Boy Alone: A Brother's Memoir Book

I would not recommend this book at all, honestly. I understand that being part of the support network for someone with the challenging behaviors of his brother must have been really difficult, but his language towards his brother is really, really disrespectful. He uses the R word, idiot, and crazy multiple times while talking about his brother and other autistic kids. He also assumes, for example, that being nonverbal means his brother probably doesn't have thoughts or memories, instead of that he just can't express his thoughts/feelings. Being autistic doesn't mean his brother is less worthy of respect. He also has at least one prejudiced description of a Black woman.

I learned a bit about the societal challenges in terms of the lack of facilities and research for people in his brother's condition, and the sad reality that his brother is easily victimized because he's non-verbal. (Though he still manages to blame his brother for his own vicitimization, saying he wouldn't have been abandoned if he hadn't abandoned society first.)

The author also has an extended part where he basically imagines what his brother's life *could* have been like if he were only verbal. Going back to reality after that is very grim. It also makes it even more unconscionable that he ends the whole book by saying he basically has to ignore his institutionalized, raped, hurt brother to be happy. He says he somehow can't fully turn his back, but he seems to resent that fact.