The boy who loved too much
Subtitle: a true story of pathological friendliness
By: Jennifer Latson
Edition: First Simon & Schuster hardcover edition.
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Published: 2017
Language: eng
Number of pages: 290
ISBN-13: 9781476774046; 9781476774053
Subjects: Social interaction in children; Patients; Case studies; Friendship in children; Williams syndrome
Description: "Twelve-year-old Eli D'Angelo has a genetic disorder that obliterates social inhibitions, making him irrepressibly friendly, indiscriminately trusting, and unconditionally loving toward everyone he meets. It also makes him enormously vulnerable. This remarkable story follows Eli's coming-of-age while his mother, Gayle, must decide whether to shield Eli entirely from the wold or give him the freedom to find his own way. In a vivid and sympathetic telling based on three years of immersive reporting, Jennifer Latson intertwines Eli and Gayle's story with a look a the genetic basis of behavior, revealing how insights drawn from this rare condition shine a light on what makes us all human."--
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (pages 281-290).
Table of contents: title: Unlocked; title: Diagnosis; title: Putting Williams on the map; title: Milestones; title: A genetic street lamp; title: Eli turns twelve; title: School; title: Missing genes, more personality; title: People like Eli; title: Eli goes to camp; title: Learning curve; title: The note home; title: Treating the friendliness disorder; title: Eli turns thirteen; title: What the future holds; title: Progress report; title: Where the hugging never stops; title: Tough love; title: Confrontation; title: Born to be kind; title: Science class; title: Graduation; title: High school.