At the time of Ethan’s autism diagnosis, we read lots of information about autism. To be honest it was a bit of an autism overload. Personally, I have tried to avoid anything autism-related for entertainment. There was one exception when I read a fictional book about a twelve-year-old boy with Asperger’s Syndrome. I was invited to review the book Another Us written by Kristen Hesketh. A work of fiction from a mother’s perspective after her son’s autism diagnosis. This sparked my intrigue, I wanted to know if I could relate to this character’s thoughts and feelings.
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Another Us by Kristen Hesketh
Emma’s youngest son has just been recently diagnosed with autism. She accidentally quits her job. She starts to believe that the marriage she was dedicated to feels like a sham. Her path starts to take her on the road to an affair with a hot new dad at the school.
The only thing that stays constant is everyone else. Emma soon realises it’s not them, it’s her! If she isn’t who she thought she was, will her old life fit in with the new Emma?
What Do I Love About This Book?
I read this book in three days, I really couldn’t put it down! It’s been a long time since I have devoured a book that quickly. I found Emma really easy to relate to. From the point of her son’s diagnosis to the speed at which her work life was turned upside down. It was just like a mirror image of my experience. Having the ‘stable’ world of work taken away with you so quickly on top of a diagnosis is a very unnerving experience. Emma’s character was able to portray this experience perfectly.
That being said I don’t think you need to have any experience of autism to be able to relate to Emma. I found her and her actions and thought processes very amusing. Watching her dive deeper into her crisis had some ‘is she really doing that?!’ moments.
Getting a fixation on the statistic that parents of children with autism would have a failed marriage. Emma more or less managed to turn it into a self-fulfilling prophecy.
The book also touches on the fact that you will look at your own behaviors if your child receives an autism diagnosis. As much as you don’t want to it will happen. We have all been there. But it is a good thing. Ethan’s diagnosis has made me understand myself better over the years.
I found this book such an enjoyable read. I loved reading every page of it. A life lesson in family life, love, and understanding. With humor and some heartache, I really can’t recommend reading this book enough.
DISCLOSURE – We received a copy of Another Us as a gift. This was for the purposes of this post. We always give our honest opinions, findings, beliefs, and experiences of the products we receive.