Forever Boy
A Mother's Memoir of Autism and Finding Joy

If you are looking to a book that will resonate with you as a person with a disability or a caregiver of a person with a disability, this is the one! I guarantee you that you will not be disappointed by this book, regardless of whether you are affected by Autism Spectrum Disorder or another disability (or not affected by a disability at all but just want to gain more knowledge about the everyday life of a family affected by a disability). Since I am a young woman affected by a visual and medical disability (without a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder) and I do not have children of my own, I was a bit hesitant going into reading this book that I would struggle to relate to the challenges that Kate’s son Cooper faces, the obstacles that Kate would have to overcome raising a young boy with Autism Spectrum Disorder, the grief that one experiences when their son struggles with verbal communication, etc. I was wrong, and I’m so glad that I persisted and chose to read this book because it spoke to me as a reader with a disability in a way that no other book has or ever could. In the book Forever Boy, Kate has such a unique ability to bring you into the world of the huge amount of individuals affected by disability in some way. This book focuses on several topics that I could easily relate to: acceptance of a lifelong diagnosis, facing discrimination, the differences in opinion from others about the best options available for people with disabilities, the lack of much-needed knowledge and support that many professionals provide to newly-diagnosed families, the many systemic flaws that exist and prevent people from receiving the support that they need to overcome the many challenges they face, etc. The list is endless, however this guarantees that you will be able to find something in this book that will be relatable to you and make you feel less alone in navigating the obstacles that a disability can present. If I could give this book more than five stars, I would! It is a must read for not only those affected by any type of disability, but also people who want to become more knowledgeable about, understanding of, and supportive of, individuals and families affected by a disability.

Kate Swenson is a phenomenal writer. I honestly have never read a book that I could relate to as much as I did Forever Boy. I laughed, I cried, and I relived through her words some of the most painful and beautiful times in my life as a mother to a special needs child. This is a must read friends.......more

I follow Kate’s page on Facebook and I’m so glad I was able to get an advanced copy of her book, thanks NetGalley! This was a great read, an important read. There are many people in our world who are like Cooper but they don’t have someone to fight with them and we need to hear more of their stories......more

This book was great! It really helped me understand more about disabilities. I work in a Special Education classroom and I hope what I've read will help me be more understanding to students and their families.......more

As someone who has no personal experience with and limited knowledge of autism, I found this book to be informative, engaging and beautifully written. I feel it would appeal both to parents looking for guidance if this is something they are trying to navigate, as well as to those who would like to l......more

But the gift of acceptance was still elusive. Some days, even weeks, I would walk around thinking I had made it and then something would happen. [A relative], just four months younger, would sing me a song, and I would be leveled, blindsided by the grief that seemed to lie dormant and then resurface......more