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31 Hours: A Mother's Story of Hope, Heroes, and Autism
When her fourteen-year-old son Jimmy goes missing, Michelle is frantic and distraught. As family, friends, an ever-widening search group, and the police look for him, Michelle grows more desperate and despondent, simultaneously searching, while also second-guessing her role in the events leading up to his disappearance.
In this memoir, Michelle takes us through the emotional journey of losing her son, who was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome as a young child, and reflects on the circumstances that led to his disappearance. She takes us through her years of struggles to find him a place of belonging in the community, and recounts the heroism of this same community in rallying to find her son, whose intriguing character comes to life on the pages of this book.
An honest account of a mother’s struggles, a keen insight into living with neurodiversity, a testament to the power of prayer, and an invocation for understanding, acceptance and change, 31 Hours is as heartwarming as it is heartbreaking. It is a true story of resilience that is both relatable and riveting.
In this memoir, Michelle takes us through the emotional journey of losing her son, who was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome as a young child, and reflects on the circumstances that led to his disappearance. She takes us through her years of struggles to find him a place of belonging in the community, and recounts the heroism of this same community in rallying to find her son, whose intriguing character comes to life on the pages of this book.
An honest account of a mother’s struggles, a keen insight into living with neurodiversity, a testament to the power of prayer, and an invocation for understanding, acceptance and change, 31 Hours is as heartwarming as it is heartbreaking. It is a true story of resilience that is both relatable and riveting.
121 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 16, 2023
14 people are currently reading
18 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
December 2, 2023
Interesting
Some interesting and insightful points made about raising a neurodiverse child where I could feel this mother's frustration but as with all books of this nature,points I disagreed with.
Some interesting and insightful points made about raising a neurodiverse child where I could feel this mother's frustration but as with all books of this nature,points I disagreed with.
January 14, 2024
An honest revealing memoir written by the mother of a neurodiverse son.
October 30, 2023
The Review
This was an emotional, heartfelt, and insightful read. The tension and heartbreak as the author recounts the hours leading up to and following the disappearance of her son was impactful, to say the least, the reader was given insight into the complex web of emotions that can overwhelm any parent, let alone the parent of a child who is neurodivergent. The emotional wellspring that the author taps into to recount her experiences and the thoughtful attention to detail really painted an image in the author’s mind about this experience.
In addition to these tense moments throughout the memoir, the author does an incredible job of not only delving into the details surrounding the work and love that goes into caring for and loving a child who is neurodivergent but also of the efforts that are made to bring your child into a community that supports and cares for them just as much as you do. The impact that faith and community had on any given situation made this a compelling memoir.
The Verdict
Heartfelt, emotional, and authentically written, author and Dr. Michelle Naguib’s “31 Hours” is a must-read memoir for anyone who has experienced the fear of a missing child, the struggles and triumphs of raising a neurodivergent child, or the love of motherhood in general. The engaging way the author addressed the reader while also writing in a way that allowed her to pour her heart into the experiences she was sharing made this a memorable memoir.
This was an emotional, heartfelt, and insightful read. The tension and heartbreak as the author recounts the hours leading up to and following the disappearance of her son was impactful, to say the least, the reader was given insight into the complex web of emotions that can overwhelm any parent, let alone the parent of a child who is neurodivergent. The emotional wellspring that the author taps into to recount her experiences and the thoughtful attention to detail really painted an image in the author’s mind about this experience.
In addition to these tense moments throughout the memoir, the author does an incredible job of not only delving into the details surrounding the work and love that goes into caring for and loving a child who is neurodivergent but also of the efforts that are made to bring your child into a community that supports and cares for them just as much as you do. The impact that faith and community had on any given situation made this a compelling memoir.
The Verdict
Heartfelt, emotional, and authentically written, author and Dr. Michelle Naguib’s “31 Hours” is a must-read memoir for anyone who has experienced the fear of a missing child, the struggles and triumphs of raising a neurodivergent child, or the love of motherhood in general. The engaging way the author addressed the reader while also writing in a way that allowed her to pour her heart into the experiences she was sharing made this a memorable memoir.
September 18, 2023
Relatable to all parents, well-written and informative
The author vividly takes you through the nerve-racking experience of trying to find her missing child, all while recounting 15 years of micro-moments that led up to this monumental life event. The book is raw, honest, and informative. The many facets of life with neurodiverse children are portrayed realistically and warmly. The book opens a conversation on the societal systems and views on neurodiverse children and challenges the ethics around them. This book forces the reader to think deeply about their tolerance for children who don’t fit a particular mold, and whether they are doing their part to assist, include, and embrace their differences.
Foremost, however, this is a story of faith; faith from the parents, a church, and an entire community who watched what happens when you “let go and let God.” Good quick read !
The author vividly takes you through the nerve-racking experience of trying to find her missing child, all while recounting 15 years of micro-moments that led up to this monumental life event. The book is raw, honest, and informative. The many facets of life with neurodiverse children are portrayed realistically and warmly. The book opens a conversation on the societal systems and views on neurodiverse children and challenges the ethics around them. This book forces the reader to think deeply about their tolerance for children who don’t fit a particular mold, and whether they are doing their part to assist, include, and embrace their differences.
Foremost, however, this is a story of faith; faith from the parents, a church, and an entire community who watched what happens when you “let go and let God.” Good quick read !
December 17, 2024
Truly a mother’s story
Reviews the true meaning of inclusion. Talking about the parents daily challenges to help their two sons- one with ADHD and the other with AUTISM gain access to an education, day care and function the best they can in this world while dealing with behavioral issues.
Reviews the true meaning of inclusion. Talking about the parents daily challenges to help their two sons- one with ADHD and the other with AUTISM gain access to an education, day care and function the best they can in this world while dealing with behavioral issues.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews