What about the Boy?: A Father's Pledge to His Disabled Son

By: Stephen Gallup

Narrated by: Kevin Arthur Harper

Length: 12 hrs and 48 mins

Publisher's Summary

What would you do with an unexpected crisis?

Step into a family that believes wellness and potential are their little son's birthright. Even though he has acute and mysterious developmental problems, even though his doctors advise only patience and acceptance, parents Judy and Steve plan to bring about a full recovery, one way or another.

Would you set out to fix things yourself?

What About the Boy? A Father's Pledge to His Disabled Son chronicles a family's rejection of hopelessness and their pursuit of a normal life.

Winner of Best Memoir in the 2011 San Diego Book Awards competition, What About the Boy? offers perspective to anyone dealing with special challenges as well as friends who seek understanding.

Listen and see how a family's chosen response can turn a crisis into an adventure - and permanently alter relationships, health, and the course of life.

©2011 Stephen Gallup (P)2015 Stephen Gallup

Not a sad story!!

If you could sum up What about the Boy?: A Father's Pledge to His Disabled Son in three words, what would they be?

About love and hope!

What was one of the most memorable moments of What about the Boy?: A Father's Pledge to His Disabled Son?

This book is not a sad story. I was almost hesitatant to read it but then as I read it I realized that this book is about hope and love.

Which scene was your favorite?

To many to have one favorite. I loved that his wife and he were both working for the good wof the child.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

It was hard to put down as I could not wait unit Joseph next milestone.

Any additional comments?

This audiobook was provided by the author/narrator/publisher free of charge in exchange for an unbiased review.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

A Love Story

If you could sum up What about the Boy?: A Father's Pledge to His Disabled Son in three words, what would they be?

The story is about a family that seeks answers to their son's disabilities only to find road blocks, uncertainty, and judgment.

Who was your favorite character and why?

For me there was no particular character that was my favorite, but rather I enjoyed listening to the family dynamics and the different roles they fulfilled in trying to provide the best for Joseph.

What does Kevin Arthur Harper bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The narrator does a great job capturing the exasperation of the situation. He does a great job in inviting the listener into the wide range of emotions experienced by the Gallup family.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

This was not a book I would listen to all in one sitting as it took time to process the events of Joseph's life and the Gallup family.

Any additional comments?

This is a beautiful raw story about love. Love is self sacrifice. Love is giving freely. Love is being more concerned with another than yourself. In a world where love has been confused with a tingly feeling in our gut, this story is a beautiful reminder of what true love looks like.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

A moving memoir of love and persistence!

This is a wonderful book that follows a mother and father who have a developmentally disabled son. They are driven by frustration with doctors who can tell them nothing about why their child is the way he is not offer any solutions as to how to help him.

When doctors prove to be of no help the boy's parents seek alternatives to try and help him live a more normal life. When doctors offer no hope the Institutes for Human Potential offers them a plan to help young Joseph progress. This is that story.

Kevin Arthur Harper does a fine job of narrating this book. The ease with which he tells the tale made me think he was relating his own story and not that of Stephen Gallup. BRAVO!!!

This book should be required listening for anyone who has a disabled friend or loved one in their life. It offers no solutions, but is a story about hope!

I received this book from the author in exchange for a fair review!

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

What about the boy

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I loved following this special little boy through the desperate journey with his parents. I believe he became his best self as together they followed whatever paths seemed likely to bring this child to the place where hope leads them.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Wow!!!

Would you consider the audio edition of What about the Boy?: A Father's Pledge to His Disabled Son to be better than the print version?

I can't answer this question truthfully since I did not read the actual book. Personally, I have always loved audiobooks, therefore they are my preferred method of reading. I think that the narrator captured the very essence of the story with various voice changes throughout the story. It was absolutely amazing.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I loved listening to the dad and his love for his son. He would do anything to make his son get better, no matter what the cost was.

What does Kevin Arthur Harper bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The quality of emotions he used caught my attention. I do not think it would have worked the way it did if read.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, I didn't want to put it down. I wanted to continue reading this no matter what.

Any additional comments?

Not at this time.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Excellent story and narration!

I very much enjoyed listening to this book. The story (a true one) is incredible, a testament to the depth of a parents love and a real look inside the struggle of families with special needs children. Kevin Arthur Harper does a phenomenal job of capturing all the personalities in different voices, even all the women! He also does a great job with all the foreign accents in this book as well, a joy to listen to. Easy to follow and fun to listen to, you will love this audiobook.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Awesome inspiring, touching

Where does What about the Boy?: A Father's Pledge to His Disabled Son rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

As a Audible book listener, I generally listen to suspense type story lines, however a friend recommended "What about the Boy". I very much enjoyed the story of this families fight for their child. This book is right on the top of my list of books I've listened to.

What other book might you compare What about the Boy?: A Father's Pledge to His Disabled Son to and why?

I have no other to compare this book to, due to the fact that I haven't listened to any others in this genre. I can say that Kevin Harper is definitely an excellent narrator, probably the best I've heard.

Which character – as performed by Kevin Arthur Harper – was your favorite?

I truly enjoyed them all.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Not really one single moment. The entire book was very inspiring and touching.

Any additional comments?

I would highly recommend this book to everyone. The inspiring true story is beautifully brought to life through the narrator. Kevin Harper's ability to make clear distinctions of each character through out this book was incredible. When I finished this book, I felt as though I knew each and every character personally.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Excellent book, excellent voices for characters!!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Absolutely recommend it, and already have. The way the character's voices were handeled made it almost visual!

What was one of the most memorable moments of What about the Boy?: A Father's Pledge to His Disabled Son?

At the beginning when it was discovered the boy had disailities.

Have you listened to any of Kevin Arthur Harper’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Not yet, but will

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Part of the title "A father,s pledge .....

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

What about the boy

I tried to like this book.I wanted to be understanding,but I could not tear myself from the professional side of this coin.Having worked with Special needs children and adults for many years I have never heard of a doctor,let alone more than one, tell parents to get counseling for themselves because there was no diagnosis or help for a client.In our population even people without a dx get help from day one...if they want it.
I was a bit taken aback at the thinking that this child could be cured.I applaud any parent for giving their child the room and help to thrive in their own way.
I was given this book for a fair and honest review.

0 of 1 people found this review helpful