Your comments on The Boy Who Fell to Earth

Meet Merlin. He’s Lucy's bright, beautiful son - who just happens to be autistic. If only he came with operating instructions…

So many of you have been sharing thoughtful & heartfelt comments with Kathy on Facebook and Twitter about The Boy Who Fell to Earth and your own experiences of living with autism. Here are just a few of them…

“Just finished The Boy Who Fell To Earth- gorgeous. Thank you on behalf of my dear friend Nick, his mother( and my oldest friend) Amanda and myself for doing your bit to destigmatise Aspergers. Am now going to plunge into To Love Honour and Betray which I have inexplicably missed finding until now. Jacqui xxx”


“Loved your book when i read it, so much like my own son who is 7 but its great to read a mums view of the world of ASD, thank you x”


I enjoy your writing so much..I’ve just finished “The Boy Who Fell To Earth” and can’t think of an English word for ‘laughing out loud-heart aching a little-with a happy grin’, but I’m sure there’s some beautifully obscure Russian or French adjective to be found 🙂 xx”


“Just getting through chapter 2 on “the boy that fell to earth”, and it is so uncanny that no matter where you are living in the world – you all face the same dilemma’s in getting help once you’ve been given the diagnosis. like – being in the tallest building in the world and being told to pick the right door on the right floor to get the help you need, have more success unscrambling and egg. The same emotions, fears and thoughts of self blame.

Over the years of countless support groups, therapy and monthly meetings at the local autism advisory centre, one thing sticks in mind; and that is IGNORANCE about autism. Depending on social stature, culture , ego and the like as to how you deal with it. i was told my youngest two children are in the spectrum on the same day in Oct 2007. (aspergers and autism). I stepped up as I had to for them as I had already suspected my daughter of having aspergers, but a big shock for my son. My then wife did not want to accept anything , ending up me leaving my hospital job to be a full time carer and try to help her with her mental issues. Was only last year she admitted to it, now divorced she still has no input thats why I’ve got custody. Anyway, a lady in one group has a doctor husband and he works more and won’t accept it, others parents being serbian sat the chid is possessed by the devil and one was blamed for being a bad parent. I sincerely applaud you for taking the stand and persevering on, a shame the hubby cannot : (. but now look at your son and see your hard work – yes its a challenge when there’s no family support, and denial sets in because of “how it looks for them”, you know, they are the ones that miss out on those cherished milestones of achievement when your child does something on their own for the first time.

raising special needs kids actually brings you so much closer to them and a bond that is unbreakable. To tell you the truth, Its been years since buying a book, apart from therapy ones etc, and this book has got me reading again, I forgot what I’ve been missing out on – THANK YOU KATHY xxx I’m eagerly waiting to continue the read. what a great insight, stalagtight snot – so expressive it brought images to mind. Cheers FROM Dave”


“Hi Kathy. I am currently reading “The Boy Who Fell to Earth.” I just read the following passage and couldn’t help but nod and smile in complete and utter understanding and agreement. My son is 4 years old and has Cerebral Palsy – on the physical scale he is deemed rather severe. I just wanted to thank you for giving me stuff to laugh about – and at the same time understand the following….on “Lucy” seeing the mother crying next to the primary school because her 5 year old couldn’t learn his French properly…”I had an overwhelming desire to get into my car and back over her body repeatedly. And do you know what? A jury of mothers of special needs children would acquit me.” Starting tomorrow, I am viewing special needs schools for my son to attend once he turns 5. We are facing the very real prospect that he won’t be able to attend the same school as his brother – and I know people that I just wish they knew how damned lucky they are with such simple things that they have each day!  Can’t wait to read the rest of this book!! x”


Kathy, You are pretty inspirational….My dearest friend Andy has a truly wonderful, brilliant (of course) funny (goes without saying) daughter Liv (Olivia) we ADORE and love her…she’s 11 years of age and has a terrible time during lunchtimes (1half hours per day on her own). The school is apparently helping Andy with filling up her lunchtimes with different activities but it breaks our hearts. Girls are horrible anyway so you can imagine what poor Liv has to deal with…

Both Andy and I organised an event back in Hampstead with a kids catwalk and Melanie Sykes comparing it for charity IPAN (International Pre-Autistc Network) and raised £4,000….we were so delighted and it decided to snow that morning…but the show still went ahead. We thought it would give Liv the confidence to strive ahead and help others like her…She was photographed for the local paper and it was acknowledged at school.

I love what you write and how you highlight the difficulties, the beauty and humour with kids with autism.


“Thank you for writing ‘the boy that fell to earth’ its an amazing read that i laughed with and cried at. My son is five, just diagnosed with Autism, luckily he is high functioning. I’ve recommended it to all my friends, i tell them – its basically my life in a snapshot. “

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