Customer Reviews

When Snow Turns to Rain: One Family's Struggle to Solve the Riddle of Autism

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Shortly after reading "When Snow Turns to Rain", I had the privilege and pleasure of meeting Craig Schulze and his autistic son Jordan, and my respect and admiration for Craig grew even further. I am the mother of an autistic 12-year old, and have experienced many of the same wild hopes and crushing disappointments that Craig describes so well in his book. I found this book extremely well written, informative, and inspiring. It certainly describes the bizarre and sometimes frightening behaviors of some children with autism in vivid detail. What I want to know is, how did Craig find the time to keep a journal and write down all this as it was happening? I have trouble keeping track of my son's current-year IEP (individualized education plan)! I do have to caution, however, that some people may be saddened and depressed (my mother, for one). There is no "happy ending"; Jordan's autism is not cured, and he doesn't develop a fantastic savant skill that somehow balance things out. But Jordan is a real person, who is loved fiercely and well. His story deserves to be told, and is told well, in "When Snow Turns to Rain."

A painfully honest, witty and intelligent account of the author's son Jordan, who developed symptoms of autism after several years of apparently normal development (a rare pattern somtimes known as Childhood Disintegrative Disorder).

The book chronicles Jordan's development, regression and diagnosis, and his parents' desperate search for a cure as they struggle to come to terms with their son's condition. In contrast to some other popular accounts of autism, the book tells the story of a child for whom no treatment produces a "miracle cure" or "amazing recovery" (in other words, a child typical of the overwhelming majority of those with autism). Some treatments or methods of education seem to help; others are ineffective; none produce a "cure". At the book's end, life goes on, though radically altered.

A further account of Jordan's life features in "When Autism Strikes: Families Cope with Childhood Disintegrative Disorder" edited by Robert A. Catalano.

After years of reading book after book, article after article, website after website--combing the earth for remedies for our son's autism, I came across this book. In contrast to all the others, this one offered no imperatives, no miracle cures. It merely said, "you are not alone" as it described my very own feelings about the emotional roller coaster that is autism. If I had the incredible insight and writing talent that Craig Schulze pours into this book, I would have written it myself. I don't, so I'm glad that he did.

This book is an absolutely heart rending description of a comparatively rare form of autism involving degeneration. Craig Schulze captures one of the most painful experiences that a parent can go through, and encourages parents to remember that a parent's love and understanding are the most important parts of any therapy. Also, the book provides a useful foil to the raft of miracle cure books that are flooding the market; sometimes kids with Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD) do not recover, but parents need to be prepared for this. However, I would caution parents who, like me, decide to pick up the book after learning that their child has problems that fit under the PDD category. I initially worried that, like Jordan, my child would slowly slide away from me since so many of his symptoms sounded familiar. After further reading, I learned that the type of degenerative disorder described here is not typical of PDD, and that many parents do find some success with the methods described in the book. It does prevent a moving account of a worst case scenario, but approach with caution and remember that there is often hope.

Jordan Schulze, born in May of 1982 developed normally within the first nearly 2 years of his life. By age 2, he was speaking in sentences. However, that train was about to become derailed.

This slim, power-packed book follows Jordan's development alongside that of his sister Leslie, who was born in 1985. The Jill and Craig Schulze desperately seek a cure at best and acceptance into a good program at worst for Jordan. Their efforts lead them to Japan, where in 1986 Jordan was enrolled in the Higashi School. The school is well-known for the work done with children with autism. Jordan spends 2 years there before being enrolled in the school's Boston branch. The Schultzes in effect have separated in that Jill remains in their original home with Leslie and Craig and Jordan live in Boston so Jordan can attend the school.

This, like the Josh Greenfeld "Noah" trilogy and his son Karl Greenfeld's masterpiece "Boy Alone" is wonderfully brutally honest. You don't get sacrificial martyrs who are portrayed as being above feeling hurt, angry, sorrowful and despairing. You don't get a false account of a fantasy image being presened through rose colored glasses. Instead you get in your face reality, a book everyone can relate to. You get the real deal.

"Listen to the rhythm of the falling rain
Telling me just what a fool I've been." -- Cascades, 1963

These lyrics from "Listen to the Rhythm of the Falling Rain" sums up how many people feel when they run across these noble, self-sacrificing, seeking plaudits for martyrdom accounts, such as the Killilea books about Karen. It is neither foolish nor wrong to admit to being human and not superhuman. Nobody can rise above all negative feelings and be able to handle everything in a laudable way. Books like Schulze's are vital as they not only validate the experience of families struggling with autism; they are books that provide a voice of comfort to those who can readily recognize and identify with the feelings and experiences.

Jordan, now a grown man still copes with having severe autism. Readers can check in with him in an "addendum" or update in When Autism Strikes"When Autism Strikes: Families Cope with Childhood Disintegrative Disorder" edited by Robert A. Catalano.

In addition to the "Noah" trilogy and Karl Greenfeld's book, you will also want to read All I Can Handle: I'm No Mother Teresa: A Life Raising Three Daughters with Autism [Hardcover] and Shut Up About...Your Perfect Kid! (Shut Up About. . .).

Thank you for a realistic view of our experiences with autism. I share this same journey with the author and when I hear of a child recovering from autism, although I am delighted for the family and the child, I can't help but wonder "what am I doing wrong?" This book made me realize that I am doing nothing wrong, and my child was placed in my care to teach ME. And he does every day.
God bless all of these parents and their children. The author took the time to tell a realistic story that many of us are too exhausted or overwhelmed to share. After years of introspection I can honestly say I would not change ANYTHING. My son is unique and he has gifts that are important to the world. My perception has changed over the years and my happy ending is every night when I tuck him safely to sleep. I have not given up on hope, I have just released what I thought were my hopes and began to accept and embrace the perfection that is him.