Reviews
The Cat Who Came Back for Christmas- How a Cat Brought a Family the Gift of Love by Julia Romp
melissapalmer404's review
4.0
Book #82 Read in 2012
The Cat Who Came Back For Christmas by Julia Romp
Julia Romp's memoir is about much more than just their wonderful cat, Ben (Baboo). Julia is a single mother to George, who is autistic. This book details her struggle to connect with her son and Ben is the key--George connects with this cat in a way that he has never connected before with another living being. Ben gets George to talk more, to connect with his mother and to get him touch with his emotions--all things that Julia had wanted for years for her son.
Then the unthinkable happens and while Julia and George are away, Ben goes missing. George blames Julia for this and any progress he had made since Ben came into their lives is immediately erased. Julia knows that she must find Ben if she is ever going to see that side of her son again. Julia makes it her daily mission to look for Ben, following up on countless leads and sightings of the elusive cat. At the same time, Julia finds a sort of new career path for her--pet detective.
This book was a good read. Ben is a great cat and I loved reading about how the love for this cat really brought George out of his shell. I give Julia props for doing the difficult task of parenting, hard enough in its own right, made even more difficult with her special needs son. She craved hearing him tell her that he loved her. She just wanted to be able to touch him without him freaking out. She is a strong woman.
http://melissasbookpicks.blogspot.com
The Cat Who Came Back For Christmas by Julia Romp
Julia Romp's memoir is about much more than just their wonderful cat, Ben (Baboo). Julia is a single mother to George, who is autistic. This book details her struggle to connect with her son and Ben is the key--George connects with this cat in a way that he has never connected before with another living being. Ben gets George to talk more, to connect with his mother and to get him touch with his emotions--all things that Julia had wanted for years for her son.
Then the unthinkable happens and while Julia and George are away, Ben goes missing. George blames Julia for this and any progress he had made since Ben came into their lives is immediately erased. Julia knows that she must find Ben if she is ever going to see that side of her son again. Julia makes it her daily mission to look for Ben, following up on countless leads and sightings of the elusive cat. At the same time, Julia finds a sort of new career path for her--pet detective.
This book was a good read. Ben is a great cat and I loved reading about how the love for this cat really brought George out of his shell. I give Julia props for doing the difficult task of parenting, hard enough in its own right, made even more difficult with her special needs son. She craved hearing him tell her that he loved her. She just wanted to be able to touch him without him freaking out. She is a strong woman.
http://melissasbookpicks.blogspot.com
sofuia's review against another edition
4.0
I have a weakness for books about cats. "Is it the best book I ever read? .. No. Did I have fun reading is? ..Yes!"
demipizza's review against another edition
4.0
Wat een prachtig boek! Het gaat over een moeder en zoon, de zoon heeft autisme en is lastig om met hem te communiceren. De moeder heeft het gevoel alsof haar zoon een vreemde is en hun relatie verloopt moeizaam. Totdat kat Ben in hun leven komt. Dit verhaal gaat over het leven van een alleenstaande moeder met haar zoon, autisme en kattenliefde.
caitlinxmartin's review against another edition
4.0
If it's not a classic, I tend not to read or review holiday books. There are a slew of them every year at this time - almost uniformly heartwarming and sentimental. I just don't do heartwarming and sentimental, too often it just makes my teeth hurt because its overly sweet.
I was sold, however, on The Cat Who Came Back for Christmas - it was partly the cover (yes, it's a super cute kitten) and partly that I'm really missing my cat, Tucker, who left this world in October. It was risky, this book, with its cute kitten cover, but it was a risk worth taking. I enjoyed every minute of the book, although in retrospect I'm not sure it's really a holiday book.
I remember when I was pregnant being afraid of the usual things that pregnant ladies worry about - physical disabilities, mental disabilities, congenital conditions - the list goes on. I was especially terrified of autism because it's always seemed such a horrible condition to me - children and adults trapped inside their own heads. 21 years later and the world is a much kinder place with regard to autism - treatment and understanding have progressed by leaps and bounds. Julia Romp's memoir won't allay any fears anyone might have about autism, but her story is inspiring that all the fears seem reasonable, but in the end wholly unimportant.
Ms. Romp is a single parent raising an autistic child with little to no money and little to no help beyond her family initially. Imagine being convinced that your child would be okay if you were a better mother, and having this thought legitimized by people in authority all around you. It all seems so hopeless until a small black-and-white cat enters stage left bringing with him a new relationship that opens up life in an entirely new way for George, Ms. Romp's son. With a pull quote from Temple Grandin and a clear unflinching story, The Cat Who Came Back for Christmas will put life in perspective, give you a new sense of what courage really is, and a deeper respect for our fuzzy cat companions who really are much smarter than us. Recommended as a great non-saccarhine holiday read.
I was sold, however, on The Cat Who Came Back for Christmas - it was partly the cover (yes, it's a super cute kitten) and partly that I'm really missing my cat, Tucker, who left this world in October. It was risky, this book, with its cute kitten cover, but it was a risk worth taking. I enjoyed every minute of the book, although in retrospect I'm not sure it's really a holiday book.
I remember when I was pregnant being afraid of the usual things that pregnant ladies worry about - physical disabilities, mental disabilities, congenital conditions - the list goes on. I was especially terrified of autism because it's always seemed such a horrible condition to me - children and adults trapped inside their own heads. 21 years later and the world is a much kinder place with regard to autism - treatment and understanding have progressed by leaps and bounds. Julia Romp's memoir won't allay any fears anyone might have about autism, but her story is inspiring that all the fears seem reasonable, but in the end wholly unimportant.
