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Jo Case
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Boomer & Me: A memoir of motherhood, and Asperger’s: A Memoir of Motherhood and Asperger's Kindle Edition

by Jo Case (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
3.2 3.2 out of 5 stars 17 ratings
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Between juggling work, joint custody and the ordinary demands of motherhood, Jo tries to work out why her son Leo (aka Boomer) is finding it hard to fit in. His wit wins him friends, but the rituals of friendship—like
learning to compromise—are proving challenging. Is it because he’s an only child? Could he be gifted? When Leo is diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome, Jo fears what it means—and sees herself, and her family,
through new eyes. Trapped in a cycle of doubt and discovery, she wonders how you can stay true to who you are and fit in. What the hell is ‘normal’ anyway?
This is the bittersweet story of a twenty-first-century family, and why being different isn’t a disability—it just takes some getting used to.

‘Gutsy and heartfelt’ Benjamin Law

‘A work of love and beauty’ Susan Johnson

Jo Case is senior writer/editor at The Wheeler Centre in Melbourne. She has been books editor of The Big Issue (Australia), deputy editor of Australian Book Review and associate editor of independent literary journal Kill Your Darlings. She worked for independent bookseller Readings Books Music and Film, producing their monthly newsletter, for seven years. Her reviews, essays and opinion pieces have appeared in the Age, the Australian, Sydney Morning Herald and the Monthly, and have been broadcast on ABC Radio National’s The Book Show and Triple R’s Breakfasters. She has also been published in Sleepers Almanac and Best Australian Stories.

Jo was a founding board member of The Stella Prize, Australia’s only prize to reward the best book of the year by a woman writer, and was a member of the programming committee of the Melbourne Writers Festival for six years.
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  1. Print length
    353 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    Hardie Grant
  5. Publication date
    March 30, 2013
  6. File size
    1400 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00BY0X4TY
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Hardie Grant; 1st edition (March 30, 2013)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 30, 2013
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1400 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 353 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    3.2 3.2 out of 5 stars 17 ratings

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Jo Case

Jo Case

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Customer reviews

3.2 out of 5 stars
3.2 out of 5
17 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

corinne murchie
4.0 out of 5 stars Boomer & Me
Reviewed in the United States on May 3, 2013
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A great read, you could imagine the funny bits and the disasters for Jo and her son Leo. You feel how lucky they both are to have family support, sometimes envious. Recommended for all parents even for those with perfect children
One person found this helpful
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Susan
5.0 out of 5 stars excellent read
Reviewed in the United States on May 26, 2013
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I couldn't stop reading it, (and I hate reading!). I felt like I could have written some parts of it myself. Thanks for your honest account of your life and feelings, I think they'll have great meaning to a lot of people, as they have to me. Great book!
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Joy Rourke
3.0 out of 5 stars I was dissapointed with the subject matter.
Reviewed in the United States on May 11, 2013
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Boomer and Me.
I expected it to be more about the child than the mother.
I found it slow reading and
I was not in a hurry to finish it
One person found this helpful
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Rosalie Jenner
4.0 out of 5 stars Simply written
Reviewed in the United States on May 13, 2013
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It was a heart felt story that I could relate to her feelings of frustration and elation as she went through the many test for her son and herself before she was able to accept and have others accept the diagnosis.
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SUSAN FARRELL
4.0 out of 5 stars Personal and uplifting
Reviewed in the United States on May 16, 2013
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I liked this author. I felt I got to know her through the book. She's a great Mum and a nice individual. Hats off to parents who have to do it tough with non mainstream children.
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Sue Cason
4.0 out of 5 stars Boomer and Me
Reviewed in the United States on June 15, 2013
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this is well written, with a great insight for the reader into Asbergers.
it's a good modern family tale with lots to think about afterwards.
and, maybe we are all a little Asbergers at times.
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Jennifer Cameron-Smith
4.0 out of 5 stars `I think he has Asperger's Syndrome.' `And my world collapses in on itself, changes forever, just like that.'
Reviewed in the United States on May 24, 2013
Life for Jo is a juggling act: work as a freelance writer, joint custody of her son Leo (aka Boomer) and the demands of parenthood - made more challenging by the fact that Leo seemed to have trouble fitting in at school. Leo's an intelligent boy, but his social skills are sometimes lacking. He can talk easily and effortlessly about the things that interest him - such as Australian Rules football, Lego Bionicles or Yu-Gi-Oh - but settling into the classroom can be challenging.

