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294th out of 503 books
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Cowboy & Wills: A Love Story
In this exceptionally touching memoir, critically acclaimed author Monica Holloway shares the extraordinary, deeply moving story of Cowboy, the golden retriever puppy who changed her son's life.</center></b>
The day Monica learns that her lovable, brilliant three-year-old son, Wills, has autism spectrum disorder, she takes him to buy an aquarium. It's the first
...moreHardcover, 288 pages
Published
October 6th 2009
by Simon Spotlight Entertainment
(first published September 27th 2009)
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Eileen Reeger
rated it
This was a book that I won't ever forget. I had a friend who always claimed her 3 yo son is autistic. We had a falling out and I don't know how to get ahold of her to apologize for doubting her, which is odd b/c I never told her that, so technically I suppose an apology is unnecessary (I bet she sensed it in spite of all my attempts to be available and sympathetic and "helpful"). She lied about so many things and stole from me and is a very troubled woman so I just assumed SHE was why ...more
The cover calls this a love story, and this book is two hundred and seventy six pages of the purest love imaginable. Monica Holloway must have a heart the size of Texas. I teared up reading the prologue, and knew then that this book was going to be a very emotional read. I started the book on Thursday, and read every spare minute I could find, finishing it on Friday. During that time I wept gently, laughed so hard I woke my husband up at night, and finally sobbed so hard I could hardly see the p...more
Last night I finished Cowboy & Wills: A Love Story by Monica Holloway. This is only the first part of the description on the book flap: The day Monica learns that her lovable, brilliant three-year-old son, Wills, has autism spectrum disorder, she takes him to buy an aquarium. It's the first in a string of impulsive trips to the pet store to buy animals as a distraction from the uncontrollable, crushing reality of Wills's diagnosis. But while Wills diligently tends to the growing menagerie, wh...more
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As my grandson grows, we are all learning. . .he's 4 now and has progressed. He's a beautiful child.
Holloway tells the story of her high-functioning autistic son from age 3 to 3rd grade.
For more about this book, see my review on amazon.com under the title and my reviewer's name, EGranfors.
Holloway tells the story of her high-functioning autistic son from age 3 to 3rd grade.
For more about this book, see my review on amazon.com under the title and my reviewer's name, EGranfors.
Maybe it's because I knew what to expect and what would happen going in to this book, but I didn't get as emotionally involved as I would have expected for a book about a golden retriever and a child with autism. It was a very touching story, and you could feel the mom's pride as her son accomplished new milestones, but somehow or other it didn't make me cry, which I had expected. It might have something to do with the way it's written - it almost read more like someone's blog or livejournal t...more
Where do I begin? What a gem of a book, Monica discovers her son Wills has been diagnosed with Autism and begins the journey of helping her son to achieve a sense of normality in his life. After each upset in their lives Monica adds an animal to their lives and soon their house is a menangerie of animals for Wills to look after. But most of all Wills wants a puppy and eventually Cowboy finds a home with them. This is the story of how Cowboy helps Wills to come to terms with the socia...more
Being a person who works with children with learning and emotional problems, Wills reminded of a few students I have gotten close to in the past. His repetition of speech and sensitivity to touch and sound were very familiar. As I read this book, I could see Wills and his plight clearly. Monica did a fantastic job filling this book with emotion, as well. I cheered for Wills successes and cried the entire fourth part of the book. I love a book that can make me both laugh and cry and Cowboy and Wi...more
It's a touching memoir of how a golden retriever pup helps a boy with very high functioning autism become more social and dare to attempt situations he’s frightened of. The excellent story traces the boy’s progress from age 3 to third grade.
My only problem with books like these is people unfamiliar with autism may get the mistaken impression all individuals with autism are this high functioning. This is not the case; there is a very wide range. Also, stories that stop when the chi...more
My only problem with books like these is people unfamiliar with autism may get the mistaken impression all individuals with autism are this high functioning. This is not the case; there is a very wide range. Also, stories that stop when the chi...more
So, I was really excited to start this book since I love dogs so much, and I borrowed this book from my neighbor. She didn't tell me the dog was going to die at 2 years old but I survived, kind of. I cried all night.
