Ian’s Walk

Ian’s Walk: A Story about Autism by Laurie Lears

Ian’s Walk is prefaced by a note about autism from a child psychologist and a sibling program director from Illinois Masonic Medical Center.  It contains valuable information about what siblings of children with disabilities experience in terms of conflict and responsibility and what they need from their parents in terms of support and acknowledgment.

In Ian’s Walk, Ian, a young boy with autism is allowed to accompany his two older sisters to the park.  The trip to the park shows us how differently Ian perceives the world: he prefers the smell of bricks to the smell of flowers; the exciting part of an ice cream shop is the fan; he is oblivious to a passing fire truck (this is a stark contrast to David from Rules who detested loud noises).  The sisters are somewhat affectionately amused by Ian’s differences, but become a bit frustrated with him at the park.  Then in a split second, Ian disappears.  He is recovered fairly quickly, but all I could think was how frustrated I was with the mother for placing that level of responsibility on her daughters.  What if something had happened?  Those girls would have to live with it.  During the walk home the sisters are determined to let Ian enjoy things his way.

I’m not sure I love the lesson of let your brother be himself because you’ll be devastated if you lose him. I think I would have enjoyed the book more with a different problem as the focus of the story, but it’s not a far fetched one. Overall, for younger readers and listeners My Brother Charlie is a bit more user friendly.

Sex, Nudity, Dating – None.
Profanity – None.
Death, Violence and Gore – None.
Drugs, Alcohol and Smoking – None.
Frightening or Intense Things – Ian is lost.