Autism is the subject of this novel but it isn’t like Mark Haddon’s The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time. Marti Leimbach‘s novel focuses more on the effect on the family of Daniel’s disorder. Melanie, the American mother in an unsatisfactory marriage, is aware of Daniel’s problem before it is diagnosed.

The reader becomes increasingly conscious of the self-centred world of the professionally  successful husband, Stephen, as Mel exhausts every avenue in her attempt to cope with Daniel’s behaviour and condition.

When Stephen abandons her and attempts financial bribery in his determination to force her to hand Daniel over to an institution, we will her to resist him.

The arrival of Andy, a play therapist, on the scene is a refreshing development in the story. With his help, Melanie is able to begin to live a normal life.

In an enchanting way, Daniel begins to learn words and respond to his mother, older sister and to Andy. We know that he will never function normally but Andy widens his world and restores Mel’s self-respect after the destructive attitude of her husband.

This is an engaging new angle to a familiar theme.