Ms. Romp is a single parent raising an autistic child with little to no money and little to no help beyond her family initially. Imagine being convinced that your child would be okay if you were a better mother, and having this thought legitimized by people in authority all around you. It all seems so hopeless until a small black-and-white cat enters stage left bringing with him a new relationship that opens up life in an entirely new way for George, Ms. Romp's son. With a pull quote from Temple Grandin and a clear unflinching story, The Cat Who Came Back for Christmas will put life in perspective, give you a new sense of what courage really is, and a deeper respect for our fuzzy cat companions who really are much smarter than us. Recommended as a great non-saccarhine holiday read.
hyzenthl4y's review
4.0
Reviewing this long after I have read it.
Very short read and I remember very much enjoying it and simultaneously hating the cover and title.
It would be a great Christmas time read, now that we're getting close and I wanna cry again.
It's about far more than a cat and I've recommended it to several people in regard to empathizing with others and as an introduction to autism.
Also, I enjoyed the perspective on how some housing and community works in the UK. I wanna hang out in their gardens and see their Christmas lights.
Very short read and I remember very much enjoying it and simultaneously hating the cover and title.
It would be a great Christmas time read, now that we're getting close and I wanna cry again.
It's about far more than a cat and I've recommended it to several people in regard to empathizing with others and as an introduction to autism.
Also, I enjoyed the perspective on how some housing and community works in the UK. I wanna hang out in their gardens and see their Christmas lights.
mishale1's review
3.0
This is an incredibly heart warming true story. A young mother has been struggling to help her son George. He has autism. He struggles with school, socially, with his emotions and with speaking.
Then Ben comes along. Ben is a little stray black and white kitten. No one could have dreamed of the connection George and Ben would form.
Ben is able to help George grow in ways his teachers can’t.
Fellow pet lovers, I’m going to post a spoiler here because it’s something I needed to know myself before reading this book. Ben survives. Thank God. There’s no way I could have read this story if I hadn’t already known that Ben survived.
Then Ben comes along. Ben is a little stray black and white kitten. No one could have dreamed of the connection George and Ben would form.
Ben is able to help George grow in ways his teachers can’t.
Fellow pet lovers, I’m going to post a spoiler here because it’s something I needed to know myself before reading this book. Ben survives. Thank God. There’s no way I could have read this story if I hadn’t already known that Ben survived.
sannevanderveeken's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
4.0
dollycas's review
4.0
George was a handful at first, crying for hours on end, never sleeping. Julia tried everything to please her son. He then grew to be withdrawn and quiet, in his own little world. George was finally diagnosed as autistic and even with a diagnosis things didn't get any easier. Until one day a small black and white stray cat appeared in their garden and George's face just lit up. He named the kitty Ben and George started to open up to his mother. He was like a different little boy. Until one day when Ben disappeared.
Dollycas's Thoughts
This was a very heartwarming story. Animals can have a profound effect in people no matter what they may be facing.
As a mom with several cats in residence this is very clear to me and when one disappears it can break your heart. This happened to at our house twice this year. Back in the summer heat my cat Sherlock got outside and was missing for about a week. When he came back he was very sick and dehydrated. That was when we were receiving record high temperatures. Today he still has little wombles but he is back at my side every day. I missed him so much.
Then about 6 weeks ago my daughter's cat Watson went out exploring. He did this a lot and was always waiting on the porch the next morning. But not this time. He has still not come home and we have posted notices, call the vets in the area and the humane society's and posted online at missing pet sites. Last week we were sent a picture on Facebook and we were sure it was our Watson. My daughter rushed to pick him up. When she arrived she knew it wasn't him but the people didn't want this cat so she bought him home. She calls him Watson 2.0. He has not taken Watson's place but he has healed her heart a bit. After reading this story I am still holding out hope the our Watson will make his way home to us. What better time than Christmas.
Julia goes way beyond anything we did. She never gave up and answered every call and kept searching. My only question I had was how George blamed his mother totally for Ben's disappearance when the cat was in his father's care at the time. His father was not a constant figure in his life so maybe he didn't feel he could last out at him the same way as his mom. There is still so much we don't know about autism but Julia gives us an inside look.
Looking for a stocking stuffer for cat lover, this book would make a great gift. You might want to include a small box of tissues.
Dollycas's Thoughts
This was a very heartwarming story. Animals can have a profound effect in people no matter what they may be facing.
As a mom with several cats in residence this is very clear to me and when one disappears it can break your heart. This happened to at our house twice this year. Back in the summer heat my cat Sherlock got outside and was missing for about a week. When he came back he was very sick and dehydrated. That was when we were receiving record high temperatures. Today he still has little wombles but he is back at my side every day. I missed him so much.
Then about 6 weeks ago my daughter's cat Watson went out exploring. He did this a lot and was always waiting on the porch the next morning. But not this time. He has still not come home and we have posted notices, call the vets in the area and the humane society's and posted online at missing pet sites. Last week we were sent a picture on Facebook and we were sure it was our Watson. My daughter rushed to pick him up. When she arrived she knew it wasn't him but the people didn't want this cat so she bought him home. She calls him Watson 2.0. He has not taken Watson's place but he has healed her heart a bit. After reading this story I am still holding out hope the our Watson will make his way home to us. What better time than Christmas.
Julia goes way beyond anything we did. She never gave up and answered every call and kept searching. My only question I had was how George blamed his mother totally for Ben's disappearance when the cat was in his father's care at the time. His father was not a constant figure in his life so maybe he didn't feel he could last out at him the same way as his mom. There is still so much we don't know about autism but Julia gives us an inside look.
Looking for a stocking stuffer for cat lover, this book would make a great gift. You might want to include a small box of tissues.
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