Exiting Nirvana: A Daughter's Life With Autism
By Clara Claiborne Park, illustrated by Jessy Park
In the preface to this book, Oliver Sacks comments that Jessica Park may be the most documented autist. Her early childhood was documented in
Seige, in which she was called Elly in case she would ever grow up to be embarrassed about her childhood self. She didn't. In this book, published in 2001, Jessy does not feel embarresment over past behavior. She is still autistic, and her mother does not hope for her to become normal. Jessy is a
successful artist who also works in a mailroom. Her mother has documented her life since the end of
Seige, showing Jessy's progression, consistancies, systems and obsessions.
This book portrays autism neither negatively or postively; it portrays Jessy as neither better or worse off than other people, being both handicapped and gifted. It should be enjoyable to anyone with any opinions(as well as to those without opinions).
Happy reading.
