This is a strange book, 1/2 straight memoir by Judy Karasik and 1/2 graphic memoir by Paul Karasik about the family of a man on the more incapacitated side of the autism spectrum and the difficulty in finding a place for him where he can grow and contribute to his community. It's definitely not a feel good book; the ever present possibility of abuse in institutions that care for people who can't speak for themselves is examined. David, the autistic brother, who is in his 50's now spends a small part of the book in his pajamas, but for the most part he dresses in a suit and tie. He has a very strong need for routine and reminds even his sister of the Dustin Hoffman character in Rainman but without, as she puts it, the "plot devise" of savant mathematics. He is held hostage to frustration which sometimes leads to violence against himself or others. In describing the aftermath of a meltdown, Judy writes He was calming down. Slowly, the autism let go of the frustration. The autism stopped battering my brother with frustration and went back to its usual habit, which was fascinating David with the patterns and images and ideas inside his head. What a perfect description of his condition.

I recommend this book to anyone interested in reading about people on the more severe side of the autism spectrum. ( )

A good antidote to the book I just read, Secret Girl, by Molly Bruce Jacobs. A much more nuanced and interesting book about growing up with an autistic sibling. They're still a nightmare family to me but at least they talk to each other. ( )