Temple Grandin: How the Girl Who Loved Cows Embraced Autism and Changed the World - Sy Montgomery

      

Temple Grandin: How the Girl Who Loved Cows Embraced Autism and Changed the World by Sy Montgomery

Bibliography: 

Montgomery, S. (2014). Temple grandin how the girl who loved cows embraced autism and changed the world. Turtleback Books. 

Plot Summary: 

Includes bibliographical references (pages 134-138), filmography (page 138), and index. Examines the life and accomplishments of Temple Grandin, whose childhood diagnosis of autism and love of cows led her to revolutionize the livestock industry.

Critical Analysis:

People, especially children, have a very difficult time understanding autism and its symptoms. Like it is hard for Temple Grandin to understand people's body language and their motives, it is hard for other people to understand what is going on in Temple's mind. Montgomery explains autism in a very fresh and simple way, using insightful comparisons that children can grasp. Too many books about people who have autism or other disorders ask the reader to feel sympathy for these people. Montgomery does better. She asks the reader to accept and value Grandin as a whole person. Readers will come to admire her for exactly who she is and the many things she has accomplished. It may be difficult to read some of the descriptions of the cruel treatment of food animals or their quality of life but it forces the reader to see, not only the harsh reality, but how brave Grandin is and was to confront this reality. While the reader may think, "this is horrible", Temple thought "This is horrible- I need to change this," and "I *can* change this." I feel better knowing that a person like Temple Grandin is out there.

Review Excerpt: 

Kirkus Reviews

A well written, admiring and thought-provoking portrait.

Horn Book

Montgomery's book not only tells the powerful story of one amazing woman's life journey, but also has potential to help readers understand autistic people and animals.

Booklist

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.

Connections:

Unit over Learning Disabilities

Biography/Memoir Unit

Learning more about how different inventions have come to be