Cowboy and Wills is about a boy with autism and he gets a yellow lab named Cowboy, and she changed her sons life and he is able to do things he never could before. So, of course that made me cry more and more. And of course the book had pictures. Made me cry more. I needed a wh...more
Cowboy and Wills is about a boy with autism and he gets a yellow lab named Cowboy, and she changed her sons life and he is able to do things he never could before. So, of course that made me cry more and more. And of course the book had pictures. Made me cry more. I needed a wh...more
This was such a sweet book. It honestly touched my heart. Wills and Cowboy Carol Lawrence (and Mom too), will enter your heart. Wills is a adorable little boy who has been diagnosed with Autism, Mom feels guilty and buys an aquarium. Wills wants a puppy, he even picked out a name for his puppy LONG before he got one. When Wills gets his puppy this dog brings out amazing changes in Wills (and the entire family). I won't go into it more than that because I don't want to spoil it for anyone but I D...more
I read this book in 3 days, and it was hands down the best book I've read in awhile. The author does a wonderful job of describing the true story of her son Wills and his battle with autism. If you are an animal love you'll find humor in the pet stories and how they relate to their struggles. This book might not have been such a page turner were it not so well written. When I put it down I found myself thinking about the Holloway family, where they were, and how they were doing like I knew them ...more
To set the parameters of my review: I know next to nothing about autism. My knowledge of this disorder is limited to the anecdotal, the various news items and studies that pass across our daily consciousness, this and that about autism being over diagnosed, that it may be caused by something in our food, or by various childhood vaccinations, and other such. I won’t claim to hold strong opinions on any of this, as it has not been an area of research or particular interest to me. I have a couple o...more
Cowboy & Wills
Author: Monica Holloway
Date Published: October 6, 2009
Publisher: Simon Spotlight Entertainment
Pages: 288 pages
ISBN: 978-1416595038
Genre: Non-fiction Memoir
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Summary: The day Monica Holloway learns that her lovable, brilliant three-year-old son has autism spectrum disorder, she takes him to buy an aquarium. But what Wills really wants is a puppy, and from the moment Cowboy Carol Lawrence, an overeager and affe...more
Author: Monica Holloway
Date Published: October 6, 2009
Publisher: Simon Spotlight Entertainment
Pages: 288 pages
ISBN: 978-1416595038
Genre: Non-fiction Memoir
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Summary: The day Monica Holloway learns that her lovable, brilliant three-year-old son has autism spectrum disorder, she takes him to buy an aquarium. But what Wills really wants is a puppy, and from the moment Cowboy Carol Lawrence, an overeager and affe...more
The author is the mother of a high-funcitoning autistic son. This is the story of her attempts to help her son grow, and how the love of a golden retriever puppy worked a bit of magic with the boy.
It's a sentimental tale, and the author comes off as rather self-involved. She comes by it honestly, though, and one must conclude, in spite of not liking her all that much, that she is a heroic and loving person.
A quick read. You have to tolerate sentimentality to enjoy this bo...more
It's a sentimental tale, and the author comes off as rather self-involved. She comes by it honestly, though, and one must conclude, in spite of not liking her all that much, that she is a heroic and loving person.
A quick read. You have to tolerate sentimentality to enjoy this bo...more
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I loved this book. Both Cowboy and Wills entered my heart. As a reader, I found myself rooting for Wills every step of the way and laughing at Cowboys antics. It amazes me how much Cowboy helped Wills grow and come into his own. Also, I learned many things about children with autsim that I didn't know before I started this book! I highly recommend this book. However I would caution any potential reader, be prepared to cry! I know I balled my eyes out at the end!
