Helpful Score: 11
A nonfiction work about what it was like growing up with Tourette's Syndrome. The book was co-written by James Patterson and Hal Friedman. Hal is the father of Cory who the book is about. This book chronicles Cory's journey of 13 years from being diagnosed at 5 years old to high school. It goes through his treatments and he he felt and how he and his family dealt with all the changes he was going through.
While very sad at times, this book was very uplifting too. Cory has gone through just about everything, but you feel his strength and it reminds you that there are very strong people out there. It also reminds you to be kind to all, that you just don't know what they are going through.
I'm not a big reader of non-fiction, but I checked this out on audio from my local library. I'm not sorry at all that I did. It's a wonderful book, it held my interest and I kept wanting to learn more about Cory. Some moments I was in tears (I am a mother to two boys), and other moments I was laughing. Cory's story will stay in my mind for quite awhile to come.
While very sad at times, this book was very uplifting too. Cory has gone through just about everything, but you feel his strength and it reminds you that there are very strong people out there. It also reminds you to be kind to all, that you just don't know what they are going through.
I'm not a big reader of non-fiction, but I checked this out on audio from my local library. I'm not sorry at all that I did. It's a wonderful book, it held my interest and I kept wanting to learn more about Cory. Some moments I was in tears (I am a mother to two boys), and other moments I was laughing. Cory's story will stay in my mind for quite awhile to come.
Helpful Score: 9
There are not words for how this book made me feel. I highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone. Whether you like non-fiction or not this is an amazing read that will leave you crying, and really thinking more about your life and all your many blessings.
Helpful Score: 7
Book was not typical James Patterson but was
a good and informative story.
Very sad and could become depressing.
a good and informative story.
Very sad and could become depressing.
Helpful Score: 6
What a good book! Your heart just goes out to Cory and to his family for everything that they have to go through. He is treated like a freak by his peers and as a guinea pig by the medical experts. Very good reading.
Helpful Score: 6
This book was good. I was worried about reading it because I don't like James PAtterson at all. I heard great things about this book as well as the fact that it was actually written by Hal Friedman and Patterson put his name on just so it would get out there.
Cory's story is truly touching! It is a very fast and light read. Each chapter is about 1 1/2 pages long so the 300 pages should have actually been like 100 if there wasn't an chapter every 2 pages. Size of book is deceiving. I was hoping to read this over a four-day camping trip. Instead I finished it in a few hrs. Kinda of a let down there.
Cory's story is truly touching! It is a very fast and light read. Each chapter is about 1 1/2 pages long so the 300 pages should have actually been like 100 if there wasn't an chapter every 2 pages. Size of book is deceiving. I was hoping to read this over a four-day camping trip. Instead I finished it in a few hrs. Kinda of a let down there.
Helpful Score: 4
I was afraid of reading this book, I have kids and I didn't want to put in my mind that they can get a horrible disease like the one Cody Friedman have and talk in the book, but when I began reading it, I couldn't stop. This kid suffered a lot, and his amazing will to go to school and keep going really was inspirational. This book really made me believe that miracles exist, and that we can overcome any obstacle. The support of his family was amazing.
I highly recommend this book to anyone. I will always remember this book.
I highly recommend this book to anyone. I will always remember this book.
Helpful Score: 3
I read this book in less than 8 days. I loved it. It was inspirational, motivational, heart-maddening, heart-saddening, funny and all GREAT! I loved this book! The determination of this child and his family shows how families should be. It shows how family come together even in the hardest times. This was not a book that I was interested in reading, even though it was written by "Patterson" my favorite author. I couldn't get enough of this book. Many more chapters could have been added and it would have been great! Cory was/is a true trooper. A go-getting, a non-quitter. I see alot of me in him. I'm totally inspired on working on my book about GBS that I have left 1/4 done. I love the simplicity of the book and its writing and story line. I love that it is not all technical and doctor doctor talk. This is a book that anyone can read and enjoy. Heck, I thought I wouldn't want to read this in the least. I fell in love on the first chapter. Patterson and Friedman really did a great piece of work with this one. I hope this inspires more people such as myself to motivate to read and to write! A must read...I wouldn't mind having this on my bookshelf of keepers!
Helpful Score: 3
I really enjoyed this book. I am a nurse, but it was easy for the layperson to understand.
Helpful Score: 2
This was an intense and moving read. The author's description of his son's problems (which becomes a first person narrative) is honest and not overly self-serving. It was a wonderful reminder of how amazing the human brain is, and how helpless we can be when something goes wrong with it. Even so, the book is not at all a bleak narrative of a life with no hope. I do wish I had heard more about the perspective of this young man's parents, and what they were thinking at the time, but even so, it was a great glimpse into the perspective of someone with mental illness (in this case Tourette's and OCD).
Helpful Score: 2
I loved this book. Part of the reason could be that one of my son's very best friends as he was growing up had Tourette's syndrome. He was and is one of the most wonderful young men that I have ever known...I have named him my "adopted son". That aside, this book almost reads like a exciting novel. When you stop to realize that what is happening is actually true events, it is appalling and wonderful at the same time. I would recommend this book to anyone.
Helpful Score: 2
Wow!! This first hand account of tourette's syndrome was fascinating. The main character suffered an extreme case of tourette's and it helped me to understand some of my student better. I am thankful that I have been blessed to be free from such a syndrome and pray that those who have it may find peace and the ability to live with and through the tics and difficulties.
Helpful Score: 2
I kind of got the feeling the son's dad who is JP's writer friend wrote all of this book and they slapped JP's name on it in addition to his to sell copies. Definately not a JP book!
Helpful Score: 2
Quick easy read of this families struggle with Tourette's! Amazing love, amazing boy!
