When we were told about a new (May 2013) young adult (YA) fantasy novel, The Society of Sylphs: How an Autistic Boy and a Mystical Being find their Voices through Human Tragedy, by Lea M. Hill, I was not sure if it fit with the other books we write about. Upon reading reviews of the book and interviews with the author, I was so intrigued we decided to post the author’s article introducing her book.

The Society of Sylphs: How an Autistic Boy and a Mystical Being find their Voices through Human Tragedy is a fiction story for the 9-14 year-old age range involving a nonverbal boy with autism and a sylph (an elemental being of the air that some say they look like fairies) who live and play in the clouds. Their purpose is to deliver messages to humans and other beings.

Ms. Hill took three years to write it and then self-published the book; therefore, we know she worked heart and soul to get it in your hands.

Lea M. Hill is an author, intuitive medium, energy healing practitioner, and autism advocate. She also hosts a website for kids that corresponds with the book at www.SylphSociety.com. It is a site for kids who read or write fantasy stories, or create fantasy art. This site features an online art gallery for kids to post their fantasy artwork. The Society of Sylphs opens the doors for parents and educators to discuss a range of important topics with kids; such as:

Autism

Teenage Drinking

Date Rape

Social Responsibility

Self-Empowerment

Communication and Speaking up for Yourself

How Society Judges People by Outward Appearances

Dealing with Death

…And more

Guest Post The Society of Sylphs: How an Autistic Boy and a Mystical Being find their Voices through Human Tragedy by Lea M. Hill

The Society of Sylphs is a delightful novel about autism, family, love, and mystery. This captivating and moving story narrates the complex bond and beautiful friendship that develops between Luranna, an invisible being from the mystical realm of sylphs and Eddie, a bright, 12-year old, nonverbal boy with autism, as they synergistically solve a crime and bring closure to a human tragedy.

A well-written, hard-to-put-down, tug-at-your-heart book, to be read, shared and discussed by parents and children alike.

Visit the book’s website at SylphSociety.com where kids can share their fantasy art and stories in the online gallery and blog.

*The “purpose” or reason the author wrote it:

There are several ways that this novel helps young people develop self-confidence, self-empowerment, and learn social responsibility. The young characters face issues such as: autism, teenage drinking, date rape, peer pressure, and dealing with death.

Not only does the book explore the social isolation of someone on the autism spectrum but, as we live in a society that judges people by outward appearances, it also demonstrates that nonverbal people feel all the same feelings that we do although they may not be able to express them.

*The target audience it is for:

All Teens and ‘Tweens as well as Parents, Educators, Clinicians, and Siblings of special needs children enjoy this book. It is basically an adult or middle grade fiction, although many adults in the special needs community read the book and have found it helpful in understanding the behaviors of someone on the autism spectrum and/or someone who is nonverbal.

Excerpt from Chapter 2:

Boom!

Roger flinched at the loud thud in the hallway and jumped forward in his seat. “What on Earth was that?!” he yelled.

Just my books, Eddie said in his mind.

“Eddie dropped his books,” Cheryl yelled back, crossing the kitchen to help Eddie pick up the heavy volumes.

Eddie didn’t like it when his father was grumpy. It made him anxious. And when Eddie got anxious, his autistic behaviors seemed to flare up like a bad rash.

“Why’s he carrying around all those books anyway?” Roger growled from the living room. “He can’t read.”

Yes I can! Eddie contested. As he became more agitated his hands began to wave back and forth swiftly.

“You know he can,” Eddie’s mother defended. Cheryl bent over and picked up a heavy, hardcover book with a lightning bolt on the cover. “He was learning to read before his fourth birthday. He was very advanced for his age when the symptoms began.”

Excerpt from Chapter 7:

Eddie’s dark brown hair reflected bits of golden light in the sun. “Look, Eddie, do you see the Easter egg?”

No. There’s nothing resembling an egg here. All he saw was a ball of silver scrunched up into the “v” of the branches.

Aunt Anna brought him closer, pointed precisely at the silver blob, and smiled animatedly.

That’s just a ball of crumpled foil.

Eddie didn’t move, so Aunt Anna put it in the bag for him. There were other adults doing the same for the youngest children.

“Let’s see what you’ve got now,” she exclaimed, opening the bag for him and pulling out the large sphere of aluminum foil.

Eddie took the foil and examined it.

“Okay, unwrap it now, Eddie.”

Eddie’s fingers were curling and waving, so his Aunt Anna reached over and started to unwrap it for him. Eddie’s fingers obeyed his command to pull the foil apart, exposing a single chocolate-covered marshmallow egg.

“Eat it!” Aunt Anna suggested, miming the motion of eating, “Yummmm, it’s good!”

Eddie gazed at her blankly and shoved the aluminum foil into his mouth. He decided he liked the squishy feel of the foil between his teeth. The metallic taste was new and different.

“No, not the foil, Eddie!” she said. “The egg. It’s chocolate and marshmallow!”

Eddie squeezed the chocolate egg in his hand, watching the white fluff ooze out from in between his fingers.

Aunt Anna sighed. “Let me get you some paper towels. I’ll be right back.”

About the Author: Lea M. Hill is a faculty member and tutor/counselor at North Shore Community College for ‘Project Access: Bridge to the Future’, a non-credit program for students 18-26 years of age with intellectual disabilities which helps prepare them for meaningful employment and/or independent living.

Lea has an M.B.A. from Northeastern University and has worked and volunteered in the autism community for several years. As a child who could not and/or would not express her feelings, Lea has an emphatic connection with those on the autism spectrum.

As an autism advocate, Lea develops unique programs that help people connect with those who are nonverbal or have limited verbal capabilities. She offers presentations, classes, and workshops in “The Autism Spirit: Pathways to Connection through the Heart” for parents, professionals and caregivers of those on the autism spectrum and related disorders and “Building Bridges with Nonverbal People” for doctors, nurses, clinicians, therapists, and caregivers of those with an inability to communicate.

She lives on the north shore of the Boston Metropolitan Area.

Follow Lea M. Hill:

Websites:

Facebook: The Sylph Society

Twitter: @SylphSociety

View Author Page Amazon

Buy the Book Amazon.com Amazon.ca in the Kindle edition and Paperback.