From book jacket and endpapers to interviews and author notes, this is a beautifully and thoughtfully crafted book. Opening with a prologue from Temple Grandin herself, it is obvious that Sy Montgomery has a great respect for her subject and took care to tell about Grandin’s life in a well-rounded way, not smoothing over bumps in her personality or the difficulties that autism present and also not putting Grandin on a pedestal in spite of her many talents and accomplishments. The friendly and detailed telling is immediately accessible to children and makes the reader want to know more about the subject. Also fascinating are copies of Grandin’s blueprints for humane animal facilities and the photographs of her many inventions from her childhood.

More than just a terrific biography, though, Montgomery has also accomplished the awesome feat of explaining how the autistic brain works, what sensory difficulties like Grandin’s must feel like, and how geniuses and eccentric people may have been undiagnosed autistics. She presents the information in an immensely helpful way for “normal” people to better understand the others we may meet. She and Grandin both also offer encouragement and tips for kids with autism so they can find their place in the world. It’s an encouraging, engaging read for kids and interested adults.