Do you identify with Ginny's struggle?

Whether you are on the autistic spectrum or not, a fourteen year old's ability to navigate trauma early in her life is not easy for anyone? Do you identify with Ginny's struggle?

Fortunately not.

I cannot identify personally with Ginny's struggles, but the author gave Ginny a voice that helped me understand the struggles of autistic people.

I cannot identify personally with Ginny's struggles, but the author gave Ginny a voice that helped me understand the struggles of autistic people.

Not personally however the author made Ginny a distinct and original character in her own right, with a story that's immensely personal and surprisingly emotional making it easy for me to root for her from page one.

I honestly did not identify with Ginny's struggle. I felt her struggles were inconsistent, perhaps due to her autism. It seemed like there were so many issues and none ever really got untangled. Her narrative felt like "noise" to me and was distracting when I tried to empathize with her pain.

As an elementary teacher, I have struggled with making the meaning of my message clear a time or two. And while it was frustrating, I was able to find different examples, different words, and come at the problem from a different angle. Ginny's approach was more one dimensional--she could not expand beyond using "baby doll", which was interpreted literally by her parents and other adults, and then brushed aside. I am learning to speak Spanish and get terribly frustrated at times when I know what I want to say, need to say, to get my message across--but can't because I do not yet have all the words I need to do so. I felt frustrated for her and frustrated with the adults.

I really did, only because I have several friends who have autistic children or grandchildren and I see how much they struggle with this - so I guess I identify with them, not so much their children (Ginny)

No, I did not relate to Ginny. As another reader worded it: "Fortunately, not." That in no way diminished my enjoyment of the book. I have been around a few autistic children and could appreciate the frustration of her adoptive parents, her teachers, etc. I suppose if the comparison is stretched to the limits, I could say that all fourteen-year-olds have an insecurity or two of some sort and that all young teens need to feel cared for and secure, even if they think they are gorwn up and too cool for adults.

I can't say I relate to Ginny's struggle but I have an idea of how important her quest is in finding Krystal and worrying over her safety, clearly Ginny experienced trauma and has never forgotten. Autisim was respectfully explored as well as enlightened me even more

Personally I do not identify with Ginny’s struggle, however I am able to empathize with her. Weeks after reading Ginny Moon, I still think about her and her struggles. An autistic 14 year old who was abused, cared for a newborn, saw many “uncles” going in and out of her mother’s bedroom, placed in several different homes, and had a disfunctional therapist faces much “noise” (the term another participant used). This “noise”includes the adults who want to help her but are ill-equipped to do so; including her forever parents, teachers, therapist, social workers, Gloria, Crystal with a C, and Rick. Although Ginny gets another chance to be understood by those in her life, so many other abused, neglected, and ill children (whether a brain development condition, mental illness, developmental disability, or other illness) do not and they continue suffering as adults. They may self medicate, withdraw from society norms, and/or commit criminal acts in an effort to survive. With continued understanding and proper guidance, hopefully Ginny will grow into a functional adult. Unfortunately, she will continue to struggle throughout her lifetime.

It is books such as this that allow us middle-class, non-struggling, living what is a considered a “normal”life should be reading to understand those with whom we don’t normally have contact. This will allow us to want to explore topics such as this before discussing the social contract and making policies regarding the disenfranchised.