The Boy Who Loved Too Much by Jennifer Latson

Book Review: The Boy Who Loved Too Much by Jennifer Latson This chronicles the life of a boy from his a couple years old through his graduation to eighth grade. The boy, Eli, is diagnosed with Williams Syndrome when he is a couple years old. A rare genetic disorder, people with Williams Syndrome are over affectionate and hug everyone, friends and stranger alike, and randomly tell people they love them a few minutes after meeting them. Sometimes referred to as the opposite of autism, the lack of self control can be very unsettling for people around them. There are several traits to this disorder, sometimes they are referred to as having ‘elvin’ features, they usually do not grow too tall and typically are over weight. They also can have associated heart problems and other internal organ issues. This book follows one boy and his mother over a 13 year period, illustrating the anxiety of the mother, the support systems she puts in place, and the trials of the boy who is physically growing but who mental state is that of a much younger person. This is a very interesting contrast to the story of the Stranger in the Woods, which chronicles a person who didn’t see or speak to another human being for 27 years. These are two ends of a social interaction spectrum that raises more questions than are answered. I think these examples also illustrate how much of our make up in genetic, and how our behaviors so many times are attempts to deal with how are genetics are pushing us.