Customer Reviews

Souls: Beneath & Beyond Autism

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This insightful book reaches beyond the silence of autistic children in an attempt to make people realize that beneath the autism is a TRUE SOUL. Beyond the silences are the emotions we as parents KNOW are there. The photographs and essays touch us and validates all that we know exists in our children. The book speaks from a common heart with an insightfulness that is moving. Many families will relate to the emotion evoked by this powerful book as it mirrors our own experiences, not in the details, but in the love and fear the diagnosis can bring and the JOY of each success. This book is a wonderful, touching, and powerful part of our "library"! It will reach anyone whose life has been touched by the love of an autistic child!

This beautifully written book puts into words the feelings that I have trouble expressing. I am the mother of a precious 7 year old boy who is autistic. My tears flowed freely as I sat and read each thought in this book. How could someone I don't even know capture the feelings that I have? I would recommend this book for parents of autistic children as well as their friends and relatives. It expresses our emotions, dreams and realities.

This book had me weeping, smiling and remembering our first days, months and years with the beast known as Autism.
I highly recommend this book to anyone that wants to understand Autism and it's effects on the children that are affected, and the parents that live with this 24/7.

Having heard Sharon Rosenbloom speak professionally on the subject of autism, I expected Souls to be as unique and hopeful as her message. I was not disappointed. As a teacher who has worked with children and young people with autism, I was impressed by Soul's ability to capture both the complexity of autism and the simplicity of pure human emotion. I bought the book a few days ago, and enjoyed thumbing through it, admiring the beautiful, clear portraits while I glanced at the text headings and selected phrases. It wasn't until I sat and read the book in its entirety, cover-to-cover, that I was moved to tears. The combination of personal story, informative narrative and photos that capture the personality of their subjects make this an excellent book for those seeking to get beyond the hype of autism and into the real people who not only live with the diagnosis day to day, but thrive in spite of it.

Anyone who is searching for insight into the world of an autistic child and their parents MUST read this book. It's one of the most beautifully written perspectives on one of life's very hard journeys I've ever read.

The photography can actually stand alone in it's brilliance. Autistic children are difficult to photograph -- but Balsamo accomplished a beautiful and amazing glimpse into these children's eyes. The words bring clarity, understanding, tears, and endearment.

I cried when I first viewed this book in one of my child's doctor's offices and knew I had to own it. Anyone who has an autistic child will understand and those who don't will be able to get a sense of what living in dual worlds is like for both.

This book is fabulous! I would love to carry a copy around to distribute to all people who ask me, "What is autism?" The book explains autism by focusing on the wonderful person, rather than the "label." It answers questions based on how wonderful each individual person is and not how they are "different" from everyone else.

My favorite part was when it talked about relationships and how each relationship is to be treasured. I teach four wonderful, dynamic, and fabulous individuals who enlighten my life daily. I feel fortunate to be able to call each of them my friend.

The references to the "victory dances" was also another favorite part. We call them "Happy dances" at my school. Walk by the classroom and you are sure to see a teacher or student happy dancing all around!

The most important thing that I took away from the book is a comforted feeling that there are more people out in the world like the dedicated teachers at my school. It is sometimes a hard struggle to educate the world about autism and it is comforting to know there are people all around who believe in how wonderful our kids are. To those of you on behalf of my four guys and all those lifes that have been touched by you, thank you for all that you do. I don't have to say, "keep up the good work", because we all know that there is nothing that we would not do to help our friends out.

This book was enchanting! The text contained universal truths that resonate with anyone living with a handicapped child, not just a child with autism. When we look for the godliness in others, we immeasurably enrich our lives. In fact, the truths learned and promoted can be applied to everyone: that each child is imbued with dignity and that each of us reflects God. Bravo!

In the great green room sat a child looking out the back window. An autistic child looking out across the distant horizon. Will she ever understand what lies before her? The sights the sounds the spirituality of it all?

This book portrays autism. Profoundly personally. From the deep dark inside out. Compelling photography a passionate text connects us to the shades of autism. The collective experiences herein describe in beautiful prose a journey through hope, despair, pain and resurrection.
The selfish character of autism.
The typical one way relationships.
Eyes which focus half way.
Broken bicycles.
Slow clocks.
Lukewarm water.
Twilight falls and we find ourselves again in darkness.
In our sleep we dream of colors.

And woven throughout, this project brings forth beautiful witnesses to the power of God's grace. And lights the way to redemtion with love.

Hands down without doubt this is the best book to bring YOU into that beneath the surface, into the drowning existence of autism.

Anyone who is searching for insight into the world of an autistic child and their parents MUST read this book. It's one of the most beautifully written perspectives on one of life's very hard journeys I've ever read.

The photography can actually stand alone in it's brilliance. Autistic children are difficult to photograph -- but Balsamo accomplished a beautiful and amazing glimpse into these children's eyes. The words bring clarity, understanding, tears, and endearment.