Latson gives readers a tender and honest account of a unique type of autism, bringing to life the humanness of us all. Absolutely wonderful!

In this honest review of a look at Williams Syndrome, we see a mother attempting to protect her son from a cruel world as he is "coming of age." What makes this story so unique? Williams Syndrome affects 1 in 10,000 people, is caused by missing numerous pieces of a chromosome that allows a person to be extremely positive and affectionate, see kindness and not the possible evil around them, and the ability to have great musical talent. We see Gayle , the mother, guard Eli, her son, as he navigates a world in which he sees only the good, and not what we fear may lurk around the corner. Gayle is fortunate to have support as a single mother while she guides her 12-year-old son through those trying years in school, and provides a book that shows scientific material, with heart and story you want to enjoy. I admire both the mother and son, and love this book.

Before this true story caught my eye, I’d never heard of Williams syndrome. The condition is described as a “cocktail party syndrome that makes people socially fearless”. The human body and brain functions are amazing yet many like me don’t often give them a second thought.

Caused by the absence of “twenty-six genes from one strand of chromosome 7”, this genetic fluke exposes itself in odd ways in what is estimated to be 1 in 10,000 people. Thanks to Jennifer Latson for sharing this very personal story of a teenaged boy named Eli and his mother, Gayle. Eli has this rare genetic disorder. There are numerous symptoms but the most obvious one is that he immediately sees everyone he meets as a friend and has no natural ability to separate kindness from cruelty.

I admire caregivers like Eli’s mother, Gayle, a single mom juggling multiple balls in the air to come to terms with what it means to be the mother of such a special child. I sympathized with her as she navigates to keep Eli safe, tempering his coming-of-age social impulses yet giving him enough freedom to access normal teenage social activities. This meticulously researched book was eye-opening and fascinating.

THE BOY WHO LOVED TOO MUCH

Most people would be hard pressed to explain much less identify Williams syndrome when quizzed about possible congenital anomalies affecting babies. For my part, I wasn't even aware there was such a thing as Williams syndrome until coming across Jeniffer Latson's The Boy Who Loved Too Much, which offers a firsthand view into the life of a preteen afflicted with the genetic disorder.

As disorders go, however, Williams appears for all intents and purposes to be harmless, leaving aside the way it presents phsyiologically especially in terms of heart ailments. The by-product of an inexplicable genetic deletion, Williams also results in diminished intellectual capabilities that may or not be debilitating. Yet the defining behavioral characteristic of those affected by Williams is unbridled empathy–or to put it less scientifically, incredible friendliness–towards others. As such, individuals with Williams syndrome are often considered to be friendly to a fault, and the syndrome itself often considered as the opposite of autism.

Again, this might not seem so bad, which was Latson's initial impression in The Boy Who Loved Too Much as well. But after embedding herself in the life of Williams afflicted pre-teen Eli d'Angelo and his mother Gayle, it becomes evident that living with Williams is no walk in the park. Williams syndrome causes many impulses in Eli that cannot control, resulting in behavior that at first seems innocuous but can quickly become off-putting. The most glaring of these is a compulsion to touch and hug other people, which becomes especially problematic when Eli undergoes many of the hormonal changes associated with puberty. Also, like others afflicted with Williams, Eli is naturally inclined to trust even complete strangers blindly. All of these things are causes of concern for Gayle, especially as she ponders what the future has in store for Eli. Who will take care of Eli long after she's gone is foremost on her mind. But more than that remains one lingering question: what kind of life will Eli get to live as an adult, and will he truly be happy?

To read through The Boy Who Loved Too Much is to have a glimpse at the lives of a single mother struggling to cope with her son's condition, and to see for oneself how Williams syndrome affects the lives not just of those born with the disorder but also the families with whom they belong. It's a gut-wrenching account at times, especially when Eli's behavioral missteps are recounted and one gets a sense of the emotional toll involved in dealing with these in the broader scheme of giving him the care he requires. But it's also a heartwarming one, especially as it comes to light that Williams, in many ways, also brings out the best in the people around Eli.

The Boy Who Loved Too Much succeeds at eliciting from its readers the very feeling that those afflicted with Williams syndrome are said to possess in spades: empathy. Jennifer Latson has acquitted herself well by writing such a book that shines a light on the disorder and paints a very nuanced picture of what it is to live with and around Williams syndrome. I, for one, learned much from the book and am glad to have read it.

I have a weakness for non-fiction that talks about tough topics. I spot a book about disability, being different, diversity, suffering, all that stuff... I click buy. Request. Read. That's just who I am.

Come on, does the cover not already capture you? How could someone love too much? How can there be too much love???

These questions are easily answered within the first few pages of the book. It's not even fictional, although the title may mislead you! The story told belongs to Eli, a boy who was born quite different from most little boys. So special, that he's the only such person in a group of 10,000 to 20,000 his fellow countrymen (Americans, in this case). Eli has Williams syndrome and he pretty much represents a lost branch of humanity, one that just didn't make it genetically (because Williams is a genetic disorder), but one that nonetheless continues, for the diversity of our genetic material. If we want to survive, we must have a bit of everything in our collective genes every now and then.

So what does it mean to have Williams? It means that your brain is wired in such a way that makes you basically fall in love with any person you see. You trust everyone. You erect no boundaries between yourself and the world. All of this sounds like the dream from a New Age self-helf book, doesn't it? Indeed, but... With one small, but crucial difference. If you self-helped your way into loving and trusting everyone, you know where to stop. Eli does not.

So yes, Eli could totally walk away with that creepy dude in the mall. And he would probably give all his money to someone if they promised to be his friend. Because what people with Williams crave so much is love, unconditional love – like the kind of love they give. But they rarely get it. Because we don't often love people who are different. We're not wired to.

