Book Review: Following Ezra

From the Gurian Institute Website

When Tom Fields-Meyer’s son Ezra was a toddler and showing early signs of autism, a therapist suggested that the father allow himself time to mourn. “For what?” he asked. The answer: “For the child he didn’t turn out to be.”

That moment helped strengthen the author’s resolve to do just the opposite: to celebrate the child Ezra was becoming, a singular boy with a fascinating and complex mind. Full of unexpected laughs, poignant moments and remarkable insights, Following Ezra is the riveting story of a father and son on a ten-year adventure, from Ezra’s diagnosis to the dawn of his adolescence. An engaging account of a father gradually uncovering layers of a puzzle, it rejoices in each new discovery and exults in the boy’s evolution from a remote toddler to an extraordinary young man, connected to the world in his own astounding ways.

Starting with the earliest indications that his son’s mind worked in unique and fascinating ways, the father describes in detail the challenges of autism, as well as his son’s often astonishing traits: his astounding memory, his deep connection with dogs and other animals, his obsessions with animated movies and breakfast cereals. He also reveals, with sensitivity and heart, the complexities of raising such a child within a family.

Unlike other parenting memoirs, Following Ezra isn’t about a battle against a disease, nor is it a clinical account of searching for doctors, therapies or miracle diets. Instead, Fields-Meyer describes—with humor and tenderness—the wondrous, textured, and often surprising life one experiences in raising a unique child. It’s a worthwhile and poignant read that will inspire parents to listen to, follow and celebrate their own children.

To link to the Gurian Institute website, click HERE
For more information about the book, click HERE