Helpful Score: 1
A glimpse into the life of one who experienced OCD and Tourette's from the age of 5. His parents stood behind him and sought the best of treatments, but it it appalling the trial and error he experienced medically. Medicines which made things worse... nearly being committed to a home for the insane... I could hardly lay this book down. An amazing, and true, story.
Helpful Score: 1
Was a very inspiring story... Anyone who knows of an individual that suffers from any ailment should read this book!
Helpful Score: 1
This book really called out to me to read it, but I kept putting it off with almost 300 books in my TBR. But it was such a fast read, I'm sorry I waited so long.
Typical Patterson with many, many chapters, some only 2-3 pages, written with the help of Mrs Friedman's journals on the many treatments they tried to help their son.
This book tells the terrrifying true story of one family's saga of 13 years of dealing with their son's out-of -control Tourette's syndrome and OCD which spirals into nictotine and alcohol addiction which turns out to be the only "drug" that seems to give him some relief and let him sleep.
Any family that has been thru years of doctoring for a child's chronic illness will recognize the fear and torment they go through as the doctors and specialists try one drug cocktail after another to try to reduce the tics and OC repetitive motions that plague this intelligent young man.
Their final solution should astound you and make you question our loyalty to the medical profession.
Why did I not rate this book higher?
I found the chronology to be out of whack so that near the beginning they are discussing taking 17 yo Cory to alcohol rehab, then jump back to where he is much younger. Then story seems to flow in proper time sequence til he hits Jr and Sr High School then bounces around again without proper date references for you to go by.
Also there were vague references to Cory being home-schooled at times when his behavior was too disruptive to be in a classroom, but there is never any mention of him actually doing school work at home except for some college-level courses he takes online as a teenager. He repeatedly says his mom is his hero, she gave up writing and her job to stay with him, he says she was always sticking up for him, but there are almost no examples of that til his critical Jr year in HS and NO mention of her teaching him at home at all til the shool conference that year. I find it commendable that she recorded his long litany of medications with outcomes and side effects, but for any medical mystery this is what you should do......and she is a writer.
So it just left me as a good story that could have been written in a much better way.
Typical Patterson with many, many chapters, some only 2-3 pages, written with the help of Mrs Friedman's journals on the many treatments they tried to help their son.
This book tells the terrrifying true story of one family's saga of 13 years of dealing with their son's out-of -control Tourette's syndrome and OCD which spirals into nictotine and alcohol addiction which turns out to be the only "drug" that seems to give him some relief and let him sleep.
Any family that has been thru years of doctoring for a child's chronic illness will recognize the fear and torment they go through as the doctors and specialists try one drug cocktail after another to try to reduce the tics and OC repetitive motions that plague this intelligent young man.
Their final solution should astound you and make you question our loyalty to the medical profession.
Why did I not rate this book higher?
I found the chronology to be out of whack so that near the beginning they are discussing taking 17 yo Cory to alcohol rehab, then jump back to where he is much younger. Then story seems to flow in proper time sequence til he hits Jr and Sr High School then bounces around again without proper date references for you to go by.
Also there were vague references to Cory being home-schooled at times when his behavior was too disruptive to be in a classroom, but there is never any mention of him actually doing school work at home except for some college-level courses he takes online as a teenager. He repeatedly says his mom is his hero, she gave up writing and her job to stay with him, he says she was always sticking up for him, but there are almost no examples of that til his critical Jr year in HS and NO mention of her teaching him at home at all til the shool conference that year. I find it commendable that she recorded his long litany of medications with outcomes and side effects, but for any medical mystery this is what you should do......and she is a writer.
So it just left me as a good story that could have been written in a much better way.
Great book, could not put it down. Written from the child's point of view brings a greater understanding to what they go though when facing a medical problem.
This was a great book! The writting was excellent, the story heart breaking, but with a hopeful ending.
I bought this book at an airport on a whim, and read it while waiting around...it was a fascinating story! I had no idea how much Tourette's syndrome was similar to my son's "autism" characteristics, really goes to show how little doctors know and how they are all just labels that do not mean much. The best was learning what really helped him (wasn't the drugs). Being on a natural healing journey that my son's condition has opened my eyes to, I could really relate to this story and the frustration of trying to find help which is a (sometimes dangerous)process of trial and error.
This book was a fast, thought-provoking read. Very interesting and hard to put down about a boy that suffered with Turrette's syndrome and found an unusual way to overcome....a must read!
I enjoyed this book and read it in a single day. However, if you do not have experience with a child in your life having special needs or if you are looking for more of a "standard Patterson novel" then this book is not for you.
This was an awesome book, As a medical professional I found the struggles that this family went thru amazing, when other would give up they keep trying. A quick read, a true story that touches the heart.
This is a fast read. A good book especially if you know someone affected with this disease.
This was a riveting tale of a child who suffered from Tourette's Syndrome. However, the writing style was pretty awful and it took away from the story. I am not a fan of James Patterson's writing but I know that many people enjoy his writing style. He seems to have great plots in fiction but it does not come through in his writing.
This is a great and a wonderful informational book I loved this book!! I loved every part of this book. I really felt for this family I struggle for with my situation but I felt like I was in this books as well really good/well writing!! Warning a tear jerker!! You will need tissues!!
Amazing story of courage and will! Inspiring.
This is one that tears at your heart. I have a special child that is only 7, and so far we've been able to protect him from the cruelness of the world, but this story is about a teenager. His parents are doing absoultely everything in their control to try to make his world as normal as possible. Doctors, school, friends, alcohol, and prescription drugs really make that difficult. As helpful as all of these factors try to be, sometimes everything just backfires and makes everything so much worse. (We've been there.) This is a good one. I recommend it to parents with kids, parents with special kids, pretty much anyone, anywhere.
