REVIEW of TO THE LAND OF THE LOST by TRACY MAGUIRE

TO THE LAND OF THE LOST
Tracy Maguire
Innovo Publishing
2013

SUMMARY
It seemed nothing Tracy did for her son would work—testing, counseling, medication, therapy—and violent meltdowns were a daily occurrence. She agonized over What is next? What is to become of my beautiful son? Tracy’s struggles were long and hard, but with a mother’s determination, a supportive family, and God’s love and intervention, she found strength, endurance, and unexpected open doors.

To the Land of the Lost is a mom’s gripping, true story account of the trials faced while parenting a child who has Asperger’s syndrome. The story is gut wrenching and heartbreaking, while at the same time loving, uplifting, encouraging, and inspirational.

To the Land of the Lost is a must read for any parent, caregiver, teacher, or friend of someone living with an autism spectrum disorder.

REVIEW
To the Land of the Lost doesn't fit just one genre; it's a mix of parenting advice, memoir, and faith-based inspiration. Tracy Maguire is the mother of three children, and her oldest has Asperger's. This book is about her journey from holding that precious newborn baby to seeing him through high school. 

All mothers grow and struggle as they raise their children, but some mothers are given greater challenges than others. As a mother of a child with Asperger's, Maguire must figure out solutions to issues many mothers never face: meltdowns, depression, the school system's inability to educate or even handle a child, and isolation.

In addition to describing the highs and lows of her journey, Maguire also discusses the necessity of her faith in facing life's challenges. As a single mother, Maguire often felt alone in her quest to raise her son to be a well-adjusted, well-educated man, but she always knew she could rely on God for help and support.


I don't have a child with Asperger's, but there are several special children in my life with Asperger's, and this book helped me to better understand the challenges they face. Also, like everyone else, there have been times when I've felt alone in my trials--as if no one else could understand what I was going through--and I appreciated hearing about another person's reliance on God at such times. It reinforced my own faith.