Overall, the group liked the book–some more than others. We all agreed the author did a wonderful job letting us into the mind of an autistic boy and we found the perspective fascinating.
Some highlights:
- The ending was believable and satisfying, given the situation. Add it to our Sad Book Pile.
- Most of us sympathized with both parents and the strain they were both under. Some thought they could have handled it better, such as not abandoning one’s child, not killing a dog, etc.
- The illustrations and graphs added a lot to the story and helped show how Christopher’s brain works.
- Compared Asperger’s Syndrome to autism.
- Jacquie had just seen Temple Grandin in person! Temple said she is often frustrated by how many kids with autism don’t ever realize their full potential. Some use their label or diagnosis as a crutch.
- It was easier for Christopher to forgive his mother over his father. His view is very logical, black and white. Dad killed dog=Dad will kill me.
- We wondered why the father kept the letters from Christopher’s mother.
- It was interesting (and disturbing to some) that Christopher’s favorite dream was to never be around anyone, yet he loved animals so much, especially Toby. Animals much simpler creatures, easier to read than humans?
- Exhausting for those with autism to try and decipher emotions, sarcasm, etc.
- To Christopher, home was somewhere familiar with all his things, rather than a place representative of love.
- The Life Skills course and others like it at Christopher’s school sounded great and something that should regularly be taught in our schools in the U.S.
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