Again, Monica is a friend of mine. I cannot say anything bad and frankly, as a writer--I know how hard all writers work and I cannot say a bad thing about a book I read--even one I don't like. It's just not kosher. So, I love this book and I love how Monica opens her life. It's a book about her son who struggles with autism and finds success through her persistence to get him the support he needs. Great writing, FUNNY!
This was one of the most touching stories I have read in a long while. It chronicles the author's son's journey with autism and how much his best friend, Cowboy, brought him out of his shell and into the "real" world. It is a very easy read and fair warning, you will need lots of Kleenex at the end. (Good thing I finished it here at home and not at work!) I would definitely include this book in my Top 10.
Absolutely loved it! Wills was diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorder at age 3, and Mum Monica tells the story of how they coped, what happened on the journey, and how much Cowboy, the most adorable brown-eyed golden retriever, changed Wills' life. Slowly, with Cowboy at his side, Wills stepped a little further into the world.
It is a love story, between a boy and his dog, and it will make you laugh, and cry, along the way.
Definitely well worth the read!
It is a love story, between a boy and his dog, and it will make you laugh, and cry, along the way.
Definitely well worth the read!
I bought this book because I recognized the author. About her autistic son and a golden retriever so I could totally relate to this. Nice story . Easy to relate to if you are the parent of an autistic child. Nothing like Jenny McCarthy's book ( I only skimmed it a Barnes & Noble) who should just go and crawl back under her rock.
This book has really stayed with me. The humor and love that underlies this book is so moving in nearly equal parts laughter, sadness, and hope. My first foray, as a parent, into the idea that kids who have a diagnosis of xyz are someone's children first and foremost with an added dimension that is their diagnosis.
This is a really nice book. I read if for a special education class, but really it isn't about special education. It's about the relationship between a little boy with autism and his dog as viewed by the mother. It is an easy read but, warning, it is a tear jerker!! If you're anything like me, you'll need tissues!
Yes, it was a love story ... of a boy and his dog, a mother and her son, a father and his son, a family and their dog, parents and their child ... and as stated on the cover it was very sweet and also heart-breaking. I read it in one afternoon and I cried my eyes out at the end. A beautiful memoir.
Jeannette
rated it
I really like this book and the story in it. It is so much more than just the story of Cowboy and Wills. It is the story of a mother's struggle to help her son any way she can to lead a full life. Monica and Wills meet a lot of people who help them along the way. And, a lot of animals, especially Cowboy, a sweet and crazy dog! I love the pictures in the book, too. They really help to tell the story. I would really love to hear more about Wills.
Very good story of an autistic boy and how he begins to make contact with the world through his dog. If you know a child that is autistic, this is a really good read for the information about dealing with that disorder. The relationship of the boy and his dog is also endearing.
I read it to page 20, from the NonFiction Book Club. The author describes her experience with her autistic son in an interesting way, and I'm curious in reading how the dog brings out the boy from his autistic world.
The author shares her personal story about raising a child with Autism. Filled with humor (you will laugh out loud), a menagerie of pets and all that she has learned along the way. You will find this book inspirational and hard to put down. Especially recommended for parents and teachers.
Oh the things we do for our children. This was such a heart warming story about how animals can help with disabilities. I am not even an animal person either but it was amazing how the world opened up when this boy got his dog.
Excellent detailed true story of the journey of Wills (autistic) and Cowboy his dog who gives him courage to do the things he finds difficult, such as going swimming, trick or treating, or being in groups of people/noise.
Wonderful memoir. Impressed upon me our responsibility to listen to our children because sometimes they intuitively know what they need and it's or job to interpret whether the need is fundamental or peripheral.
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Monica Holloway is the critically acclaimed author of the memoirs "Cowboy & Wills" and "Driving With Dead People." She contributed to the anthology Mommy Wars, from which her essay Red Boots and Cole Haans was described by Newsday as brilliant, grimly hilarious. Holloway lives with her family in Los Angeles."
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