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How to Be a Sister: A Love Story with a Twist of Autism (MP3 CD)

How to Be a Sister: A Love Story with a Twist of Autism Cover Image
$41.99
Special Order

April 2010 Indie Next List


“Unlike many books on autism, this honest and personal account focuses on sibling relationships. Eileen recounts, with in-depth detail, her experiences with her sister Margaret, which are often funny, embarrassing, and 'normal' for the Garvin family. Eileen uses her experiences to reflect on what it means to be a sibling with someone who is different, how to grow the relationship as an adult, and how growing up with Margaret has shaped her own life.”
— Jenny, Waucoma Bookstore, Hood River, OR

Description


Eileen Garvin's older sister, Margaret, was diagnosed with severe autism at age three. Growing up alongside Margaret wasn't easy: Eileen often found herself in situations that were simultaneously awkward, hilarious, and heartbreaking. For example, losing a blue plastic hairbrush could leave Margaret inconsolable for hours, and a quiet Sunday Mass might provoke an outburst of laughter, swearing, or dancing. How to Be a Sister begins when Eileen, after several years in New Mexico, has just moved back to the Pacific Northwest, where she grew up. Being 1,600 miles away allowed Eileen to avoid the question that has dogged her since birth: What is she going to do about Margaret? Now, Eileen must grapple with this question once again as she tentatively tries to reconnect with Margaret. How can she have a relationship with someone who can't drive, send an email, or use a telephone? What role will Eileen play in Margaret's life as their parents age, and after they die? Will she remain in Margaret's life, or will she walk away? A deeply felt, impeccably written memoir, How to Be a Sister will speak to siblings, parents, friends, and teachers of people with autism--and to anyone who sometimes struggles to connect with someone difficult or different.

Product Details
ISBN: 9798212999281
Publisher: Dreamscape Media
Publication Date: September 15th, 2022
Language: English