Temple Grandin

One of the most interesting books I've read this year can be found in the Juvenile Nonfiction section of the library. It's titled, Temple Grandin: How the Girl Who Loved Cows Embraced Autism and Changed the World by Sy Montgomery (2012) 148 pages.

Who hasn't found it hard to fit in with a crowd, been the target of bullies, or thought no one shared their interests? Add hypersensitivity to sound and touch and the inability to read emotions on faces, and you have Temple Grandin's particular challenges on the spectrum of autism. She had a father who didn't understand her and a mother who wouldn't give up on her. Her mother found a suitable boarding school that recognized Temple's abilities and encouraged her to build on her strengths. Temple's lifelong ability to relate to animals more easily than people eventually led her to become an expert in the humane treatment of cows. Since cows are usually raised to become part of the human food chain, her work concentrated on their living conditions and handling practices. Temple Grandin's amazing journey from a confusing childhood to becoming a university professor is chronicled with photos and sidebars of information on brain research and the farming industry.
~Lynette