“I have autism, but it doesn’t have me.” – Blake “Crash” Priddle
This quote is a great way to summarize Blake Priddle’s Good Morning, Blake: Growing up Autistic And Being Okay. According to the Center For Disease Control And Prevention (CDC), up to 1 and 4 adults in the United States have a disability. That’s 26 percent of people in this world. Not many have the opportunity to have their story told or are willing to share with others what it is like living and navigating with a disability in a world that is often unfair to those of us with differences.
Blake Priddle is the difference maker because he’s willing to share his story with his memoir. He details his life from childhood to adulthood. He expresses his challenges and his triumphs being autistic. Most importantly, he enlightens those unfamiliar with autism by providing insightful information to educate and to see the person for who they are and not for their disability. “Don’t look at the label, look at the person…but understand the label,” said Blake.
I appreciated learning about Blake’s life. I commend his tenacity and grit in pursuing his goals, especially when obtaining his degrees and working towards becoming a journalist. As a person with a physical disability and a journalist, I understand the struggle one might face to be seen and heard in an industry that’s constantly changing.
Moreover, I appreciate the family and friend support Blake has. It’s needed for any and everyone regardless of disability. I also liked the experiences other people shared of their interactions with Blake throughout his life because it didn’t make the story one-sided. However, the author spent too much time on his backstory. I understand why the author wrote it the way he did, but I got slightly overwhelmed after a while. It was too long for me. Some of the details and experiences within the story could have been omitted. It would’ve been easier to state your point and then get out and move on.
The writing is clear, and there were moments where I laughed and got angry at how he got treated by others and moments where I cheered for him. Miranda, Blake’s respite worker, said it best, “Blake may think and feel that he has been learning from all of us throughout his life, but I want him to know that he has been the one teaching us. Teaching us how to be patient, to enjoy the simple things. To not be scared to try new things. Most of all, we’ve learned that when we have a passion and desire to do something, not to stop until we’ve achieved it!”
Good Morning, Blake: Growing up Autistic And Being Okay is available everywhere books are sold.
Morgan Lee Reviews 