A Pebble to Polish Book

Janet Lord Leszl's award winning book A Pebble to Polish is a delightful read. It is the story of a young mother who has the world at her fingertips only to discover that her son is autistic. Leszl humanizes the devastating experience of coming to terms with the implications of such a diagnosis by having her main character, Cassie, contemplate the unthinkable - ridding herself of the responsibility for her son - a concept so horrifying it brings the reader understanding for how difficult it is for Cassie to care for her child by herself, without support. Overwhelmed with the prospect of raising him, Cassie reaches out to a group of women who also have autistic children and finds invaluable respite and friendship. The author cleverly educates the reader on the complex disorder of Autism through dialogue, where the reader does not feel inundated with medical jargon too complicated for the lay person to understand.Leszl takes the reader on a wonderful journey from denial to acceptance and contentment. A Pebble to Polish is a constant reminder that a positive outlook on life can reveal joy that may be otherwise overlooked.