Half My Sky: Autism, Marriage, and the Messiness That Is Building a Family

by Carrie Cariello

Five kids.Autism.Marriage.Building a family is messy business.In her most revealing memoir yet, Carrie is candid about the challenges of marriage, motherhood, and keeping one's identity in the midst of raising a family. She gives the reader a glimpse into life with a diagnosed child.She shares their experience with puberty, social media, high school, and steps toward independent living.Composed as a series of powerful letters, her writing is gritty yet tender. In prose that is nearly poetic, Carrie makes you feel as though you are old friends, sitting down for a cup of coffee and a heartfelt conversation.She chronicles the journey to find a post-high school opportunity for her son Jack and gives an honest account about the conflict when it comes to letting him go.She explains how, in this autism life, there is no manual. There are no instructions for how to untether yourself from a tender child who needed you for so long, you forgot what life was like before he disrupted your world in an exquisitely magical way.Her story will resonate with anyone preparing to transition a child after high school and beyond.Again and again, Carrie reminds us of a single truth.We are not alone.You are not alone.

Genres: Autistic Spectrum Disorder

226 pages, Paperback

Published December 1, 2023

About the author

Carrie Cariello lives in Southern New Hampshire with her husband, Joe, and their five children.

She is a regular contributor to Autism Spectrum News and has been published in several local parenting magazines.

She has a Masters in Public Administration from Rockefeller College and an MBA from Canisius College in New York.

At best estimate, she and Joe have changed roughly 16,425 diapers.

Reviews

[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderfully written story with raw emotion that explains what it is like to raise a child who is neurodiverse and how it affects every family member. The author’s story was very relatable to me. This book is excellent read for family members of differently abled children, as well as for other families who may want to better understand the challenges and emotions of raising a child with special needs.

[CHRISTINA TORRES · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a must read for anyone raising a child on the spectrum. It will pull at all your heart strings. It will make you laugh at loud at times but cry too. I read it in 3 days. It is so well written and so raw and honest. Makes you feel seen and gives you so much hope when the road of autism seems so so hard.

[Cindy Decker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartfelt and vulnerable. A story that I could relate to and helped me turn some of my hard memories into words.

[Erin Hamby · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved every word in this book. It made me laugh, it made me cry. It made me feel known and seen by another autism mama. I highly recommend this book to every special need parent- my husband is reading it next!

[Liz Cork · Rating 5 out of 5]

After following her on social media, I knew I should read her book.
What a beautiful story ❤️.
I laughed, I cried, and just love how she shared her life, her family, and all of the many layers of being a wife, Mom, and daughter.
I truly loved this book.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is special. It took me a while to get used to the format but it really helps take you on a journey. It’s funny when a book helps you see into another families life but more so gives insight and also longing for your own family, life, and history. Carrie, I felt your emotions and mine. This book is a cheers to our own journeys and those who love us along the way, our paths less taken.

[Deanna Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would actually give this book 3.5 ⭐️. Although I wasn’t a fan of her writing style the content was very relatable as a mother who has a child on the spectrum. This road is not easy but after reading this I feel hopeful and know that it’s ok when I struggle because others who are on this journey struggle too.

[Amanda Roy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carrie always finds a way into your heart with her words. Her vulnerability and ability to be raw is breathtaking! I always feel like I have someone in my corner after reading her book. You can tell it came straight from the heart!

[Ashley Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are a parent of a child with special needs this book will be a lifeline for you! It will validate all those feelings and you will realize you aren’t alone. If you aren’t a parent of a child with special needs this book will still touch your heart.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you, Carrie, for sharing your heart and the journey your family has been on. Your experiences are so helpful in caring for our granddaughter, Harper. Thank you to you, Late and Adrian for all the daily sharing with the autism community.

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Half My Sky will take you on an amazing journey through the multiple worlds of autism and how it affects everyone involved. This is a series of letters to people and “things” like anxiety and it is fabulous! Highly recommended whether you have a person in your life on the spectrum or not!

[Michelle Stanley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good read and reads somewhat like poetry. As a healthcare professional that works with children with Autism, this was a worthwhile read.

[Joan Brassard · Rating 5 out of 5]

a beautiful book by a wonderful local author.