As a grandmother of an ASD child, who with his mother has lived in my home since birth to his current age of 9, I could really relate to this story and how difficult it can be to meet the ASD child on their level.

I was not a huge fan of Alex at the beginning of the book and was not sure I would enjoy "The Boy Made of Blocks", but once I got about halfway through the book I began to feel more compassion and empathy for Alex. By the end of this book I was in tears and eager to tell everyone that this book is fantastic. This is not a book to be missed! Thank you Keith Stuart for sharing this story!

A heartwarming story about a family and the ups and downs of dealing with a son who has autism. Most books tell the story about the mom and her struggles but this one was about the dad’s struggle. It was insightful to go through his journey and the difficulties and the small successes. Alex deals with not coping very well at all to truly connecting with his son through a video game. It was pretty awesome to see the growth of the whole family and the love that binds a family together even when life us so very difficult.

This story completely kept me reading way past the times I should have put it down. It is an engaging story of a father facing his fears and learning how to communicate with his autistic son. Loved it.

Can’t tell you how much I loved this book. Sam just grabs your heart from page one and never lets go. I have a friend with two autistic children. So I know the friction and pain that happens within the family as well. Keith Stuart did an excellent job with the characters as well as underlying issues the father had from his past as well. The title is right on, but I won’t spoil the story for you

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the copy of this book in exchange for a review!

This book so realistically portrayed the struggles of having a son with autism and the effects this has on the parents' relationship. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will recommend it!

"Life is an adventure, not a walk. That's why it's difficult." I love when I start a book, having no expectations, not even a clear idea about what it's going to be about, and then it blows me away! Net Galley offered me the book A Boy Made of Blocks by Keith Stuart...had never heard of the book or the author, but thought I'd give it a go...and wow. This book is about a man and his relationship (or lack thereof) with his autistic son. I don't even want to say anymore, because it will either put you off or give too much away! All I can say is that this is a book where I laughed through my tears, a book filled with images and emotions and family and life....it was simply amazing.

This is not the typical book that I would normally read, however I was quite intrigued after reading the blurb about it. It was very well written and handled a very difficult and delicate subject in an honest way. I enjoyed reading this book

Thank you NetGalley and MacMillian publishing for the copy of this book for an honest review. Alex and Jody struggle to find a way to connect with their autistic son Sam. They are struggling so hard as a family and a couple that Jody requests a break. During the break Alex realizes that the way to connect with his son is through the XBox he thought was an awful idea when Jody purchased it. Sam and Alex create a Minecraft world and it becomes the place they go to feel safe and spend time together. Throughout the book the Xbox is a way that Alex can finally relate to his son and interact. After Alex and Sam are able to have a functioning relationship it heals other problems in Alex's life too. It was a heartwarming read and definitely made me think differently about interactions with autistic people and how they see the world.

Keith Stuart has taken events from his own life and brought credibility to A Boy Made of Blocks. He gives readers a glimpse into the challenges of autism--both for the diagnosed individual and those surrounding. Alex and Jody's son, Sam, has autism; his diagnosis has transformed the family dynamics and led to a trial marriage separation. Sam is only a current difficulty in Alex's life, however--a life filled with tragedy, denial, and guilt. Alex has a history of running away from life's challenges and consequently, isn't likeable at the outset. Readers must soldier on, however, and recognize that Stuart has written a beautiful and complex story that tackles the multiple layers that make up Alex's life--and really all lives. It is that universal theme of a multi-layered life that made this story so compelling. Although Alex and Sam vie for the main character slot, every character is well-developed and essential to the story. As the story unfolds, the reader experiences the plausible transformation of characters. Stuart shows that no one person is the "problem" in the disintegration of a family unit. This book will make readers laugh and cry--and feel totally satisfied at the end.

I received this book "A Boy Made of Blocks" from Netgalley for my honest review.

This book was good. I wanted to read it because my grandson has slight autism. The story is mostly of Alex and his son Sam who has autism. Alex didn't know how to relate to Sam so he mostly avoided getting involved. But through the story Sam brings out the best in Alex and shows him just how great of a kid he is. The game of Minecraft has brought them together. The story was a little bit slow at times but overall was a good read.

This book was a little hard to get in to, because the dad was a real jerk in the beginning. Dealing with an overwhelmed wife and an autistic son, dad had to learn how to connect with his son, and he surely did. Then it was uplifting, humorous, witty and made me want to see it all the way to the happy ending. A different kind of story, especially since it’s true. Just read it already!

