The Secret Life of Rose: Inside An Autistic Head Paperback – 16 Feb. 2021

To an adult with two entirely different young men, one with the diagnosis and one without, it has helped me shed some light on how I could have been a better parent. I did my best but this advice was just not there. Hopefully it can help other people to know how to support these incredible children to open up their worlds as successful adults.

I’ve not shared with my child yet but I think it will be really helpful for they will identify with a lot of what Rose says. For me as a parent, it was an easy read, helping explain why some things have been happening and advice for me to digest and take forward.

This book is absolutely fantastic! There have been times since my son's identification that I've found it hard to explain to people what the world is like for him. So many respond with frustrating sentences like "well I feel like that sometimes", or "I think that's how it is for most people to some degree". Now I can suggest they read this book which explains it succinctly and accurately, preventing me from doing my son a great injustice with my clumsy explantations.Rose, you are an incredible young lady and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for writing this book. Jodie, I hope I can be the amazing mother you clearly are to your children. Thank you both for the inspiration to be better.

There is so much misinformation in the world regarding Autistic people so books like this are incredibly important.We have books from 'experts' whose knowledge is gleaned from 100 years of dehumanising and awful research based on external observations, textbook learning and too often a lens of behaviouralism and deficit.We have books by parents whose experience of Autism, while important, is external and limited in that regard and sadly often centres the parent, when it should be centering the child; and are too often limited to their child or children and falls back on that child as a template of all Autistic children.But in this book, we have Rose, a hugely insightful Autistic child, and Jodie, an Autistic adult who also professionally supports Autistic children. The combined level of insight here is so important, so valuable, because it provides the bit that's usually missing: insight.The view from the inside, the experiences of being Autistic in a world which stigmatises Autistic people, which is shared and relatable across the world, is the part that changes perceptions and is the part that allows Autistic people to recognise each other and connect.The current learning and understanding of Autism and Autistic people is deeply and dangerously flawed. You cannot truly learn about Autism or Autistic people, if you do not experience or understand what it is to BE Autistic.All you can do is observe and make assumptions framed through your own bias.I urge professionals to read this in order to recognise the huge gaps in their knowledge. To see this as a skilled adult professional and an insightful Autistic young person reflecting back and forth at each other across the years, giving up parts of themselves and their knowledge, to give you an opportunity to learn and do better.

I enjoyed this book. It's written really well and I will definitely try to read it with my 7 year old daughter, maybe even my 16 year old son as I feel it might help them feel more normal. In fact it's a good read for teachers and parents too. My only slight criticism is that it's a bit shorter than I expected. I don't often enjoy reading as I am an adult with adhd but I was actually really enjoying reading this book.

A great way to help your child with an ASD diagnosis understand their mind, from a first hand prospective

I’ve just read the book and am in tears! Rose sounds so much like my 8 year old son...!It’s really helped me at a time where I was losing empathy after a number of terrible meltdowns and listening to the neurotypicals telling me I need to be more strict. Deep down I knew what they were advising would not work hence purchasing the book. I already feel better, feel more proactive and confident in my approach to be more understanding to his needs.I also feel like this will help him so much, I will read bits too him and I know he won’t feel so alone knowing there are other people that feel the same way he does!Thank you so much for putting this together, very helpful, straight to the point, insightful and powerful.

Great book easy to read and understand

I was recommended this book by #actuallyautistic friends online and it has been by far the best book to read with my kiddo! My 9yo and I have read other books but none have left quite the impression. My kid sees herself in Roses words, she gets really happy and exclaims “Yes! That’s what it feels like!”I cannot praise this book enough. Very easy to read and so, so informative. I gave my copy to my child’s teacher and he loved it, I bought myself another copy to keep at home! If you’re here, buy this book. Autistic or not, buy this book!

My grandson is in the process of being diagnosed with autism. I bought the book so that I could better understand some of the symptoms that he is displaying. The book is written by an autistic girl, then after Rose gives her comments, her mother breaks it down, so each chapter has both authors, the girl and her mother. I would highly recommend this book to anyone new to autism.