«„Exiting Nirvana" is a strong and affecting profile of an artist with autism, beautifully written by her mother. Skillfully weaving in theories of autism with the experience of raising an autistic child, Park goes beyond individual history to address the wider question of what it means to be human». — from the National Magazine Awards presentation.All illustrations are by Jessy Park.
Elly Park was a beautiful, golden-haired little girl who moved with unusual grape. As a baby she had been undemanding, and later she appeared totally absorbed in her own world. When she was three her parents learned that she was autistic. In The Siege Elly’s mother describes how she, her husband and their three normal children set out to break down the barriers of Elly’s childhood psychosis. From the agonizing realization that 'something was wrong' with her child, through the heartbreaking consultations with doctors and psychiatrists, to the imaginative ploys the family devised to get through to Elly, Clara Park tells her story simply and with remarkable objectivity. A document of courage and determination,The Siege stands as a timely reminder of what can be accomplished by parental love and understanding.
