Independent Publisher Book Awards
Neal Adams, MD, MPH
Reviewer’s Choice
ForeWord This Week
Marilyn Bowden
Jim Eisenreich
Susan Conners
Peter J. Hollenbeck, Ph.D
Sheryl K. Pruitt, M.Ed.
Tim Shriver
Chairman Special Olympics
“Brad Cohen is a walking billboard for the idea of living positively. Front
of the Class is about perseverance and courage in the face of challenge, but
more than that, it’s about joy and enthusiasm in every moment. Brad is like
a cold drink on a hot day–refreshing, energizing, and likely to put a smile
on your face.”
Independent Publisher Book Awards
IPPY Book of the Year Awards
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
“Winner: Education Book of the Year (tradebook)”
Neal Adams, MD, MPH
Psychiatric Services, Journal of the American Psychiatric Association
Monday, May 01, 2006
“Tourette’s is . . . one of those unusual disorders with significant neurological and psychiatric impacts. The book does a good job of describing the neurological symptoms while providing some insights into the physical symptoms of this disorder and the psychological and social impacts on both the individual and the entire family . . . The greatest value of this book will be as a reference for mental health and neurology professionals to recommend for patients and families when considering or establishing a diagnosis of Tourette’s syndrome . . . This book provides a genuine and heartfelt message of hope in the face of a potentially devastating disorder.”
Reviewer’s Choice
Midwest Book Review
Saturday, October 01, 2005
“Strongly recommended reading . . . Front of the Class is the remarkable story of a remarkable man who learned to deal with a marked and all too remarkable affliction.”
ForeWord This Week
ForeWord magazine
Friday, May 19, 2006
“GOLD Book of the Year Award in Education (tradebook) category”
Marilyn Bowden
Reviewer for ForeWord magazine
Tuesday, November 01, 2005
“I can’t see you as a teacher,” one blunt administrator told the author. Cohen encountered that attitude many times in the summer after college graduation. In spite of sterling recommendations from student teaching assignments, he was turned down by virtually every elementary school in the Greater Atlanta area. Cohen has Tourette syndrome (TS), a disorder whose outward signs include compulsive throat-clearing and knee knocking [for example], violent muscle twitches, and a piercing bark. School was already in session before a principal decided to take a chance by hiring him as a teacher. In the 1980s, when Cohen, then a preteen, was diagnosed, TS was virtually unheard of outside the medical profession. Information was hard to come by, and a grim future seemed to be forecast for a young boy in the grip of this incurable syndrome. From the first, Cohen was determined to live a normal life. He maintained a positive outlook, making it a point to educate others about the reason for his unconventional behavior. He addressed staff and other children at summer camp, then teachers and classmates, turning ridicule and contempt to admiration. Eventually, he participated in an episode of the Sally Jesse Raphael Show, which he credits with pioneering public awareness of TS. (Ironically, Cohen was taken off the discussion panel when the show’s producers decided his verbal tics were too distracting.) As his advocacy grew, Cohen met a number of successful people with TS—including former professional baseball player Jim Eisenreich, who provided an introduction to this book. These people encouraged Cohen to pursue his lifelong dreams. He is now an award-winning teacher, motivational speaker, founder of an overnight Adventure Camp for children with TS, active in the American Cancer Society’s “Relay for Life” program, and has received numerous awards for his leadership and community service. Though this book (written with the help of author and motivational speaker Lisa Wysocky) is presented as autobiography, it’s augmented with testimonials from family and friends attesting to the inspiration they drew from Cohen’s determination. The book’s tone is upbeat and accessible; while it doesn’t downplay the trials of life with TS, the emphasis is always on the positive. Cohen includes an appendix called “Thoughts on Living With Tourette Syndrome and Other Disabilities,” which should make this book invaluable to children and adults facing all kinds of physical or emotional challenges. “The beauty of Brad’s story,” Eisenreich observes, “is that it is a story for every underdog, for everyone who has ever stumbled in life, for anyone who thinks life had dealt them a little more than they can handle.” This story of how a child with severe obstacles to learning triumphed as Georgia’s First Class Teacher of the Year is a testimony to the indestructibility of the human spirit. (September) Marilyn Bowden, ForeWord magazine “
Senator Johnny Isakson, Georgia
“I have observed the magic of Brad Cohen in the classroom. He has turned Tourette syndrome into an asset, and his life into inspiration.”
Jim Eisenreich
Former Major League Baseball player with Tourette’s
“This is a story for every underdog, for everyone who has ever stumbled in life, for anyone who thinks life has dealt them a little more than they can handle.”
Susan Conners
Education Specialist, Tourette Syndrome Association, Inc.
“Thank you, Brad, for your determination, your spirit, your compassion, and your perseverance, and thank you for daring to share it with all of us.”
Peter J. Hollenbeck, Ph.D.
Professor and Associate Head of Biological Sciences, Purdue University
“Brad Cohen’s story is a triumph of hope, determination, will, and relentless good humor. His approach to living with Tourette syndrome proves how much is possible when you expect the best of everyone, especially yourself.”
Sheryl K. Pruitt, M.Ed.
Clinical Director, Parkaire Consultants, coauthor of Teaching the Tiger and Understanding Tourette Syndrome: A Handbook for Educators, 2nd Ed., and Tourette Syndrome Foundation of Canada Professional Advisory Board Member
“Front of the Class is not just a book about Tourette syndrome (TS). It is a courageous and touching account of one young man’s difficulties and triumphs in life. Brad Cohen is truly a remarkable young man, not just a man with Tourette’s. Having two sons with TS, I appreciate what he has experienced. Front of the Class will mean much to the many children and adults with Tourette syndrome