Temple Grandin: how the girl who loved cows embraced autism and changed the world Book Review


 








1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Montgomery, S. (2012). Temple Grandin: how the girl who loved cows embraced autism and changed the world. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.  ISBN: 978-1-48984-780-5

2.  PLOT SUMMARY

This is a biography of Temple Grandin’s life from childhood to animal advocate. 


 3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

This information book falls under the category of Biography. Montgomery does an excellent job of describing autism and how Temple’s behavior was as a result of it. Growing up, Temple faced many challenges, especially with communication. The book progresses through the various schools she attended and how she finally found solace in high school with animals. Readers will enjoy the sidebars and photos depicting more insight into Temple’s life. The trials faced as a woman and someone with a disability are the main points in this book and Montgomery does an excellent job of showing how Temple never gave up on cruelty-free deaths for cattle. There are blueprints and diagrams that show how the cattle would move through the chutes while remaining calm through their death. One of the most unique things in this book is that Temple has advice for readers who have autism and also resources to check out. I think this also is very informative for readers who do not have autism as they are given an inside look into Temple's mind.


4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

  • ALA Notable Children's Books, 2013

  • AudioFile, 09/01/12 *

  • Booklist, 03/15/12

  • Horn Book Magazine, 03/01/12

  • Kirkus Reviews, 02/15/12

  • Library Media Connection starred, 11/01/12

  • School Library Journal starred, 04/01/12



  • Booklist (March 15, 2012 (Vol. 108, No. 14))

  • Grades 4-8. It isn’t easy to describe how the mind of someone with autism works, but Montgomery’s biography effectively breaks the disorder down for a younger audience while introducing the extraordinary life of activist Temple Grandin. When Grandin was a child, she was withdrawn and unable to communicate. In 1950, at the age of three, she received an unheard-of diagnosis: autism. Grandin’s mind thinks visually, in pictures, much the way it is believed that animals think. As such, she is empathetic to their needs and has advocated for the humane treatment of livestock by redesigning cattle facilities to be cruelty-free. In the early chapters, Montgomery’s narrative jumps back and forth in time with disjointed results, but it smoothes out as the book progresses. Grandin’s story presents autism as a gift, and her I like the way I think attitude will be inspiring to many. With informational sidebars, photos, and blueprints for humane animal-processing facilities—as well as extensive back matter, including Temple’s Advice for Kids on the Spectrum and resources—this title will be useful for educators and kids in discussing the prevalent, often misunderstood disorder.



  • 5. CONNECTIONS

Related Books:

Reeves, D. (2023). Do You Like Taking Care of Animals? Cherry Lake Press. ISBN: 978-1-66891-950-7

Loh-Hagan, V. (2017). Temple Grandin and livestock handling. Cherry Lake Publishing. ISBN: 978-1-53412-914-6

Activities:


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