tale of how a devoted mother accomplished miracles in fostering the intellectual, social and emotional development of her autistic daughter.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Clara Claiborne Park is the author of several books. She has recently retired from the English Department of Williams College, and is a prominent speaker about autism. Her account of her daughter's life with autism continues with EXITING NIRVANA.

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Back Bay Books (June 30, 1982)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316690694
• ISBN-13: 978-0316690690
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 1 x 8.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #399,581 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is an excellent account written by a parent, February 23, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Siege: A Family's Journey Into the World of an Autistic Child (Paperback)

Clara Claiborne had a child with autism born in 1958. In those days autism was considered a purely psychological disorder due to poor parenting. Clara had the sense to reject this dogma and help her child even though the professionals at the time could not do anything for her. This was before the IDEA and other government supports. This book is remarkable for its time and will always be a classic. It totally blows away the garbage spewed out by Bruno Bettelheim and the likes.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A book about autism that is about more than the condition., March 5, 1998

By 

H. Williams "Greylock reader" (Williamstown, Massachusetts) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Siege: A Family's Journey Into the World of an Autistic Child (Paperback)

In her account of the formative years of her autistic daughter, Clara Park gives a beautifully observed and written description of how dealing with a deficit can bring enlightenment as well as pain, satisfaction as well as struggle. Although the book is very useful for those who have or work with an autistic child, it should not be pigeonholed - the writing and the quality of observation and reflection that characterize the book make it deserving of a far wider audience. Read it.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pioneers Blazing New Trails!, September 21, 2005

By 

BeatleBangs1964 (United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Siege: A Family's Journey Into the World of an Autistic Child (Paperback)

In 1957 when Jessy Park was born (called "Elly" in this book, but later identified by her mother in the sequel "Exiting Nirvana"), very little was known about autism. Elly/Jessy presented behavior that Kanner described more than a decade earlier (1943) when he first coined the term "autism."

Elly/Jessy was largely nonverbal for much of her childhood and had difficulty connecting names to people. She loved mathematics and could do complex equations and recognized many polygons. She developed a fascination for counting that has since stayed with her. In 1961, Elly/Jessy then nearly 4 was formally diagnosed with autism. She was enrolled in special needs programs and made progress. She also as is noted in "Exiting Nirvana" proved to be a very talented artist.

This is an excellent book that chronicles in minute detail autistic behavior and a family's love and acceptance. Elly/Jessy's three older siblings love her unconditionally as do their parents. Theirs is an intellectual family whose literary pursuits are quite evident throughout this account. It is one of the best early personal accounts of autism in a family.

What makes this book unique is that when it was published, it rightfully challenged the parent blaming routine that was the order of the day. Elly/Jessy had three neurotypical (NT) siblings which automatically flies in the face of the disproven and completely asinine parent blaming. At no time was she neglected. She was loved, nurtured, encouraged and accepted.

Her special interests in counting and polygons are recognized as an asset, an ability. Fortunately, she is not charged with "perseverating," a harmful and damning word that has caused more harm than it ever helped. It is an extremely judgmental, negative and destructive word in any tense that is best avoided. At no time is that harmful word ever applied to the NT population and the behavior is not limited to the autistic population either. That word is best replaced with "special interests," "repetitive verbalizations / behaviors" which are more accurate and also speak to tolerance whereas "perseverate" simply does not.

The book closes with Elly/Jessy at age 8, making progress in her way and at her speed. She and her mother have blazed new trails that continue to weave throughtout autism awareness and acceptance today.