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Material Type | Library | Call Number | Suggested Age | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Book | Searching... Cabell County Public Library | 618.92 P | Adult | Searching... Unknown |
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Summary
Summary
An inspirational memoir chronicling former NFL quarterback Rodney Peete's struggles and triumphs while raising an autistic son. In Not My Boy! Peete offers not only a heartrending and candid look into his personal journey with his son's autism, but offers a first-of-it's-kind road map to help other families facing similar challenges. Effectively woven into Peete's moving account are the powerful voices, insights and dreams of other fathers (high profile as well as unknown) who've navigated similarly difficult paths.
Author Notes
Rodney Peete is a former quarterback from the University of Southern California who played in the NFL for 16 years. After his retirement in 2004, Peete became one of the hosts of the Fox Sports Net talk show The Best Damn Sports Show Period alongside John Salley, Chris Rose, and Rob Dibble. In 1997, Peete and his wife, Holly Robinson, started the HollyRod Foundation, which seeks to provide fininancial, physical and emotional suppport to Parkinson's patients and their families/caregivers. The couple has twins, Rodney Jr. ("R.J.") and Ryan, and sons Robinson and Roman.
Reviews (2)
Publisher's Weekly Review
Former NFL star quarterback Peete sheds his macho gridiron side and pours his heart out in his no-holds-barred family memoir, recounting the stresses of having a child with severe autism and the daunting challenge of realigning parental expectations. Recollecting golden memories of a supportive father's role in his successful life, he imagines a similar time with his son, R.J., but everything changes for the worse when R.J. is diagnosed with autism at age three. His marriage almost collapses under the weight of the diagnosis while his valiant wife, Holly Robinson Peete, emerges as the child's advocate amid Rodney's overwhelming anger and denial, ultimately triumphant in getting R.J. the proper attention. This invaluable parental primer on guiding an autistic child through the medical and therapeutic maze along with strengthening a besieged marriage will give renewed hope to all those in the same situation. A portion of this book's proceeds will go to autism charities. (Apr.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Booklist Review
NFL star Peete was retreating from his family to the Havana Lounge for scotch and cigars. I had to get away from them . . . to imagine a happy life. His son RJ's autism, diagnosed when the boy was three and possibly triggered by childhood vaccinations, severely affected the child on whom Peete had egoistically placed his dreams. Peete's response at hearing RJ would never look him in the eye was, Not my boy! Angry, in pain and denial, Peete was forced to understand that his and his father's dad tools defiance and discipline would not work against RJ's autism, a bigger force than I could grasp. So he put aside his ego for the sake of Team RJ. He finally moved past denial and his comfort zone, and with trained professionals, he and wife Holly re-set the starting blocks for hope. Now active philanthropists and fund-raisers for autism, they provide inspiration, hope, and Tips for Success in this moving memoir.--Scott, Whitney Copyright 2010 Booklist
