A review by alienrat
Ginny Moon by Benjamin Ludwig
3.0
As a story, I thought this was a compelling and addicting read. I could not put the book down.
However, as an autistic person, I thought this book really missed the mark on the autism experience. The author comes from a background of having adopted an autistic child, and through it he shows his frustration and resentment loud and clear through the Forever Parents' actions. This actually made me sympathize with Gloria more than the adoptive parents.
I also felt that Ginny was incredibly infantilized. I did not believe the character to be a realistic 14 year old, and her "simplistic" and literal thought process was contradictory with her deeper thinking patterns scattered throughout the book. I think the author would have done better telling this story in third person, rather than trying to replicate an autistic perspective from a non-autistic voice.
So overall, I give the story 3 stars for being a good narrative that kept me interested, but lacking an authentic autistic perspective.
However, as an autistic person, I thought this book really missed the mark on the autism experience. The author comes from a background of having adopted an autistic child, and through it he shows his frustration and resentment loud and clear through the Forever Parents' actions. This actually made me sympathize with Gloria more than the adoptive parents.
I also felt that Ginny was incredibly infantilized. I did not believe the character to be a realistic 14 year old, and her "simplistic" and literal thought process was contradictory with her deeper thinking patterns scattered throughout the book. I think the author would have done better telling this story in third person, rather than trying to replicate an autistic perspective from a non-autistic voice.
So overall, I give the story 3 stars for being a good narrative that kept me interested, but lacking an authentic autistic perspective.