Temple Grandin: How a Girl Who Loved Cows Embraced Autism and Changed the World

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Montgomery, Sy. 2012. TEMPLE GRANDIN: HOW THE GIRL WHO LOVED COWS EMBRACED AUTISM AND CHANGED THE WORLD. New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. ISBN: 9780547443157

PLOT SUMMARY

This biography follows the life of Temple Grandin, who was born different from others. She was diagnosed with autism at the age of three and struggled throughout her childhood with fitting in and getting an education. She was able to overcome challenges into adulthood and became a scientist and a professor of animal science at Colorado State University. She continues to be an advocate for autism and the treatment of animals.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

One of the biggest items that stuck out to me in this biography was the images used. A lot of them were negatives blown up to show the image. It was neat to see images like that. There were photos of her childhood as well as some from her adult life. My favorite were the pictures showing her trying out the different squeeze machines as this really shows that she was truly interested in how the animal felt. Occasionally thrown in the mix were some illustrations that showed designs for livestock facilities.

This book featured a short forward in the beginning by Temple Grandin, that was neat to get her mini-autobiography before diving into the biography by Sy Montgomery. This gave an insight as to why Temple really got interested in the treatment of cows and how her journey began. Another neat aspect throughout the book was the quick inserts on topics about autism such as “A Few Fast Facts” and “Thinking Differently” and factory farming ins and outs. Some of the inserts used text features such as bullet points to get the message across without the reader having to read through passages. 

Knowing a little bit about history, I was shocked to learn of her being diagnosed with autism at the age of three, as it was in the 1950s, when autism was still a big mystery. However, in a later chapter, they clarified that they were still learning the diagnosis and attributed autism to as “infant schizophrenia” (38). 

Montgomery does a good job of giving readers a glimpse into how the autistic brain works through what actions and words Temple uses throughout life. While we know that every autistic individual is different, it does give a good insight into how they think. 

The final portion of the book is an appendix that is called “Temple’s Advice for Kids on the Spectrum.” This was fascinating because she gives advice to kids on how to handle difficult situations including social interactions, getting a job, and learning how to live differently.

Montgomery also includes references that she used to help her gather information and research prior to writing the biography. She also adds acknowledgments to those that helped her along the way while also providing an index for help in finding information quickly in the biography. Her final pages actually show images of Temple’s personal diary that readers can glimpse. 

REVIEW EXCERPTS / AWARDS

Booklist (March 15, 2012) 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 here 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.

Horn Book Magazine (March/April, 2012)

Temple Grandin is autistic; she thinks in pictures, not words; her senses are overwhelmingly receptive. She's also a genius and a world-renowned expert on animal science. In so many ways Grandin is a unique individual, yet biographer Montgomery illustrates how her struggles and triumphs are universal. Through prolific use of concrete examples from Grandin's childhood and adolescence, Montgomery makes Grandin someone with whom readers can identify. What teenager hasn't felt that they don't fit in? that school is boring? that life is moving too fast? Featuring a foreword by Grandin, photographs from her childhood and adult life, reproductions of her schematic designs for livestock facilities, and inserts on topics ranging from autism to factory farming, Montgomery's book is full of inspiration and information. There are some graphic descriptions of various slaughterhouses Grandin has visited, but they serve to add weight to the importance of her humane work. One of Grandin's greatest gifts is her ability to describe what it is like inside her mind and how her mind and nervous system are similar to those of animals. Because of this, Montgomery's book not only tells the powerful story of one amazing woman's life journey, but also has the potential to help readers understand autistic people and animals. 

Kirkus Reviews (February 15, 2012)

The biography of an exceptional woman who, remarkably, made use of her condition to discover her calling and changed her own and many animals' lives. From earliest childhood, Dr. Temple Grandin, professor of animal science at Colorado State University, stood out with her "odd" ways. Her own father wanted to institutionalize his "retarded" child. Luckily Temple had friends who appreciated her creative mind and a mother who steadfastly believed in her and sought out schools, teachers and therapists who began to help develop her many talents, including a fierce intellect. A kindly high-school teacher led her to realize that her career lay in science. Today Grandin is a world authority and consultant on the respectful, humane treatment of animals raised for food and has designed groundbreaking facilities and equipment that protect livestock from fear and suffering--because her autism permits her to think the way animals do. (Animal lovers particularly may find some descriptions of ranching and slaughterhouse practices hard to take.)Montgomery makes a compelling argument that though one never outgrows autism, it doesn't condemn those who have it to unproductive lives, and an appendix, "Temple's Advice for Kids on the Spectrum," provides first-hand wisdom. Photos and diagrams depict Grandin's work as well as documenting her early life and career. A well written, admiring and thought-provoking portrait. 

School Library Journal (April 1, 2012)

Montgomery paints a picture of a woman who overcame enormous odds to be highly successful in her chosen career as an animal scientist, designing humane livestock facilities. Although autism can be a devastating diagnosis, Grandin's own words help readers understand why she says her autism adds a dimension to her life that she would not want to be without. The descriptions of the many people who knew her when she was a child and the ways they either helped or hindered her progress give a clear understanding of some of the obstacles in her path. Montgomery includes a thorough explanation of the disorder, helping readers to comprehend this atypical neuropathy. The lively, well-worded narrative is complemented by ample use of photographs and Grandin's complicated drawings of her inventions. For librarians who struggle to find well-written biographies of women, this is a must-buy.

Awards: 

• Science Books & Films (AAAS), 11/01/12

• Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA), 02/01/12

CONNECTIONS

Other books by Sy Montgomery:

• Montgomery, S. QUEST FOR THE TREE KANGAROO: AN EXPEDITION TO THE CLOUD FOREST OF NEW GUINEA. ISBN 9780329729936 

• Montgomery, S. THE GREAT WHITE SHARK SCIENTIST. ISBN 9780544352988

• Montgomery, S. KAKAPO RESCUE: SAVING THE WORLD’S STRANGEST PARROT. ISBN 9780618491470

In the classroom:

• ELAR - This would be a fantastic book to use to help students understand and relate to text features found within a text. This author used a variety of items that students would need to locate and explain how they helped the author achieve a purpose. 

• ELAR - Multiple discussion questions offered at the end of the book by Sy Montgomery to use in the classroom could be written responses or oral discussions.