Be Strong, Be Tough, Be Smart

By: Donato Alfredano, Giada Star

Narrated by: Natalya Bykov, Roger Buehler

Be Strong, Be Tough, Be Smart tells one family's unique tale of championing a child with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) from infancy to adulthood. Alfredano and Star offer empathetic emotional support, as well as practical tips for connecting with your child with autism.

When Donato Alfredano's son “Denny” was diagnosed with autism 30 years ago, Alfredano and his wife faced previously unimaginable trials: lack of information about Denny's condition, social isolation, and the daily fight to balance caring for their brilliant but difficult son with life's myriad of other challenges. The Alfredano family, including Denny's younger sister, Giada Star, weathered years of trial and error with unwavering dedication to, and faith in, each other. They saw Denny go from an uncommunicative toddler to a respected PhD.

As he navigated medical and educational systems, Alfredano realized that considerable progress could be made at home through individually tailored interactions with his ASD child.

Told in personal anecdotes and easy-to-follow snippets of practical advice, Be Strong, Be Tough, Be Smart lets parents know they are not alone. Alfredano doesn't promise easy answers, but his family's story shows that with fortitude and persistence, there is hope for every child with autism.

©2014 Donato Alfredano (P)2014 Donato Alfredano

Short, but sweet.

What did you love best about Be Strong, Be Tough, Be Smart?

I liked that this book showed the reality of raising a child with autism without sugar coating anything, but still managed to be uplifting.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I can't say I had a favorite character; the story was well-written overall and each character was conveyed well.

What about Natalya Bykov and Roger Buehler ’s performance did you like?

The book was well-narrated. Buehler had a very" fatherly" tone and conveyed emotion well. Bykov did great as well.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Be Strong, Be Tough, Be Smart. (ha).

Any additional comments?

Excellent audiobook. I can really feel how much this family loves their child.

I highly recommend this book!

If you could sum up Be Strong, Be Tough, Be Smart in three words, what would they be?

Emotional, powerful, and inspiring.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Be Strong, Be Tough, Be Smart?

Denny running into the snowy woods without any shoes was quite an intense moment. Once the author gives Denny a strict lesson on how to behave( being in the drive way in 5 minutes) I feel was a quite dramatic moment for both the son and his father.

Any additional comments?

Such an inspiring read! Working with high-risk youth and those with special cases made me connect with the book. I quite appreciate the first-hand accounts the author documents and the lessons he derives from his son, Denny. After reading this novel, I take with me a few new lessons in deal with students with ASD. Even if you don't personally have encounters with a child with ASD, it's still a quite powerful story. I believe this is way I enjoyed the book: it was two levels. In one hand, it's a powerful story about a father dealing the the strifes of life. On a second level the book reads an a stepping stool for knowledge in dealing with a child with ASD.

Beautifully written & a real insight into Autism!

What did you love best about Be Strong, Be Tough, Be Smart?

This is a brilliant book, and I love how the information and practical tips about Autism has been entangled into a beautiful true story which is easy to relate to and follow, whether you have Autistic children or not. It is a unique journey following an inspirational young boy, and his parents, in finding ways to make every child with autism content.

What other book might you compare Be Strong, Be Tough, Be Smart to and why?

"Ten things every child with autism wishes you knew" is another lovely book, it which helps parents understand their child's needs and how they are feeling.

Which scene was your favorite?

I love the part in which, after all the searching and speaking with expert's the family come to a realization that small changes at home, once implemented could instantly change their life and their son Denny's.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, I found gripped by the story, and wanted to know what was happening next. It was as if I was on the same journey as the Alfredano's and one in which I could relate to. It was wonderful spoken and kept my full attention.

Any additional comments?

A beautiful read, breathtaking, and a real inspiration with lots of wonderful tips and help for parents with autistic children. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and would definitely recommend it to others!

Good encouragement for autistic parents

Would you consider the audio edition of Be Strong, Be Tough, Be Smart to be better than the print version?

No

What other book might you compare Be Strong, Be Tough, Be Smart to and why?

dont know

What does Natalya Bykov and Roger Buehler bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The encouraging tone of the voice

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The perseverance of the father

Any additional comments?

This is a book about a father's experience with his autistic son. It aims to help people in similar situations find ways to cope with autism through the narration of his personal story as a parent of an autistic child.

awesome story

Where does Be Strong, Be Tough, Be Smart rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Ranks as an awesome book, one of the best on the topic.

What other book might you compare Be Strong, Be Tough, Be Smart to and why?

Charly

What does Natalya Bykov and Roger Buehler bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

the story was well narrated, the voice was clear and well spoken. I enjoyed listening to this narrator.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I cried since autism is such a horrible affliction

Very Good

Would you listen to Be Strong, Be Tough, Be Smart again? Why?

This is a story that has moved me from the start. I was amazed and inspired by this father's faith and strength in the face of adversity. It shows how with dedication and thoughtful parenting, children with autism can do better and improve their life a great deal. This book makes a great gift as well, glad I stumbled on it.

Raising an autustic child

Would you listen to Be Strong, Be Tough, Be Smart again? Why?

Yes, It was an inspiring story

What other book might you compare Be Strong, Be Tough, Be Smart to and why?

I have never listened to an audiobook like it, so i can't compare to any other book

Have you listened to any of Natalya Bykov and Roger Buehler ’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have never heard this narrator before, so i can'tmake a comparison. But she has a great voice for this genre

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I am not exactly most emotional person but for anyone who has a autistic I can see why it would make them emotional.

A must read for anyone who has a (ASD) child

Would you listen to Be Strong, Be Tough, Be Smart again? Why?

A friend recommend this audio book to me. I am so stress out caring for my 5 year old ASD daughter, that some days, I have to just walk away and cry. So far I've read this twice and plan to read it again because of the empathetic emotion support, and practical tips which have helped me cope.

What did you like best about this story?

I liked the log notes, the part when Alfredano and Star, his daughter talk about their personal feeling concerning Denny's behavior.

What about Natalya Bykov and Roger Buehler ’s performance did you like?

Natalya Bykov's voice was very sincere and full of emotion.
Roger Buehler's voice was fatherly and concerned. I was right there with both of these readers.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Moon Phases

Any additional comments?

This was an amazing audio book, I'm glad that this family shared their hard work and overwhelming love for this child with me. Thank you.

Wow...

I'm not a parent; I'm actually your typical teenager--but this book was very moving. I know what autism is, and I've had the chance to work with kids with autism (and other special needs) in the past, but this really put things into perspective for me. It is very uplifting, the strength and love the parents have. Even though it was a short audiobook, it was very impactful, and I hope that the stories here will help some parents out there. Five stars for everything!

Game Changer In The Autism Game

For starters I think the message that speaks the loudest in this book is that parental love has no boundaries in education, research, commitment or results. This is an uplifting and realistic perspective from folks who have lived on the front lines of autism.

They did it during a time much of the debate and confusion of what it was and how it affected individual kids who grew to be adults with autism. Adults who go on to live productive lives that are engaged, with the world around them interactively and not hidden away as flawed.

In my mind, the interesting part of this journey was that they really had no advantages when they were in the middle of the struggle. Looking for answers in the age before the internet where the most you could hope for was a Research Library close enough to utilize.

This book is set up to help parents currently dealing with the challenge to plan and implement a home program if you will. That makes quick work of advice, been there anecdotes which I would think are the most helpful.

But more important than all that a voice to listen to who has faced the Autism negative diagnosis and as a family turned it into not just a positive because this book is so much more than any “my glass is half full” platitudes book.

I'm giving this book five stars because it doesn't sugar coat the reality it just serves hope on the side as dip.