Rating: 
Summary: Good story - but little insight
Review: I read this book as part of a book club.I enjoyed this book. It was an easy, and fast read. I was very impressed by Debra Ginsberg's writing skill, especially considering this is just her second work. She is extremely talented at putting her thoughts and feelings into words. One of the first things that occurred to me, actually toward the end of the book, was that I didn't really feel like I *knew* Blaze. I definitely felt as if I knew Debra, and in fact a good portion of her family, but she gave very little description of what day-to-day life was like with Blaze. In fact, the only descriptions of Blaze's life were his school days, and even those only came second-hand, as they were recounted to Debra through his teachers and school staff. I really longed to read more about how he interacted with his mom when they were alone, and to read about random things such as trips to the grocery store, or to the pediatrician. Also, and this is not a criticism of the book, but I found myself wondering over and over again, if, even though Debra obviously had Blaze's best interests in mind, she and he would have been better off if she had ultimately decided to place Blaze in a "special" school early on. It seems to me that the constant struggles that both of them endured by Blaze's attempts to "fit in" and be "normal" in a regular classroom would have been detrimental to Blaze. He is obviously a very bright child, and I felt that he would have performed better in a learning environment with more individualized instruction. These thoughts made me wonder about Debra's motives - why was it so important to her that Blaze attend "regular" classes in a "regular" public school (other than the financial expense of a private school) rather than consider other options? It seemed obvious, after he was in the sixth grade, that he was not getting much out of his schooling, and the staff and other students were suffering as a result of the distraction. You may or may not agree with the choices Debra makes in raising her disabled son, but since she's written a book about it, you should at least be able to understand WHY she has made the choices she's made. I didn't get it. WHY was it SO important to Debra that Blaze be mainstreamed? He was clearly disruptive and distracting to other students, he was clearly not learning as much as he possibly could have in other environments ---- Debra's motives are just not explained. I believe that all children with disabilities should have the right and the opportunity to mainstream at school, and as a result into society. But at what cost? Do non-disabled children have a right to attend classes that are not regularly (daily!) disrupted? It's a difficult issue to decide. I just wish that Debra had explained her motives.
Rating: 
Summary: Who Gets to Define "Normal"
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I think it accurately portrays the sad state of the American educational mindset. Every child (and later, every adult) has to fit, and woe for those square pegs that don't fit. These teachers and professionals, because of the nature of their jobs, were mainly unable to appreciate Blaze for who he is, and modify their teaching to fit him. No matter how you try, when teaching a room full of students, the teaching has to be geared toward the "average". Too bad so few of us are average. Blaze is blessed to have a mother who is willing to sacrifice her own goals and desires in order to commit herself to him. Many parents would take the path of less resistance and accept labels, medications, whatever the "experts" provided. We are programmed to believe the experts, and to distrust our own instincts. Ms. Ginsburg places incredible emphasis on Blaze "fitting in", even though she recognizes what an exceptional person he is. Of course, "fitting in" is safer and more comfortable, and who doesn't want that for their children. Perhaps since she never fit in, she desires it even more for her son. Speaking as a square peg who has tried to fit in, I am homeschooling my three boys, each of whom I find extraordinary in their own way. Ms. Ginsburg's honest, heartbreaking, and often joyous book makes me feel like I know her, and that we are kindred spirits.
Rating:
Summary: This is the real thing: an honest, moving, authentic account
Review: I'm still not finished with "Raising Blaze," but that's because I'm savoring every word. Debra Ginsberg is a wonderful, honest writer, and her account of raising a difficult and perhaps disabled child is moving, fascinating, uplifting and overall the most authentic account I've read thus far. And as a special ed parent, I've read an awful lot of memoirs and advice books on parenting special kids.
I don't agree with all her methods and ideas, but I admire her generosity towards her son and her absolute faith in her instincts. I had to learn the hard way that the first rule in parenting a special child is to trust your own instincts: you DO know as much (and often more) than the doctors and therapists and teachers you're working with.
Anyway, it's a wonderful book and I highly, highly recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: Raising Blaze Raised My Awareness...
Review: of the struggles and heartaches of parents of kids who are "different." I am more compassionate because I read this book.
Rating: 
Summary: A book that makes you think...
Review: The author of this book truly is an amazing woman. Her son, to his teachers and non-family members, is spoiled, stubborn and behaves inappropriately. He won't stand in line with the other children unless the teacher gives him a cracker, he won't color inside the lines (practically a criminal activity according to his kindergarten teacher) and lacks motor skills that most children his age have mastered. Blaze is a child that would rather starve to death than take one bite of a sandwich because "he doesn't like sandwiches." Not that he's ever tried one - he just knows he doesn't like them. It was only after reading about how the author tried to forcefeed him a cheese sandwich, that I truly understood what she was going through with her son, whom she loves more than anyone else in the world. Because of Ms. Ginsberg's somewhat unconventional upbringing, she was raised to mistrust and dislike doctors. If she had been brought up in a more mainstream way, she might have immediately sued the pants off the hospital and doctors for failing to give her a C-section (which might have prevented her son from being born without enough oxygen to his brain). However, her family is incredibly unique and interesting and supportive of each other. It's a shame that all families are not like that. In her own way, Debra Ginsberg is as stubborn as Blaze. When a teacher at school tells her that Blaze responds positively to getting M&M's, she instructs the teacher to stop giving him sugar. When more than one professional suggests trying Ritalin, she reacts as if she were asked to give her son cyanide. When a 2nd grade teacher again suggests that Blaze needs to be in Special Ed because his behavior is just too inappropriate for the rest of the class, she's upset because one teacher with 25 kids in a class doesn't have time to give her son the personal attention he demands. Ms. Ginsberg does not portray herself sympathetically in the book. (At times, while reading the book, I wanted to ask her "Who is the parent here? You or your son?" For example, Blaze gives her a list of words that she can and cannot say - does she say to him - you're 9 years old - I'm the parent, you're the child and you cannot tell me what words I'm allowed to say - No - she tries not to say any of words - which include, among others, NO and VERY and NONFICTION). What she does do is fight tooth and nail for her son and I do give her a lot of credit for that. Does this book make you think? Yes. Does this book make you understand more fully what it's like to raise a "different" type of child? Absolutely. Is it worth reading? Without question.
Rating:
Summary: A "must read" parenting book for every parent!
Review: The title and book jacket does not provide a reader with the true sense of this serious, emotional book which is really about raising an extraordinary child in an extraordinary world and since all children are, in many ways special and extraordinary, it is a book for all parents. Ms. Ginsberg's writing is engaging, serious but with humor and charm, and powerful in its ability to draw the reader deep into her story. Issues regarding healthcare, education, and relationships will touch every parent who reads this book. My husband, a pediatrician and parent of 2 children, found this book an important lesson to all parents.
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