Rain Reign

I wanted to read this with my autistic daughter, but I felt the portrayal of the character was flat. It is a myth that autistics don't feel emotions. I know every child is different, but this really felt like a stereotype rather than a real child. I really wanted to love this book, but I was disappointed reading it to my seven year old. Also, there is a swear word, and mention of child abuse (by the grandfather to the father) so it was not age appropriate for a younger child.

I had been looking forward to sharing this book with my daughter as it was hailed to be a great book showing a strong autistic main character. However instead when I was reading it I felt slightly uncomfortable with the portrayal. Every autistic is different and I was not expecting all the character traits to resonate but I was hoping for a complex and interesting character. Instead it felt like a caricature or shadow of a girl - she was lovely but there was something missing and some of the autistic traits felt laboured. It felt like it was what a neurotypical adult would think of an autistic child if they had never met one. Instead of being "more and experiencing sensations more " the character felt "less" than if it was a book about a normal child. Instead of being overwhelmed by feelings it was like the author was buying into the incorrect stereotype that autistics are emotionless and don't feel empathy. The storyline was well written, with a good arc and had some beautiful moments in it but I was after a book that showed that being autistic or different didn't mean less or apart from society. This book didn't do it. The intentions may have been good but it did not feel like it was going to make any child reading it inclusive to autistics.