a tiny space

by fifi coo & family

“I stand and face the sea,
as the waves come crashing to the shore,
the music of the sea is thunderous and loud.
Yet I am unafraid, I chase the waves, I run about,
excited but calm, I want to explore, I only want more.”
— fifi coo, 11 June 2016

How open are we to specialness in our lives? Open the door to the room within you, and let in fifi coo’s inner light.

After 8 years of quiet, fifi coo was given a voice through an improvised stencil board designed by his mother, and with it, he speaks poetry.

Genres: Poetry

181 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2018

Reviews

[Ying Hui · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful book about the perspective of a young boy with autism. As someone on the spectrum, the things I feel and do are far different from him, but he is absolutely wonderful. The way he expresses himself through different means, the way he could understand and express why he does things different.

I admire him, his kindness, his love and his heart. I also give feel inspired by his family, a loving one with forgiveness and understanding.

[Stef · Rating 3 out of 5]

"No, One shouldn't be praised for being kind. Kindness is for everyone, not only those who are disabled."

It's wonderful short memoir in verse about boy with disability. How supporting from family can be important to improving of Fifi journey in his 9 years before he can't read, talk or write. This one really give me insightful view like how we're human attend to see other people disability as some weird threat and not see them as the way they are human too.

[mm · Rating 4 out of 5]

The blurb does not say much of what the book is about and it was only the personal recommendation of an Ethos Books' staff at the recent Independent Media Fair here in Singapore – and also because I had enjoyed 2 other tiles from Ethos' Orbit series – that made me purchase it.

a tiny space is a collection of writings by 'fifi', a non-verbal autistic boy who finds his voice through an alphabet board with the help of his mother. His poems bring us inside his world while the reflections of other family members help us to understand the world both he and them have to live in.
How marvellous that his young boy has so much within him and how wonderful for his family to be able to share this with his readers.
Towards the end of the book, there is a conversation between fifi and his mother on whether people would find the book 'boring'. I say no but I feel the book needs better marketing to reach a wider audience. It is worth reading.

[s · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a heart-warming and eye-opening read! I finished it in one sitting because I just couldn't bring myself to put the book down. Probably one of my favourite reads this year. fifi's words are filled with so much knowledge and complex emotions that he really makes you think and reflect about yourself and society with every page.

[R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars*

[QY · Rating 5 out of 5]

Smart, witty, hilarious. I enjoyed reading it.

[MJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was encouraged by this book as my daughter also has autism. His family and his mother's efforts should also be appraised!

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful and informative book written by an autistic boy and his family.

[Matthew Crawshaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book opens a window into life as seen through the eyes of a young Singaporean with autism and the shared experiences of his family. Although unable to speak, 9 year old fifi has a wide vocabulary and composed his poems while pointing to an alphabet board, thus acquiring a voice to express his unique perspective and advocate for greater understanding of people with ASD.