This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.
Kathleen Somers, a debut author, holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Temple University’s Tyler School of Art, and works as a freelance graphic designer and copywriter. She is a passionate observer of humanity who believes in the power of connection that comes from each of us sharing our individual stories, and the importance of authenticity when doing it. Having spent 24 years guiding her son through a disability most can’t see has not made her an authority on the topic. It’s having been the student to all that he has taught her that has brought her closer than anything ever will. When Kathleen isn’t busy with her career as a creative, she is out on her bike finding new roads to explore, or spending time with her son, opening his eyes to everything the world has to offer, both big and small. She lives with her family in the suburbs of Philadelphia.
Reviewed by Asher Syed for Readers' Favorite
The memoir, Barely Visible: Mothering a Son Through His Misunderstood Asperger Syndrome, follows author Kathleen Somers' path as a mother raising her son, Jack, who has Asperger syndrome. Somers shares the impact of the loss of her first child, Angela, and the subsequent birth of Jack, who becomes the center of her world. The memoir spans Jack’s development issues, social isolation, and academic difficulties, as well as Somers' evolving understanding of his needs, including therapy, specialized education, and medication. Somers works to balance Jack’s ambitions, guiding him through college and the COVID-19 pandemic, while working through friendships and dating. Somers frequently comes up against societal judgment, her guilt, and trying to juggle a personal life of her own. Her work is a testament to her resilience, love, and acceptance.
Barely Visible by Kathleen Somers is a heartfelt and skillfully written memoir that stands out for its unvarnished honesty and authentic voice. Somers shows us how the ever-exhausting world of parenting is on overdrive when raising a neurodiverse child, achieving this with sharp observations and clear delivery to her readers. Her writing style is conversational and most of the stories she shares feel like a chat with a friend. I found it interesting that, as she walks us through the delicate balance between supporting and pushing Jack toward independence, the same needs to be applied to herself as well. Somers is a mother and her son obviously comes first, but she is also a woman who wants a nice house and a loving partner. All of this comes through with a little humor and a lot of tenderness, making it a perfect read for those who are on the hunt for a memoir with real substance and heart. Very highly recommended.
