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Boy Alone: A Brother’s Memoir

Karl Taro Greenfield
HarperLuxe (2009)
ISBN 9780061136665
Reviewed by Kam Aures for Rebeccasreads.com (08/09)

“A boy sits by himself on a stained white carpet, the corner of a frayed blanket stuffed into his mouth, his head bobbing, the fingers of both hands twiddling at ear level.  He seems neither to miss company nor show any eagerness to seek it.  If you say hello, he will not look at you nor turn in the direction of your voice.  If you take up position in his line of sight, he will look away.” (p.3)

So begins “Boy Alone:  A Brother’s Memoir,” the story of what it was like for Karl Taro Greenfield growing up in a family with an autistic sibling. Apparently there is already a bestselling trilogy of books about Karl’s brother Noah, written by their father Josh Greenfield many years ago.  However, this new book is about Karl and what the experience was like for him and from his point of view as a brother.  Prior to beginning to read “Boy Alone:  A Brother’s Memoir” I was not familiar with the family’s story. 

I found the book to be deeply interesting as you so often hear about the autistic child himself, but you rarely hear about the siblings.  In families such as this so much of the focus is needed for the special needs child, what is the impact on the other siblings?  Reading a book from this unique perspective is a very eye-opening experience that really will make you think.  “Boy Alone” is a heart-wrenching and emotional book and I recommend it to anyone who has a special needs family member or to anyone who just wants to read a very well-written memoir.


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