And this is the thing that will make you marvel, that will make you cry for Eli and others with Williams, and that will still make you slightly jealous of who they are. This is also the part of the story that will make you wonder whether we're the right part of humanity that survived. Yes, I believe the world would be better if everyone was like Eli, but unfortunately, this harsh universe is tough for people with Williams, and not just because of society. You don't just go hug a tiger that wants to eat you.

(You can say that to someone next time they shove the you the "if everyone was ascended" bogus.)

So basically, this book will give you a lot to think about. It will not leave you unmoved. And the most important thing – even if it's astronomically unlikely you will ever meet a person with Williams, you will now know how to interpret what's going on. And I think that is why all of us should read books like this. This world isn't made for the winners, like the media and the current narrative wants you to believe. This world is made for everyone. And we must understand that if there were no people with lower IQ, there would also not be any geniuses. Science, people. (And yes, people with Williams often suffer from lower IQ and spatial recognition problems, as well as some physical disorders)

My blogging career actually started with reviewing My Heart Can't Even Believe It – it's a book about a girl with Down's syndrome. It taught me a lot, and it was also my first review that garnered unheard of attention for me back then (a whopping 14 likes. Go figure! We all gotta start somewhere...) It kicked off my desire to write reviews about things that matter. So I carried on with The Radium Girls, and now – with The Boy Who Loved Too Much. I believe that all of us should read more about these things. It's not alright to just cover your eyes and say "but I'm normal". It's not good enough. So let's be better. Let's educate ourselves. Three words:

#diversity #disability #equality

4* Decent balance of Eli and Gayle's lives, how his condition formed their lives, together with the right balance of the 'medical' stuff, so that as a layperson, I wasn't bogged down in detail.

I picked this book up solely because of the title, but was pleasantly surprised when I read the blurb and realised that reading it would add something to my life - consideration of what it means to live with a disabled kid, seeing it from the kid's and his mum's perspective, instead of an outsider who might see a kid with difficulties and make assumptions.

The tale at times was emotional, as Eli's condition took a toll on him, his mum, his teachers, his gran, his family, and it seemed as if Gayle had no life of her own. Actually, she didn't, but she was such a devoted mother, the kind of mum I think I'd have been in her exact same position, that neither she nor I recognised this. The tale ended a little abruptly, but I think deliberately so, on a high, as Gayle came to the realisation that her kid did have friends who cared - the ones described here seem so much more mature and less bratty than how many teens are portrayed in the media - and that he could have a life with her only on the outside until she was needed, rather than as his constant companion.

I liked that the balance was right throughout, and not bogged down in the medical side of his condition. it's not to say that it can be taken as gospel, as it's clear that the Williams disorder can vary in intensity, and that IQ, and needs can, too. Overall, the author did a really good job with this book, especially as it's her first.

ARC courtesy of NetGalley and Simon and Schuster, for my reading pleasure and education.

An extremely touching novel that captured my heart and didn't let it go. I loved everything about it. The originality of the plot, the complicated beauty of the characters, the ending, the questions some quotes raised to the reader. I don't think I've read such a book in a really long time. I won't ever forget it. It's a book about what it means to be human under tough and harsh circumstances, about human empathy, about pain, misery and redemption and the gripping and purifying power of love.

5 out of 5 stars for this masterpiece and I'll keep recommending it to everyone I know!

The Boy Who Loved Too Much is an astoundingly intimate and in-depth look at the relationship between a single mother and son who has Williams syndrome. As much about Gayle and Eli D'Angelo's personal stories as the science of the genetic disorder itself, the book also explores how individuals with intellectual and other disabilities live in and are treated by institutions in the U.S.

Eli was diagnosed with Williams syndrome at a young age after he failed to reach some developmental goals and presented with the typical physical manifestations of the condition. The book covers a three years' of intimate and detailed interviews of Eli and his mom Gayle's life. Told as a story of his life interspersed with technical details of the science and governmental policies surrounding the disorder. And while the main subject topic of the book is Williams syndrome, at the heart of the story is the relationship between a mother and a son and how they grow together and independently.

The Boy Who Loved Too Much is an emotionally touching and heartrending tale that is very well-written. The topic is covered with respect, and while it does not shy away from the tough topics like puberty and the physical aspects of Eli's condition, it is a book filled with warmth and care. An obvious product of hours of interviews and research, the book is thorough and easy to digest, even for readers not from a scientific background.

I highly recommend this story to anyone who wants to learn more about Williams syndrome, what it's like to raise a child with special needs, and how institutions are (or fail to be) accommodating for these individuals. Additionally, the book presents some excellent advice on how to treat both individuals with special needs and their caregivers with respect and kindness.

Thanks to the publisher for an ARC in exchange for a fair review!

The Boy Who Loved Too Much by Jennifer Latson is a true story about a boy living with Williams Syndrome, a genetic disorder. Williams Syndrome is quite rare and causes those affected to be born socially fearless, among a few other ailments.

The book takes you through Eli's childhood up through high school. He's cared for by his mother Gayle and there are many struggles along the way. I was amazed by Gayle's tremendous courage.

Up until now, I didn't know much about Williams Syndrome. I found the genetic aspects fascinating.

This is a great book for parents or caregivers of those living with Williams Syndrome, and for anyone wanting to learn more about it.

Fascinating book about a boy with Williams Syndrome, a genetic disorder. A great insight into a disorder that makes it impossible to distrust.

This is a story that is moving on so many levels. The inability to be socially reactive, to retreat, and to return malice in the face of adversity is a lesson in love and compassion for all of us. I could also identify with the pain and need to protect a child who is vulnerable, but the vulnerability is the gift--the authenticity that is an inspiration is ironically what needs to be "fixed" in order to operate in a negligent society. The title grabbed me from the start and did not disappoint, Superb.