Some Kind of Genius
Janice DeBlois & Antonia Felix
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Buy *Some Kind of Genius: The Extraordinary Journey of Musical Savant Tony DeBlois* online

Some Kind of Genius: The Extraordinary Journey of Musical Savant Tony DeBlois

Janice DeBlois & Antonia Felix
Rodale Books
Hardcover
256 pages
October 2005
rated 5 of 5 possible stars
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It's difficult to decide which is more amazing; Tony DeBlois passion for music or his mother's love and support for her sons. Tony was born very small, blind & autistic, and his mother Janice DeBloise decided early on that no matter what the odds she was going to supply her son with every opportunity she could find. The results were stunning - at the age of two she gave Tony a small piano and soon heard the sounds of "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" coming from his room. She became his first fan and greatest champion, fighting court battles with school districts to ensure her son would get the musical education that would develop his outstanding talent.

This in and of itself would have been enough of an uphill battle; however, her younger son Ray has Asperger's syndrome. She battled for him as well, giving him the opportunity to develop in his own way.

I read the book with mixed feelings. Certainly I have no end of admiration for everything Janice and Tony have accomplished, and I learned a great deal about savants in general through the very readable quotes from Dr. Darrold Treffert. Most autusitic children are not as blessed as Tony either in talent or parental resources. He is able to live semi-independently in a home shared with his mother and has a general aid to help him through everyday challenges and while on the road touring. Anyone who reads this book will, I believe, cheer him on, and if they have the opportunity to listen to his music they will be lifted just a bit higher spiritually. My local library had a CD of his - I listened to it several times and will be giving this book plus a CD to several people I know as holiday gifts.



Originally published on Curled Up With A Good Book at www.curledup.com. © Pamela Crossland, 2005

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