MODULE 7: TEMPLE GRANDIN
Sy Montgomery writes a thoughtfully scripted biography of the
life, thus far, of Temple Grandin.
Grandin grew up in a time when autism was seen as something weird that
affects intellectually disabled individuals.
As Grandin grew up, she focused on her passion--animals, namely
cattle. Interspersed with the story of
Temple Grandin’s life, Montgomery gives detailed sketches and fact pages about
autism and the humane treatment of livestock, both of which add to the telling
of who Grandin is, and why she prominent in today’s society.
APA Reference of Book:
Montgomery, S. (2014). Temple
Grandin How the Girl Who Loved Cows Embraced
Autism and Changed the World. Turtleback Books.
Impressions:
Montgomery wrote a fairly thorough biography of Temple Grandin. This biography covered the two most important topics in Grandin’s life: autism and the humane treatment of livestock. While it was an odd combination to read about, at first, the topics converged to make sense by the end of the story. The story is complex enough to keep the attention and interest of a middle school reader, yet written well for an adult to read and enjoy, also. These 2 topics are important to today’s society, so this book is an excellent choice for middle and high school library collections.
Montgomery wrote a fairly thorough biography of Temple Grandin. This biography covered the two most important topics in Grandin’s life: autism and the humane treatment of livestock. While it was an odd combination to read about, at first, the topics converged to make sense by the end of the story. The story is complex enough to keep the attention and interest of a middle school reader, yet written well for an adult to read and enjoy, also. These 2 topics are important to today’s society, so this book is an excellent choice for middle and high school library collections.
Professional Review:
"It isn’t easy to describe how the mind of someone with autism works, but Montgomery’s biography effectively breaks the disorder down for a younger audience while introducing the extraordinary life of activist Temple Grandin. When Grandin was a child, she was withdrawn and unable to communicate. In 1950, at the age of three, she received an unheard-of diagnosis: autism. Grandin’s mind thinks visually, in pictures, much the way it is believed that animals think. As such, she is empathetic to their needs and has advocated for the humane treatment of livestock by redesigning cattle facilities to be cruelty-free. In the early chapters, Montgomery’s narrative jumps back and forth in time with disjointed results, but it smoothes out as the book progresses. Grandin’s story presents autism as a gift, and her “I like the way I think” attitude will be inspiring to many. With informational sidebars, photos, and blueprints for humane animal-processing facilities—as well as extensive back matter, including “Temple’s Advice for Kids on the Spectrum” and resources— this title will be useful for educators and kids in discussing the prevalent, often misunderstood disorder." —Ann Kelley
"It isn’t easy to describe how the mind of someone with autism works, but Montgomery’s biography effectively breaks the disorder down for a younger audience while introducing the extraordinary life of activist Temple Grandin. When Grandin was a child, she was withdrawn and unable to communicate. In 1950, at the age of three, she received an unheard-of diagnosis: autism. Grandin’s mind thinks visually, in pictures, much the way it is believed that animals think. As such, she is empathetic to their needs and has advocated for the humane treatment of livestock by redesigning cattle facilities to be cruelty-free. In the early chapters, Montgomery’s narrative jumps back and forth in time with disjointed results, but it smoothes out as the book progresses. Grandin’s story presents autism as a gift, and her “I like the way I think” attitude will be inspiring to many. With informational sidebars, photos, and blueprints for humane animal-processing facilities—as well as extensive back matter, including “Temple’s Advice for Kids on the Spectrum” and resources— this title will be useful for educators and kids in discussing the prevalent, often misunderstood disorder." —Ann Kelley
Kelley, A. (2012).
Temple Grandin: How the Girl Who Loved Cows Embraced
Autism and Changed the World. Booklist,
108(14), 55.
Library Uses:
Librarians can use this book to spread autism awareness, but also as away to help students with autism realize that autism is not a disability, but a diagnosis to adapt life with in life.
Librarians can use this book to spread autism awareness, but also as away to help students with autism realize that autism is not a disability, but a diagnosis to adapt life with in life.