Library Journal Review

Airing originally on HBO, this documentary follows five autistic children through the first year of the Miracle Project (www.themiracleproject.org), a theater program for children with special needs. Created by acting coach Elaine Hall and producer Diane Isaacs (both parents of autistic children), the program includes children with a great range of abilities and communication skills. Lexi, a very childlike 14-year-old who uses echolalia (the repeating of words and phrases) in conversation, has an amazing singing voice. Henry (son of musician Stephen Stills) is well versed on dinosaurs but has difficulty with interactions with other children. Director Regan ably lets the action speak for itself. Showing the project's value through both the parents' expressions of concern and their pride and joy during the final performance brilliantly captures living with autism today. This excellent film is strongly recommended for all libraries. [Autism: The Musical was nominated for five Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Nonfiction Special.--Ed.]--Corey Seeman, Kresge Business Admin. Lib., Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.