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A review by craftymxlibrarian
Anybody Here Seen Frenchie? by Leslie Connor
2.0
This book felt kind of heartwarming but also kind of ick at the same time. I do like the underlying message that nonverbal does not mean non-thinking or not understanding what's happening around you. That was the heartwarming bit. But other than that, it felt ick.
First of all, lots of nonverbal autistics communicate through picture boards, gestures, or even through writing. This book, however, seems to reinforce many misconceptions about autistics even while trying to destigmatize.
I do recognize that there are also many autistics like Frenchie in their communication. But the way Frenchie is portrayed combined with the portrayal of Aurora, it gave the entire book a bad taste of "inspiration porn."
As happens with all of us who live with disabilities, Frenchie is talked *about* rather than getting to tell his own story. It makes it feel like the story is more about how wonderful Aurora is for befriending an autistic kid rather than an authentic portrayal of the autistic experience.
I was unsurprised to find out in the author's note that she consulted parents of autistic kids rather than anyone who is actually autistic. And then says that those parents helped her "understand the complexities of loving an autistic person." This really makes it seem like loving an autistic person is somehow difficult or a burden instead of recognizing the humanity of autistics. She then says she also spoke with one of their NT kids to get "the sibling perspective" and that this and the parents' reflections were given her "full attention." But she begins the note with saying that it was "important to [her] to get things right."
How can she get things right if she doesn't get the autistic perspective? It's yet another instance of autistics being talked about rather than communicated with. It's also a great illustration of why many of us will only read books about autism that are written by people who are #ActuallyAutistic. Neurotypical people cannot be trusted to tell the stories of autistics. I don't doubt that this author meant well, and it's that intention that made me give this 2 stars rather than 1. But good intentions don't change any of the above and the impact those things have on the way NT's view autistics.
With all of this, I simply can't recommend this book at all.
First of all, lots of nonverbal autistics communicate through picture boards, gestures, or even through writing. This book, however, seems to reinforce many misconceptions about autistics even while trying to destigmatize.
I do recognize that there are also many autistics like Frenchie in their communication. But the way Frenchie is portrayed combined with the portrayal of Aurora, it gave the entire book a bad taste of "inspiration porn."
As happens with all of us who live with disabilities, Frenchie is talked *about* rather than getting to tell his own story. It makes it feel like the story is more about how wonderful Aurora is for befriending an autistic kid rather than an authentic portrayal of the autistic experience.
I was unsurprised to find out in the author's note that she consulted parents of autistic kids rather than anyone who is actually autistic. And then says that those parents helped her "understand the complexities of loving an autistic person." This really makes it seem like loving an autistic person is somehow difficult or a burden instead of recognizing the humanity of autistics. She then says she also spoke with one of their NT kids to get "the sibling perspective" and that this and the parents' reflections were given her "full attention." But she begins the note with saying that it was "important to [her] to get things right."
How can she get things right if she doesn't get the autistic perspective? It's yet another instance of autistics being talked about rather than communicated with. It's also a great illustration of why many of us will only read books about autism that are written by people who are #ActuallyAutistic. Neurotypical people cannot be trusted to tell the stories of autistics. I don't doubt that this author meant well, and it's that intention that made me give this 2 stars rather than 1. But good intentions don't change any of the above and the impact those things have on the way NT's view autistics.
With all of this, I simply can't recommend this book at all.