George & Sam: Two Boys, One Family, and Autism

by Charlotte Moore and Charlotte Moore

Book Overview

"Brilliant...the first book about autism I've read that I'd recommend to people who wanted to know what it was like."
-Nick Hornby, author of About a Boy and A Long Way Down

For the parents, families, and friends of the 1 in 250 autistic children born annually in the United States, George and Sam provides a unique look into the life of the autistic child.

Charlotte Moore has three children, George, Sam, and Jake...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312374240
• ISBN13: 9780312374242
• Release Date: November 2007
• Publisher: St. Martins Press-3PL
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 0.72 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.4" x 8.4"

Customer Reviews

A great autism memoir

I read this book because Nick Hornby recommended it in his book, "The Polyphonic Spree." (By the way, Hornby's novel, "How to be Good," though not about autism, is an entertaining read). Hornby has a son affected by autism, so he has insight into the subject. I don't agree with everything Moore writes, but I found this memoir to be very real and moving. She discusses the CF GF diet, but isn't a zealot about it, which I appreciated. She uses ABA, whereas we use Floortime in our family. She's anti-inclusion, whereas my son attends a school with an inclusion program. This book shows what it's like to live with autism. The author has a sense of humor, which makes it readable. I could identify with her gradual awakening to the fact that something was wrong. I appreciated her worries about what will happen to her boys after she's gone. Moore says her sons are "autistic through and through," which is to say, there are not "normal" boys inside, struggling to get out. I think this is an important view to have represented, because there are a lot of miraculous recovery stories out there, and the truth is that sometimes, recovery doesn't happen. Recovery makes for a more dramatic story, and probably sells more books. But there's a place for truthful accounts like this, too. I resonated with it.

An absolutely wonderful book---Made me laugh and cry with recognition!

I want to thank Charlotte Moore from the bottom of my heart for writing this wonderful book about her two sons with autism. I have read many, many accounts of life with autistic children, and never have I read one I loved this much. I loved it because Moore accepts her children, finds them lovable and fascinating just the way they are, but that doesn't mean she doesn't do all she can to help them. She just isn't doing it to find a "cure". She doesn't waste time worrying about why---why autism struck her twice, what caused it. She doesn't cast blame or ask for sympathy---she just describes, and does it so well! I've never read another account about how hard Christmas is for children on the autistic spectrum. My son has Aspergers Syndrome, and is quite high functioning, but Christmas has always been a nightmare for him, for just the reasons this book talks about---surprise presents that bring with them an expectation of a certain social response are not his idea of fun! I've taken to telling him in advance exactly what we will give him. I also was struck by Moore's writing about imagination and autism. It's not that kids with autism don't have an imaginary life---it's just that it's a lot like their real life---not much social content. My son has a whole imaginary world, and has for many years. You would think it would be interesting to hear about, but it's not---mostly he tells me about things like the population density there, the major imports and exports, the state of the transportation system---the same things that interest him in the real world! I hope Moore writes more books about her sons. I would love to hear more about them as they grow up. I also hope that anyone who loves someone on the autistic spectrum will read this book, and learn from it. I know that even after 12 years of hands-on experience with my son, I learned a lot here. Thank you again, and all my best wishes to your family, Charlotte!

I understand

As a mother of two sons with Autism I thought I had read all that I could on the subject. Charlotte Moore however has produced a book that I would have loved to have written myself. She does not dwell on cures and pity for her situation ,but gives a gritty un apologetic account of the life of her family. We often hear about cures and programs for improvement, ms moore however tells it how it is. I love my children where ever they may be in their development ,. Often things i read on Autism have made me feel inadequate , not so in this case. Ms moore brought out her sons beauty and fun side aswell as making no apology for the stress and sometimes peculiar ways that families effected by this dis order learn to cope. Well done from one "auty " mum to another . i have reccomended this book to family , friends and professinals.

A fast read, very exciting and educational

My daughter read this book for a class, and she loved it. She actually ended up wanting another book on a child raised with Autism after reading this one. She said that this book was such a fast read for her, written in basic everyday language, making Autism easy to understand. The way the mother in this book describes her everyday troubles and joys raising two boys with autism was so interesting to read. A definite must read for anyone interested in autism or raising someone with autism.

Compelling reading

My children are "neurotypical" and don't have autism. I do have friends and aquaintances who deal with many of the issues she discusses. I found this book to be a fascinating look inside one family's life. I found myself wondering more about her ex-husband and his involvement with the children. Apparently he does care for them on weekends, etc. but she clearly made a decision to leave him out of the book. Her life sounds difficult and yet she finds much joy in her sons. I'm not personally connected to any of the debates about autism's causes or treatments. The author struck me as someone who is open to options for care but is most interested in results. I liked her a lot and wish her well.