Book Review: I Am In Here by Elizabeth M. Bonker & Virginia G. Breen

Autism.  Most of you who know me know that this is a passion of mine.  I work with many children with autism and am a firm believer that they can do most anything any other person can do.  All that's needed is a little adaptation to help them find their voice and for them to express themselves.  For many, music is a voice for them.  For others, it's poetry, nature, etc.  For Elizabeth, it's poetry.

Elizabeth and her mom co-write this book, which is filled with poetry written by Elizabeth.  Her poetry offers insight into the world of autism that many of us don't get to hear about.  She is a non-verbal girl, but when she gets her letter board, she's an open book.  She shares about how she hates when people stare at her and she wishes people wouldn't.  She talks about how people look at her when her body does things, and she wishes she could stop it but she can't.  She wishes people would respect her and treat her as smart.  (By the way, she has quite an impressive IQ!) 

Elizabeth's mom writes in between Elizabeth's poetry and shares things from her mother's heart.  You can see the persistence in which she has fought for her daughter and the guilt that she has in her heart that she wants to be rid of so badly.  You see her joy when Elizabeth expresses herself and you hear her sadness when people treat her differently or don't want to offer to her what she needs.  You see the difference caring teachers make in a child vs. the ones that think it's more of a burden to work with Elizabeth.

I think that EVERY person should read this book, but especially EVERY therapist, friend, parent, family member of someone who has autism.  You will find yourself tearing up as you read Elizabeth's heart poured out through poetry.  You will also laugh to find out how she runs a hard ship when she is writing her poetry!  Read this book and tell someone else about it.  What an encouraging book for all.  I hope that Elizabeth releases more poetry so that we can all have another collection of her writings and into her world of autism. 

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I received this book free from Revell Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.