A teacher thinks that Leo might be gifted, and suggests testing. Sometime later an assessment was undertaken. Jo was expecting that Leo might be gifted; she wasn't expecting a diagnosis of Asperger's Syndrome.

`I'm not Leo', he says. `It's Boomer.'

This memoir is about both Leo and Jo. While describing Leo, his actions, reactions and passions, Jo also writes of her own life - she may also have Asperger's Syndrome. Of the challenges faced as a teenager, as a young adult pursuing a career, as a sole (and then partnered) parent and of living with Asperger's Syndrome.

`Even with the people I am most comfortable with in the world, I am no longer certain of who I am, or how to act.'

It is difficult not to sympathise with Jo when she worries over the impact of the Asperger's label on Leo, and when trying to ensure that Leo's best interests are represented. At other times, Jo's reactions are confrontational and sometimes seem over the top. It's one of the strengths of this memoir that Jo includes both.

At an Auskick session (an adaptation of Australian Rules football for children), Leo has problems with team play. Jo writes: `I want to leap over the fence and smack him; I want to fold him in my arms and comfort him; I want to weep with humiliation and defeat.' I think that many parents (and not just of Asperger's Syndrome children) can relate to this.

`I want him to learn how to get along in the world, not just find a pocket in the world where he can get along.'

I found this an interesting and challenging read. A young member of my extended family has been diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome, and I have an interest in trying to understand better how it impacts on her perception of the world. But it isn't just about Asperger's Syndrome: it's about families and parenting, about friendships and partnering, about working through issues and finding out what works (and what doesn't).

Note: I accepted a copy of this memoir for review purposes.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith
2 people found this helpful
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Kirsten Krauth
4.0 out of 5 stars An unsentimental and beautifully written account of the joys and challenges of motherhood
Reviewed in the United States on January 24, 2014
When I read Jo Case's memoir, I was impressed, both with the story she told, and in her style of writing. It’s an unusual memoir with its pared-back, unsentimental analysis. I didn’t know much about Asperger’s when I began reading it, and I still had a lot of questions when I finished; I think one of the strengths of the book is that Jo doesn’t pretend to have all the answers.

I enjoyed, and cringed alongside, her honest and often funny appraisal of what motherhood is meant to be about, as she feels her way through it.
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Top reviews from other countries

J L Hilverkus
4.0 out of 5 stars big picture
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 24, 2013
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takes a while to get into the topic, but very readable nonetheless. a full comprehensive picture of what aspergers is like.
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Justuslambs
5.0 out of 5 stars Honest diary of a mother on the journey to discovering what makes her family tick.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 26, 2013
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I love her style of writing, it's honest, not always PC and just how I would expect the average 'jo' to feel with suddenly discovering that a label has been placed upon your child.

It's not practical advice on how to deal with the issues that may arise along the way more a diary on her own personal story. The gut instinct reactions from both sides of the family. The dad, step dad, step mum, her own & then her family around her.

Leo (Boomer)'s friends, teachers(whom I also would shout at like Jo), neighbours & everyone in between. It's his mum's (Leo's aka JO Case) blog/diary/story/memories of their journey.

I was drawn to this book, not because I have children (I don't), not because I know someone with Asperger's (I do) but because I was drawn to the style of writing, on the subject of the autism spectrum/mental illnesses etc & how exactly day to day things effect people. I would read more books from Jo Case. It's lovely to read a story that has the basis of real people, it helps you to imagine them going about their lives easier than if it was mere Fiction.
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P J FIRTH
2.0 out of 5 stars Good read but I was looking for more in school practice ideas
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 14, 2013
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I purchased the book as a insight into aspergers. I did not feel it gave me a great deal of insight into the condition from a treatment level that I was hoping for from a carers prospective. . P
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miss sarah k fost
5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant insight into aspergers
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 7, 2013
Verified Purchase
Really interesting and a great read. Lovely to hear such an inspirational story and love in the face of such a difficult situation
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