News from the Border CL

This candid, often emotional account of her son's disability by McDonnell, the former director of women's studies at Carleton College in Minnesota, points out the often exasperating effects of autistic behavior on parents. A whiz at age five with a calculator, in geography and reading, but lacking other basic skills, confused, lonely Paul ``battered at the world.'' McDonnell defines his autism as ``a disturbance in the reception, integration and interpretation of sense impressions.'' In her son's case, it was misdiagnosed for 15 years as retardation, deafness and psychosis. Finally, proper medication and a discerning therapist enabled Paul to start to understand and control his disability and depression. He now travels abroad on his own and is studying meteorology at a community college in Minnesota. In a moving afterword, Paul tells his side of the story. Illustrations not seen by PW. Author tour. (Sept.)