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A review by philyra91
A Friend Like Henry by Nuala Gardner
5.0
An unexpected loan from a friend, this novel is truly a touching read and I recommend it to all! A Friend Like Henry is about a family's struggle in coping with their son's autism and how a Golden Retriever named Henry changed their lives in ways they couldn't even imagined.
I have no experience dealing with autism, neither do I know anyone with autism, but I do know what some of the signs of it are, and reading this novel, I definitely have developed a greater sense of respect for each and every family who has to go through what they do everyday. In this book, Nuala Gardner writes of her joy when she becomes pregnant with her first child and later, of her despair and frustration when her son displays signs of autism.
This book is definitely emotional because readers will feel invested in the family's situation. When Nuala was frustrated at the fact that the system wouldn't accept Dale's condition and pretty much placed the blame wholly on Nuala and James (her husband), I felt frustrated too. I cannot imagine what they must have felt like when they were told that they wanted their son to be autistic because they couldn't deal with his slow developmental progress. It would later take them years and the help of friends and family before Dale could get the help and proper diagnosis he required.
But in spite of all these adversities, hope came in the form of Henry. I truly believe that Henry was some sort of a guardian angel for Dale. The leaps and bounds Dale made because of Henry was just amazing and to prevent myself from giving anything away, there's all I'm saying. But really, please go read the book. It will give you a renewed hope and who knows, maybe even convince you to get a pet.
I have no experience dealing with autism, neither do I know anyone with autism, but I do know what some of the signs of it are, and reading this novel, I definitely have developed a greater sense of respect for each and every family who has to go through what they do everyday. In this book, Nuala Gardner writes of her joy when she becomes pregnant with her first child and later, of her despair and frustration when her son displays signs of autism.
This book is definitely emotional because readers will feel invested in the family's situation. When Nuala was frustrated at the fact that the system wouldn't accept Dale's condition and pretty much placed the blame wholly on Nuala and James (her husband), I felt frustrated too. I cannot imagine what they must have felt like when they were told that they wanted their son to be autistic because they couldn't deal with his slow developmental progress. It would later take them years and the help of friends and family before Dale could get the help and proper diagnosis he required.
But in spite of all these adversities, hope came in the form of Henry. I truly believe that Henry was some sort of a guardian angel for Dale. The leaps and bounds Dale made because of Henry was just amazing and to prevent myself from giving anything away, there's all I'm saying. But really, please go read the book. It will give you a renewed hope and who knows, maybe even convince you to get a pet.