Soon Will Come the Light: A View from Inside the Autism Puzzle

by Thomas A. McKean, S L Cotton (Illustrator), R Wayne Gilpin (Editor)

Winner of the Autism Society of America's Literary Achievement Award, this heartwarming book was one of the first autobiographies to provide unique insight into the world of autism. Tom McKean grew up in a confusion of misdiagnosis, spending years in an institution and finally journeying into adulthood, seeking answers. He finally comes to a "working truce" with the neurotypical world and discovers he has various talents in fields such as computers and technical design, in addition to his passion for writing. His challenges, discoveries, and successes will move you as his poetry, songs, and humor delight you. Helpful chapters

Genres: Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Psychology, Nonfiction

176 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 1994

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thomas McKean's story differs greatly from those of Donna Williams and Temple Grandin (and all three still bring me to tears, even though I have read them many, many times over the last fifteen years or so); what I find especially interesting about McKean's story is his emphasis on the healing power of poetry. While his poetry isn't typically the kind I tend to read, it does shed some light on how someone with autism perceives the world. I think it's also intriguing to see how he describes the links between his poems and his struggles to form relationships and express emotion.

For those of us who love and care for someone diagnosed with autism, books like Thomas McKean's Soon Will Come the Light illuminate the complexity of the emotional lives of those struggling with a developmental disorder, as well as demonstrate how much progress has been made in our understanding of Autism / Aspergers / PDD...there is so much more we need to learn, but I'm amazed at the number of misconceptions and inappropriate treatments that existed just a few short decades ago.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honest, insightful and full of unique perspective. It's amazing to see how far knowledge and acceptance regarding ASD has come and it inspires to keep the windows of understanding open.

[Bonnie DeZelar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another book from the perspective of an autistic person. I need to read this one again.