OnlineBookClub.org

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Aaron's Story" by Carol Engler.]

Aaron's Story by Carol Engler is the tale of a mother who wishes to create awareness around mental health through the story of her late son, Aaron Casey Engler. It is an alarming account because, among other things, it exposes the ignorance of diverse experts in matters of mental health. For example, several doctors in three different states in America could not diagnose or understand Aaron’s medical condition. In addition, Engler cited a few instances where the police were on the verge of arresting children who had been reported as hostile or violent without giving them the benefit of the doubt.

Aaron was two when his mother thought he was acting differently and sought a medical diagnosis for his condition. Throughout the narrative, I was moved by how Engler, Aaron's mom, relentlessly sacrificed her time and effort for her son. However, I also wished Aaron’s father had been more involved with his son’s condition and welfare than he was portrayed in the narrative.

What I liked best about this memoir was the way Carol Engler became a mental health advocate for her son and other ailing children. For example, Engler helped a nine-year-old boy named Johnny, who was being threatened with arrest by the police for being hostile. She helped the mother and others, including the police, understand that the boy was suffering from undiagnosed mental health issues.

I disliked nothing about this memoir. It also had a few errors, which didn’t distract me from my reading experience. Therefore, I rate it 5 out of 5 stars for its exquisiteness.

I recommend this book to healthcare practitioners and other people of goodwill who may want to learn a thing or two about mental health. I think mental health problems are on the rise based on the number of people I know facing these challenges. There are a few instances of profanity in this writing, which may not augur well with some readers.

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Aaron's Story
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One of the things I find annoying is how doctors can't accept they are wrong just to keep face. Many people have lost loved ones to the arrogance of doctors. I don't know what became of Aaron in this book. But this book reminds of how much I detest arrogant doctors.

Aaron's Story by Carol Engler sounds like a powerful and deeply personal memoir that raises important awareness about the struggles faced by those with undiagnosed mental health conditions and the difficulties caregivers often encounter within the healthcare system. As a prospective reader, I am particularly moved by the portrayal of Aaron’s mother, Carol, as a tireless advocate for her son and others like him, which gives the book a strong emotional core. Her advocacy in the face of ignorance—both from medical professionals and law enforcement—seems to shed light on the broader issue of how mental health is often misunderstood or mishandled.