Reviewed by Carine Engelbrecht for Readers' Favorite

While Michael's communication was complicated by autism and a hearing disability, he excelled at pattern recognition and art, his interests often gravitating toward science. Michael's drawing skills and keen visual observation helped unlock his mind. Occasionally, he would discover a talent for something - such as easy bicycle repairs. With the help of an art tutor, he mastered the internet and also Photoshop. His parents made an effort to include him in family activities at a level he could comprehend, but education policies regarding a hearing disability proved disastrous for Michael's development. He would craft personalized gift bags with thoughtful details for family members and sometimes even have a hand in designing his own birthday cake. Janet offers valuable tips on how the roles of parents and teachers can complement each other in The Alien Savant by Janet Elliott.

In true Star Trek tradition, The Alien Savant is about building bridges, about finding common ground to compensate for differing sensors, and about forming alliances between worlds that may seem identical from the outside but become vastly different when looking inward. It is a testament to the intensely personal. I loved the way author Janet Elliott leans into Michael's talents and uses his beautifully quirky art to provide added context and to celebrate his strengths. Throughout the book, Michael's considerable challenges are juxtaposed with his increasingly complex art, which offers compelling clues about how he sees the world around him. The author provided a fascinating analysis of how Michael responded to new experiences, such as bowling and ice skating, but she also communicates his heartbreak at harsh punishments that he could not understand. Such accounts make a powerful appeal for empathy and kindness from which future children facing similar challenges, and their parents would hopefully benefit.