This is an incredible book written by the mother of an autistic child. She tells exactly what her life raising an autistic child is like, without pulling any punches. She clearly explains that no two autistic children are the same so what works with her child may not work with another. This is her story. She starts with a singular truth____ "that to live with an autistic child is to experience great joy and exquisite pain in equal measure"
I began reading this book feeling I could relate but soon realized that my situation is much different. My grandson's autism is so much more mild. Her descriptions are totally different than the life I lead, but still very interesting.
I think that someone with a severely autistic child would find great comfort in this book. They would understand that they're not alone.

REVIEW:

*I received an ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

First, I need to say something, I’m appalled that any publisher would send an ARC out that was so poorly formatted. I read a LOT of ARCs and I work in publishing, and this one was by far the worst. Some pages were almost illegible, so much so that I often wondered if they’d paid a drunken baboon to type and format it up for them. It wasn’t just me either, I spoke to others reading it and they said the same thing.

I’m not going to share the blurb, as usual with these crappy woe-is-me-my-kid-has-autism stories, they sound so much better than they are.

This book is shit!

The author claims to be an expert on autism, but she can’t recognize autism enough to realize that she’s VERY LIKELY autistic herself. It comes through in EVERYTHING in this book.

She uses all the wrong language, that if she ACTUALLY knew anything about autistics, she’d know was the wrong language. Most of which OFFENDS US!

She’s MASSIVELY abusive to her autistic son in SO MANY WAYS. She’s abusive to the autistic community, painting us all as either savants or idiots or poor, disabled, unfortunate souls.

This is just as bad, if not worse than the Washington post article painted it is.

There is nothing redeemable about this book, and if I could give it a .01 star? I would.

I live-tweeted the book, and you can read it, if you have the stomach for it, here.

https://twitter.com/KaelanRhy/status/969089091051569152

As for me? I loathe this author, I loathe the publisher and I loathe every single person who claims this book is good or praises it in any way.

NONE of them know what it’s like to be autistic, even if Whitney is? She’s so immured up Auti$m $peaks a$$ she has no idea her right from her left.

I’m offended that I even had the inkling of the thought that this book might be different.

She claims in the text that she didn’t want to write yet another ‘autism parent’ book.

She failed. BOY did she ever fail. The only thing she did better? Was to insult the very people she’s writing about and offer graphic proof that she’s an abuser.

No. NO. NO!

Content and trigger warnings on MASSIVE physical abuse, mental abuse, emotional abuse and horrible selfishness.

I want this tradition of these ‘autism martyr parent’ books to DIE.

I want publishing to do better by their autistic readers. There are SO MANY OF US!

And while I hate to excoriate a new author, this is not the kind of book one should share. She’d actually be a talented author if she turned to fiction, or even learned just a LITTLE from actual autistic adults, she has voice, but she should NOT be writing about this.

Autism Uncensored is a candid, honest, sometimes confronting, but very necessary book written by the mother of a little boy diagnosed with autism. This is an important book to read, not only for other parents of children with autism, but for the community at large and particularly for professionals working with people on the autism spectrum. This book contains so many essential insights and messages. For me, the key message is that parents know their children better than anyone else does. 'Expert' opinions regarding how to 'manage' autism should be heard and considered, but most crucial, is that parents should listen to their hearts and to what their children are showing or telling them. This will inform parents and professionals alike as to the best path to take in supporting each individual child. Highly recommended. Thanks to Koehler Books and NetGalley for the ARC.

3 stars it all I could give this book.
I know so many moms who children struggle with Autism and I wanted to know more to help and better understand what they are going though. This book fell short. The author knowledge didn't seem to be anymore than the average person.
The Author uses labels that doctors do not use when talking about Autism. She lack empathy though this book for her own son. She uses words that would bring anyone down not just children with Autism but any mental health issues. The one word that stood out was Defeated.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy.

I loved, loved, loved this book. What a great read. Whitney Ellenby writes of the journey undertaken by her and her husband after learning that their son is autistic. First of all, let me say how lucky that little boy is to have such amazing and supportive parents. They are fortunate enough to have the financial resources to truly give their son the astoundingly expensive support he needs. They're loving, compassionate and fully devoted to him. They have a strong marriage to withstand the enormous pressure and stress. I was moved by her husband's total acceptance of their son as completely perfect just as he is. I was very impressed by Ms.Ellenby's dedication to broadening her son's world as much as possible even at the expense of enduring public censure and humiliation.
Highly recommended!
My thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

As a father of a daughter with autism, I found this title particularly refreshing in that there is no sugar coating the situation. These are the feelings we as parents all go through. Tremendous guilt and fear, but in the end acceptance and full of hope for the future. Excellent book.

This book gives an uncensored look into the life of a mother's dealing with the diagnosis and treatment of her son with autism. 

First, let me say THANK YOU WHITNEY ELLENBY for writing this book. I work as a therapist providing play-based therapy to children on the autism spectrum. There are no tables in my work, no 40 hour a week minimums. Only floors and toys and the majority of the time, fun. Stimming is akin to breathing for those on the spectrum, so usually it is worked around, not stopped. I am so thankful that this book allows for a glimpse into the life of a parent dealing with a diagnosis and treatment.. I get an uncensored peek into lives similar on a daily basis, but I feel as though this book gives me a better perspective on how the families could be feeling and what they could be thinking, but do not feel comfortable divulging. I feel like this insight will allow me to better serve my families, but most importantly, my kiddos. This mother decided to take a real-world approach to helping her son function in his world, and I must applaud her. 

Thank you for this uncensored glimpse into your life, as well as your sons. I loved this book! Thank you to the publisher, the author and Netgalley for allowing me to read this book as an ARC.