Cowboy & Wills: A Love Story

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 pages. The touching story of Wills, a beautiful little boy with autism, his mother Monica, who loves Wills intensely, and will do anything it takes to help him function in the world, and Cowboy, the Golden Retriever who must have been put on this earth just for Wills. Oh yes, there is also Wills' father Michael, who should be voted husband and father of the century, and a whole support cast of fish, amphibians and animals. Monica instinctively knew that animals would help her son to bridge the gap between his world of autism and the world outside. She started by bringing home fish, and eventually got Wills a puppy that he named Cowboy. This wonderful Golden Retriever became a buffer for Wills, helping him learn to communicate with his classmates, and even strangers. She brought him out of his shell, and taught him how to let himself go and enjoy life. Five stars is the maximum I can give, but I really give it infinite stars. It was absolutely the most touching book I can remember reading in a very long time. Monica Holloway is my hero. Oh yeah, and now I really want a Golden Retriever!

A touching story of a boy who finds his gateway into the world through the love of a dog. Monica Holloway's inspiring memoir captures the joys and struggles of raising a child who sees the world a little differently. i strongly recommend this book to everyone who has a beating heart.

I was told about this novel by a good friend of mine. As a fan of memoirs, I couldn't wait to get started. I'm usually a little wary of books about dogs- thinking they'll be too touchy-feely for me- but I found Cowboy and Wills inspiring and more than just another book about a cute dog. It's a story of the trials and tribulations of a mother trying to raise a child on the spectrum, something I've realized is so much more difficult than I ever could have imagined. Monica takes you through every step of Wills childhood development as well as the emotions attached to every moment from the fear that her son will never be able to enjoy the beauty she finds in life to the joy of hearing her son say "I love you" for the first time. Overall, Cowboy and Wills is an incredible read for fans of memoirs, dog lovers, friends or family of those on the spectrum, and most of all mothers- for who else but a mother can really understand the pure bliss of seeing your child grow from an shy little boy unable to cope with society to a happy child with plenty of friends and a healthy social life.

Everything upset Wills. Loud sounds, music, and even laughter could send him into orbit. He was a pristine little fellow who was overwhelmed with his own little idiosyncracies. He didn't like to get wet, dirty and was "extremely sensitive to textures and noises." He was prodigious, but this was something that, perhaps, he only allowed his family to see. He was fascinated by things like planes and kiddie toys would not suffice because only an exact replica would do. This boy could actually sit "still for a history lesson in aviation," but daily and independent living skills would be beyond him. Monica and Michael didn't quite know what to make of their son at times. If "love cured autism" it probably wouldn't exist, least ways not in their household. Autism spectrum disorder . . . no, no, no, no, no, not my child! With Michael away on work most of the time, Monica started to feel as lost as Wills. She had difficulty dealing with professionals who really didn't understand what it felt like "to have hair yanked out by a petrified child." Sending Wills to kindergarten was a nightmare, but at least she listened to Katherine and mainstreamed him. It was gut wrenching to hear him scream, painful to see his face when she picked him up from school. Wills's teacher wanted to talk to her and after twelve school rejections, would this be the unlucky thirteenth? But Cowboy Carol Lawrence was coming and she would make a difference in this child's life. She was a fuzzy little golden retriever and she brought out something in him and that something was love. Was this rambunctious critter going to be able to break through to this unreachable child? This story brought out every emotion in my own emotional spectrum. I laughed, I cried (serious handkerchief time), smiled and became upset right along with this family that Cowboy so aptly lassoed with love. It was a heartwarming, heartbreaking story rolled into one. My only disappointment was the short video accompanying the information on this book because it unwittingly was a spoiler for me. I have not one bit of criticism for this book. We are not looking at the great American novel, but rather at the life of a boy, his dog, his family and their struggles with autism. Each and every step that we make, each and every story like this spells only one thing to me . . . HOPE!

Cowboy and Will are my heros. Will is was diagnosed with autism at a young age. He was having difficulties with going to school, and being social with other childern. His mother Monica seemed addicted to visiting the pet store and getting him animals like fish, hermit crabs, etc. Monica even let a school teacher talk her into taking a rabbit that had outgrown the classroom, but little did she know what great affect their puppy "Cowboy" would have on Will after they got him a golden retriever that Christmas. Cowbody must rival Dean Koontz golden retriever "Trixie". Cowboy gives Will so much confidence that he makes strides in his life like being social and making friends after telling his classroom about his dog on sharing day. I would like to leave the ending for you to witness yourself. This family dearly loves Cowboy, and has a great dedication to Wills. What will warm your heart is the love this little boy has for his dog and how Cowboy changes Will inside out. It is a easy read. You will not beable to put this down...unless it is to either hug your kids or dog. I would highly recommend this book. If you love this book you will also love Rex: A MOther, Her Austic Child & the Music that Transformed Their Lives by Cathleen Lewis. My favorite books are memoirs where childern are the heros.