Autism is a topic that seems to be something touched on in many novels these days. Each I've read is more interesting than the last. Eye Contact by Cammie McGovern does not disappoint in the slightest.
Cara is a single mother to Adam, a nine year old boy with autism. Several years of working with Adam has helped acclimate him into the world around him rather than the world within him. He's enrolled in the special education class within the school systems and seems to have developed a bond with a girl in his class. One day he and the little girl leave the playground and go into the woods. Several hours later, Adam is drawn back into his own shell, and the little girl is dead. They find Adam rocking back and forth repeating words over and over again. As the only witness to the crime, the police need Adam to help them, and Cara is willing to help, but not at the expense of losing her son to his disease again.
I first read this book a couple of years ago, and was blown away. I think I've read it no less than five times now. I bought another novel by McGovern, The Art of Seeing, but it just did not appeal and draw me in as well as Eye Contact did. The topic was obviously well researched and the book was meticulously executed. I realize this is an incredibly short review, but I can't think of a bad thing to say about this.

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3 comments:
You must really know this story well after so much re-reading. It sounds worthwhile to checkout. I read a non-fiction book on autism, so this might be good
Hey Ashley! As the mom of an autistic child, I can tell you that so much of McGovern's information is accurate, but the plot seems off to me in a way I can't put my finger on - then again, I am lucky enough to have a partner-in-parenting, whereas Cara only had herself.
So the only bad thing I would say about Eye Contact is that it's about as realistic as any murder mystery - shows like Law & Order, etc, want us to believe the mystery part is far more common than it is and that bizarre random murders happen all over the place, which isn't true. BUT because McGovern puts so much actual info in it, readers might be sucked into the fiction and take it for fact.
OMG, I'm totally rambling. Make me stop. :)
Hey Aerin! Thanks for your POV! Don't stop, your ramble was a good point and much appreciated :)
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