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A review by meghan111
The Boy Who Loved Too Much: A True Story of Pathological Friendliness by Jennifer Latson
4.0
Edelweiss ebook ARC - publication date June 2017.
Fascinating look at Williams Syndrome - a genetic condition affecting 1 in 10,000 people in which a handful of genes are deleted from a chromosome. Features of the condition include developmental delays and health problems, but also highly social personalities, verbal skills, and musical ability.
Following 12-year-old Eli and his mom Gayle over the course of several years, this is an indictment of our health care system and a society which makes it almost impossible for the parents of children with special needs to keep from drowning in medical debt and working to exhaustion as caregivers to their kids. I was impressed by the author's ability to articulate Gayle's fears and worries about Eli - his trusting nature and childlike demeanor as he enters puberty and high school make him vulnerable in many ways. Gayle also has a lot of family support while raising Eli as a single mother, and she also is able to treasure and appreciate him, even as she feels isolated from others because of the challenges she faces.
The author also explains genetics in a way that was interesting and reminded me of [b: The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks|6493208|The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks|Rebecca Skloot|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1327878144s/6493208.jpg|6684634] in its ability to intersperse science with a more personal narrative.
Fascinating look at Williams Syndrome - a genetic condition affecting 1 in 10,000 people in which a handful of genes are deleted from a chromosome. Features of the condition include developmental delays and health problems, but also highly social personalities, verbal skills, and musical ability.
Following 12-year-old Eli and his mom Gayle over the course of several years, this is an indictment of our health care system and a society which makes it almost impossible for the parents of children with special needs to keep from drowning in medical debt and working to exhaustion as caregivers to their kids. I was impressed by the author's ability to articulate Gayle's fears and worries about Eli - his trusting nature and childlike demeanor as he enters puberty and high school make him vulnerable in many ways. Gayle also has a lot of family support while raising Eli as a single mother, and she also is able to treasure and appreciate him, even as she feels isolated from others because of the challenges she faces.
The author also explains genetics in a way that was interesting and reminded me of [b: The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks|6493208|The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks|Rebecca Skloot|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1327878144s/6493208.jpg|6684634] in its ability to intersperse science with a more personal narrative.