Julie's Journey

Julie's Journey relates the tribulations of a woman who must first find herself, before she can fight for the rights of her son, a 10-year-old with "challenging behaviours," eventually diagnosed as autism. Julie is grieving the loss of her father and also the life she used to lead living on a farm, now struggling in the grip of drought. Although she has a poor relationship with her mother, Julie is friends with her supportive neighbour, Peggy. When Julie's son, Ben, is expelled from school, she has to fight for his right to go back to class and for her own dignity. Julie's Journey was written to let parents know that they are not alone when they are trying to support a child with a disability. Author Elizabeth Ann Ferguson was inspired to write the book by her mother, who raised nine children and died far too early. She lives in New South Wales, Australia, and has already written the sequel.