Strange Son
Encyclopedia
Strange Son: Two Mothers, Two Sons, and the Quest to Unlock the Hidden World of Autism is a non-fiction book that follows the story of Portia Iversen's second son who initially appeared to be developing normally, but started to have autistic characteristics by the age of two. His mother heard about an autistic 14-year-old boy in India who had been taught to communicate so well that he could write poetry. She decided to bring the boy and his mother to California to see if their success could be replicated with her own son.
Portia heard about an autistic boy named Tito that lived in Bangalore
, India with his mother, Soma Mukhopadhyay. Soma had taught her son how to communicate, write poetry, and explain how the poetry made him feel.
This story inspired Portia to want to help her own son in the same manner. She invited Soma and Tito to California
for a month in the hope that Soma could help her son become communicative. Soma's methods were unusual but she managed to help Dov start communicating with his parents.
CAN merged with the Autism Speaks
organization in 2007; the merged group uses the name "Autism Speaks."
found it disappointing that there was a mention in passing that Dov started showing signs of autism after a vaccination
. Ernst said, "This causal impression does a disservice to families" because there are "mountains of data finding no causal link between vaccines and autism".
said that the book does not gloss over problems as is common in other books that detail medical stories. Regis Schilken of Blogcritics
said that "Strange Son should be read by psychiatrists, psychologists, doctors, counselors, and at all costs, by politicians who must provide money for autism research."
Plot summary
Portia Iversen's second son Dov, born in 1992, seemed normal as a baby. By the age of two, he reacted atypically to noises and also made odd noises himself. By the time he was three years old, he was unable to speak and was fascinated by objects. This led to a diagnosis of autism. At the age of eight, Dov was still uncommunicative.Portia heard about an autistic boy named Tito that lived in Bangalore
Bangalore
Bengaluru , formerly called Bengaluru is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Bangalore is nicknamed the Garden City and was once called a pensioner's paradise. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the south-eastern part of Karnataka, Bangalore is India's third most populous city and...
, India with his mother, Soma Mukhopadhyay. Soma had taught her son how to communicate, write poetry, and explain how the poetry made him feel.
This story inspired Portia to want to help her own son in the same manner. She invited Soma and Tito to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
for a month in the hope that Soma could help her son become communicative. Soma's methods were unusual but she managed to help Dov start communicating with his parents.
Charity
Portia's husband Jon Shestack started an organization called Cure Autism Now (CAN). CAN's goal was not only to find a cure, but to also increase people's understanding of those with autism. A part of all sales Iversen's book benefited CAN's Innovative Technology for Autism initiative.CAN merged with the Autism Speaks
Autism Speaks
Autism Speaks is the world's largest autism advocacy organization that sponsors autism research and conducts awareness and outreach activities aimed at families, governments, and the public. It was founded in February 2005 by Bob Wright, vice chairman of General Electric, and by his wife Suzanne, a...
organization in 2007; the merged group uses the name "Autism Speaks."
Autism and vaccines
Ernst VanBergeijk of Journal of Autism and Developmental DisordersJournal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
The Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders publishes 10 issues per year and is a scholarly journal focusing on all aspects of autism spectrum disorders and related developmental disabilities....
found it disappointing that there was a mention in passing that Dov started showing signs of autism after a vaccination
Vaccination
Vaccination is the administration of antigenic material to stimulate the immune system of an individual to develop adaptive immunity to a disease. Vaccines can prevent or ameliorate the effects of infection by many pathogens...
. Ernst said, "This causal impression does a disservice to families" because there are "mountains of data finding no causal link between vaccines and autism".
Reception
Abigail Zuger, M.D. of The New York TimesThe New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
said that the book does not gloss over problems as is common in other books that detail medical stories. Regis Schilken of Blogcritics
Blogcritics
Blogcritics is a blog network and online magazine of news and opinion. The site—a self-proclaimed "sinister cabal of superior writers"—was founded in 2002 by Eric Olsen and Phillip Winn...
said that "Strange Son should be read by psychiatrists, psychologists, doctors, counselors, and at all costs, by politicians who must provide money for autism research."