I Am in Here: The Journey of a Child with Autism Who Cannot Speak but Finds Her Voice - Hardcover

"I Am in Here is at once heartbreaking and powerfully inspirational. Elizabeth and Virginia together find their way down the mystifying corridors of autism and arrive in a place of communication through poignant and memorable poetry. It is a lesson in life, love, determination, and awe."--Tom Brokaw, NBC News

"A powerful reminder that we all face battles in life, and together we can triumph. Elizabeth's story will inspire you to be victorious in your own battle, whatever it may be."--Robert F. Kennedy Jr., environmentalist and founder of Waterkeeper Alliance; author of Crimes Against Nature and Saint Francis of Assisi

"Elizabeth's beautiful poetry clearly shows that some individuals with autism who appear to be low-functioning have real abilities. Elizabeth's first words when she was able to type were 'Agony. I need to talk.'"--Temple Grandin, New York Times bestselling author

"Simply astonishing! Together mother and daughter walk through the bewildering maze of autism and end up producing a heartrending and wonder-filled story. Get this book."--Richard J. Foster, author of Celebration of Discipline and Streams of Living Water

"Many people underestimate the capacity for learning and growing in children with autism. Elizabeth was determined to communicate and express what she held deep inside. And Virginia never lost hope that her daughter would one day find her voice."--Suzanne Wright, cofounder of Autism Speaks

"Elizabeth is a true inspiration, and her beautiful poetry allows her to share her message so people notice her for who she is and not what people expect her to be."--Jenny McCarthy, president of Generation Rescue and New York Times bestselling author

"A brilliant look inside a brilliant child whose illuminating story will entertain and inform all of us who seek to grasp the dimensions of human intelligence and perseverance."--Sidney M. Baker, MD, founder of Autism360.org and Defeat Autism Now!

"A brilliant reminder that through our work we have the privilege of seeing some of the most profound examples of courage, determination, and the depth of human potential."--Dr. Theodosia Paclawskyj, PhD, BCBA, assistant professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Kennedy Krieger Institute and The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Me

I sometimes fear
That people cannot understand
That I hear.
And I know
That they don't believe I go
To every extreme
To try to express
My need to talk.
If only they could walk
In my shoes
They would share my news:
I am in here.
And trying to speak every day
In some kind of way.
Though she cannot speak, Elizabeth Bonker writes poetry that shines a light on the hidden inner world of autism and the world around us. I Am in Here is the spiritual journey of a mother and daughter who refuse to give up hope, who celebrate their victories, and who keep moving forward despite the obstacles. Elizabeth's poetry and her mother's stirring storytelling combine in this inspirational book to proclaim that there is always a reason to take the next step--with hope.|Elizabeth M. Bonker is a thirteen-year-old young lady with autism who cannot yet speak but who writes deeply revealing poetry, which was featured on PBS's Religion & Ethics Newsweekly. She excels in school with an educational aide.

Virginia G. Breen is the mother of three beautiful children, two of whom are profoundly affected by autism. Besides working to heal her children, Virginia is a venture capitalist investing in high-tech companies, and she sits on both corporate and nonprofit boards. She studied computer science at Harvard, business at Columbia, and philosophy in Singapore.

Elizabeth and Virginia live in northern New Jersey.