Autism, the Invisible Cord - by Barbara S Cain (Paperback)

About the Book

Meet Jenny -- a teen who confides in her diary about what it is like to live with Ezra, her younger brother with autism.

Book Synopsis

Jenny shares her tell-all story about life with Ezra, her "exasperating, infuriating, absolutely amazing, and autistic younger brother."

If living with Ezra weren't hard enough, Jenny must deal with school bullies, rude classmates, and fragile friendships. But with the promise of a summer writing program and an Ezra-inspired project, Jenny finds the courage to be more than just "Ezra's sister, protector, defender, and his best and only friend," and loosens the invisible cord just enough to follow her own dreams.

Includes a Note to Readers.

Review Quotes

"Cain does an even job of addressing difficult topics while still providing an enjoyable read. The story is told through Jenny's diary entries, giving readers insight into her life and personality....Readers interested in realistic fiction, books about bullying, and character-driven stories will enjoy this steadily paced novel."--School Library Journal

"With so much focus on the scientific mysteries surrounding autism spectrum disorders (ASD), it is possible to lose sight of the struggles faced by families of individuals with ASD on a daily basis. Cain brings these experiences to life and reminds us that for many families, the mysteries of the disorder are far less academic. Questions about how and when to discipline, handling inter-generational conflict with grandparents, and dealing with the complexities of raising a typically developing child alongside a child with a disability, are just some of the issues these parents confront everyday. More importantly, Cain reminds us that the experience of living with a child with ASD is not limited to parents; siblings are at the forefront of each challenge and every triumph, and they are profoundly affected as a result."--Somer Bishop, PhD, Assistant Professor, Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center

"With an exquisite ear for language and heartfelt empathy, Barbara Cain has captured the psychological essence of an adolescent sibling`s experience with autism. Offering a perspective not previously seen in the literature, this engaging narrative will not only be useful for professionals who work with families impacted by autism, it will have great popular appeal for both general and young adult audiences."--Jane Giddan, MA, CCC-SLP, Professor Emerita, Dept. of Psychiatry, University of Toledo Health Sciences Center; Creator of Autismnet.net; 1996 Professor of the Year, Autism Society of Northwest Ohio

"I read the book in an hour, and all I can say is, what a delight! It's a sweet and gentle account of Jenny and her life with Ezra, her autistic brother. There's not a trace of victimization in the book and indeed I recommend it highly to anyone who has a sibling living with autism in their life."--Look Me in the Eye

"Cain has created an engaging character in Jenny who shares the daily complexities of her life with Ezra -- the frustration, embarrassment, worry, joy and hurt. Cain writes with great sensitivity and authenticity. I highly recommend this book for kids who have a sibling with autism, and for their parents. This is also a good middle grade read in the classroom."--Children's Books Heal

About the Author

Barbara Cain, MSW, is a clinical supervisor at the University of Michigan's Psychological Clinic. Cain is also the author of several children's books on divorce, ambivalence, shyness, and diverse family structures, including two Magination Press books: Double Dip Feelings: Stories to Help Children Understand Emotions and I Don't Know Why...I Guess I'm Shy. Her writing has appeared in the New York Times Magazine, the Christian Science Monitor, and Teen magazine. She also conducts a private practice in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Visit her at http: //siblings-of-autism.com/ and follow her on Facebook: @BarbaraSCain and Twitter: @BarbaraSCain.