The book got off to a slow start, and I found myself so irritated and angry with the main character, and his inability to engage with his life and family. I gradually became engrossed and invested in the main character’s journey and his relationship with his son. It was so inventive to have Minecraft play a part in the plotline also! Overall, I would recommend this book and love the messages about finding your authentic self instead of living life in a fog.

Amidst so many books that bring bright, communicative and well-behaved children, seeing a story that brings something different is refreshing. Even though this "different" is the parents caring for a child who has a different way of communicating with the world.

Sam is autistic and it's practically just his mother who deal with him.
But Alex, the father, finally discovers a form of communication (at the beginning of the story Alex did not seem to care about wanting to have this channel with his son): the Minecraft game.
From there, everything unfolds in a new and better way.
Some scenes are repetitive, but I believe the author wanted to show that the routine is the tonic of an autistic person. To leave this zone of comfort can bring desperate crises.

A different book. A reading that shows hardship, but also the hope, for those who take care of an autistic child.
4 stars

Having never had children, let alone a child with special needs, I was unsure how this book would resonate with me. This book, I found was so beautifully written and the characters so real, that I am finding it hard to start another book. The story made me laugh, and also made me cry. Ultimately it was a wonderfully feel good experience. Thank you for the opportunity!!

https://www.amazon.com/review/R2VJ7US1JRYBUY/ref=cm_cr_srp_d_rdp_perm?ie=UTF8

A Heartwarming book about parents with an autistic son. The father, Alex,still grieving over a terrible and unresolved childhood experience, is frustrated over his inability to communicate with his son. His wife,Jody, interprets this as indifference, and this leads to their separation.
As time goes by,Alex does begin to bond with Sam, his son, through the magic of a program on the x-box. Not only does the relationship blossom, but Alex comes to recognize the beautiful truth "an autistic person is not a problem, but a person." Alex and Jody begin to work together in guiding Sam, and their efforts help bring reconciliation between them.
This story offers enlightening insight into autism, and we see the need for friendships and the importance of family.
A wonderful novel, not to be missed!

A Boy Made of Blocks
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. There is a lot I liked about this book. 8 year old Sam has been diagnosed with autism. Dealing with difficulties raising an autistic son puts a lot of strain on Alex and Jody’s marriage with Jody pulling most of the weight while Alex immersed himself in work. After a particularly difficult weekend, they agree to have a trial separation. From here Alex learns to deal with Sam on his own, when he stays with him on weekends or he picks him up from school. Father and son bond over a video game called Minecraft. I liked the interaction of Sam and his Dad and the different ways Alex tries to develop a relationship with his son. I also liked the interaction between Jody and Alex during the separation, it was very realistic. I found the book too long and repetitive, especially the details of the video game. I do have to admit, I don’t know anything about Minecraft or any video games and I found the descriptions of the Minecraft game’s intricacies boring.
I appreciated that Sam’s character was based on the author’s son.
Overall 3.5-4 stars, could have been 5 stars if it was shorter.
Thanks NetGalley, the publisher ant the author for the advanced copy.

A very poignant powerful story about a family dealing with an autistic son, past losses and an unknown future. It isn't a true story but the author's son is autistic so he had a very good solid base on which to develop this character. It's a very engaging book that I didn't want to put down until I finished it.

A Boy Made of Blocks was a fascinating look into the world of Autism. I never knew how Minecraft worked, and to read how Minecraft made Alex able to communicate with his son Sam was incredible. I was once an in class aide for a young boy with Autism and he exhibited all the same symptoms that Sam does. When we would connect it would be on a subject which he knew a lot about. For my student, it was animals. In this charming novel, Alex and his wife's marriage is on the rocks. He never stopped loving Jody, but with all of their interaction revolving around Sam, he didn't show her he loved her anymore. She kicked him out of the house and it was only then that he realized he had to set aside his anger and learn to communicate with both of them. This is a beautifully written novel that takes you into the life of those who are dealing with a child with autism. It is scary and fascinating and amazing...please read it!

I found this a great book about the impact a child with autism has on a family and marriage. It was written from the husband's point of view, and it was interesting to see how he was able to improve his relationships despite adverse circumstances. There was an interesting cast of characters, and I found the story believable, even though the characters might be a little too good to be true. The book kept my attention and was well-written. I highly recommend it.