Preteen girl looking at a cell phone with her parents

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Parents' Guide to

The Sound of Letting Go

By Kate Pavao, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 13+

Relatable tale in verse about life with brother with autism.

The Sound of Letting Go Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Community Reviews

age 10+

Based on 1 parent review

age 10+

A quiet story

I like that the story is written in prose, not a narrative. It has a flow that is interesting to read. The girl in the story tells and show a sliver of what her life has been like with an autistic brother. She seems relatable and the ending is tidy and almost comforting. I read this before I knew you much about the subject or family life with an autistic family member. I think this book gives great insight, just a glimpse, into a different family dynamic.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (1 ):
Kids say: Not yet rated

THE SOUND OF LETTING GO has some beautiful writing but a lot of storylines to follow. Readers may not feel much of a connection for Daisy's brother initially, as she starts by describing the difficulties of living with him. She's about a third of the way through her story before she reveals the loving feelings she had for him as a child. Toward the end, the dialogue gets a bit unrealistic and long-winded, and the storylines wrap up rather neatly.

Even so, this could be a good choice for the siblings of kids with autism or other children growing up with differences. Steven's behavior is extreme, but even readers who haven't experienced Daisy's situation will be able to relate to her concerns about what the outside world thinks of her family, her dread of going home, and her need for an escape into her music. Though there are a lot of pages, Daisy tells her story in verse, making it a rather quick read.

Book Details

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