A Friend Like Ben
by Julia Romp, HarperCollins, $32.99
A Friend Like Ben is the remarkable true story of a mother, her troubled son George and Ben the cat, who brings so much joy into their lives.
Julia's son George is born different. Extremely sensitive to touch, noise and any external stimulus,
he screams his way through his first few years. Even Julia's attempts to try to comfort him are rejected and seem to make him yell louder.
As he gets older, his strange behaviour and perceived aggressiveness make him an outcast at school and around his neighbourhood.
Despite Julia's constant trips to doctors and pleas for help, it is many long years before George is finally diagnosed with autism.
In fact, it is only the arrival of Ben - a stray cat adopted by Julia and George - that seems to unlock the door to George's inner self.
He immediately begins to improve. He starts to talk to Julia and she is able to touch and cuddle him for the first time.
But when Ben goes missing, George is heartbroken and enters a deep depression, refusing to eat or speak to Julia.
So begins the desperate search for Ben - can Julia find him and bring George back, too?
This book manages to be both incredibly moving and entertaining. It is very well-written and Julia Romp somehow manages to maintain her sense of humour despite all the challenges life has thrown at her.
A delightful summer read.
