A Boy Beyond Reach

by Cheri Florance

As a scientist and therapist, Dr Cheri Florance had the skills and training to help her patients to overcome speech and hearing difficulties. But nothing could prepare her for her toughest challenge -- her own son Whitney. From birth, he appeared unable to hear, seemed incapable of making any sounds, and was indifferent to those around him. Although the diagnosis of autism seemed to fit, Cheri could not accept the life that such a condition predicted for Whitney. The authorities begged her to institutionalize him and in defying them she jeopardized relationships and her professional reputation. But she saw something in Whitney that no one else did -- a boy who was trapped by his inability to communicate. In Cheri Florance's intense search for answers, she not only found her son but discovered something profound about the way the brain works and how we learn. This is a story that will resonate with any parent who has struggled to help a child.

Paperback

First published March 7, 2005

Reviews

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Story of Cheri Florance's (a speech pathologist) fight to give her proundly deaf, mute and severely autistic son a normal life. Biography. I enjoyed it a lot, well worth reading.

[John Bottern · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the most astonishing books I have ever read. Readers who have a child, or know others who have children who may be considered to be on a spectrum of mental disability that can range from being considered to be "living in a vegetative state" with little brain function at all, to children considered to be severely affected by autism, should read this book. One must take care not to raise hopes beyond reasonable expectations, but this book is nevertheless an eye-opener.

[Mikaela · Rating 5 out of 5]

A powerful, heart warming story. This boy's story touched me so much. I cried and smiled through this book.

[Felicity Terry · Rating 2 out of 5]

Such a disappointment, starting out as an interesting and informative read A Boy Beyond Reach soon became a chore to read.

Concerned that it might prove a difficult and jargon-filled read, I need not have worried as in this respect this was a book obviously written by Cheri 'the mother' as opposed to Cheri 'the clinician' and as such was an easy enough read.

Alas if only the rest of the book was written by Cheri 'the mother'.

Expecting this to be a book largely about Whitney - and in many respects it was - it just seemed that the further I read the more this became about Cheri and her endeavours, her successes, her prowess as a clinician.

Becoming increasingly repetitive, apart from Whitney becoming a year older I might well have been re-reading the same segment in which the author educated not only her son but also any other professionals who came into contact with him thus 'saving the day' again and again.

A difficult book to review in that I really didn't warm to Cheri and didn't agree with many of the decisions made by her and whilst its ok to comment on a fictional characters failings to me its totally different and can amount to character assassination to do so with an actual person so suffice to say this wasn't a book I particularly enjoyed and there are better examples of this genre out there.

Copyright: Petty Witter @ Pen and Paper.

[Evangeline · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can hardly believe that I almost gave up on this book after the first few chapters. Once I got used to the writer's style though, I found the science fascinating. Definitely want to look more into this doctor's theories about how some people displaying autistic tendencies are just more visually-minded and can and need to be taught in a different way from the current education systems that lean more towards verbal.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I expected this book to be hard going but was actually pleasantly surprised. Apart from a few bits where I felt it got repetitive I was quite interested and intrigued by the story and in particular visual learning styles. It actually made me understand much more about the way i think and learn.

[Kirsten · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favourite books. Dr Florance's insight, warmth and total curiosity about her son's giftedness is inspiring. Her dedication and perseverance to empower and ensure that her son was valued is incredible. Her son's determination is equally incredible. When you're running out of apt adjectives to describe such an awesome book, you know you've found an amazing read.