A Pebble To Polish

By Janet Lord Leszl

Sudden wealth isn't all it's cracked up to be for idealistic college student, Cassandra Delaine. Her twenty-first birthday sets in motion a series of unintended events. The tragic loss of loved ones, coupled with an unplanned pregnancy, compel her to start life over in new surroundings. Alone, without any friends or family, she struggles to understand why her child is so difficult to raise. Tantrums at the most inopportune times, his unusual rituals and boundless energy cause her to question her abilities as a parent. His eventual diagnosis threatens to push the young, single mother over sanity's edge.Desperate for answers, Cassie finds acceptance in a sisterhood of similar mothers. She begins to enjoy their camaraderie, but still longs for the carefree life she once anticipated. At times, the heavy burden of parenting a child with special needs seems more than she can bear. With guidance from her new friends, will Cassie learn to truly appreciate her son or will she succumb to selfish desires?

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1419664492
• ISBN13: 9781419664496
• Release Date: September 2007
• Publisher: Booksurge Publishing
• Length: 308 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.3" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

An incredible book

A Pebble to Polish takes you on a journey into the world of autism as seen through the eyes of a young mother, Cassandra Delaine. Several events happen in Cassie's life that change her forever. When her son is diagnosed with autism, she is crushed. She didn't plan for this and now her whole life is turned upside down. With the help of a group of loving women going through similar trials, Cassie learns how to handle her difficult but sweet child as well as teach others about life with autistic children. Skillfully crafted, Janet Lord Leszl walks you through not only the life of the characters but she also teaches you about autism. The sequence of events and the descriptive way the book is written make it hard to put the book down. The flow of the story is well thought out with intense highs and devastating lows. The author intertwines trauma, humor and information in such a way that it leaves the reader with a greater understanding of autism and the desire to learn more about this strange and complex condition. I laughed, cried and cheered along with Cassie and her friends as I learned more about autism. I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants a good read and better understanding of autism. I would consider this a must have for parents of children that are newly diagnosed or suspected of having autism.

Excellent Book!

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in autism! The characters and plot are so interesting that I could not put the book down! Debbie Clutts - Howard County Autism Society

I love this story!

What a way to learn more about autism! Once I started reading this book I couldn't put it down. There is so much symbolism throughout this book in the names of the characters and the characters themselves. It's so much more than just fiction. I love the story and the way the author used fiction in order to teach us facts. Cherish the pebbles in your life.

I loved this book!

I bought the book not knowing what to expect, but I found myself not able to put it down....I highly recommend it, not only for parents, but for anyone - it may shed more light on how parents struggle with and survive autism on a daily basis. Since it's fiction, it introduces the reader to autism in a "easy to read" format instead of being jammed with technical terms that are only familiar to those in the "autism industry." It was a great read for me as the parent of a newly diagnosed child.

Excellent!

I loved this story and finished the book in less than two days. It captured my interest immediately and helped me learn lots about autism and how different and challenging it is for the children with this disorder and those who love them. The author did a wonderful job of helping you see these children throough the eyes of their parents and others around them.