Cranston Public Library

The true story of Rocky Dennis, a personable young man who has craniodiaphyseal dysplasia, a fatal disease which causes hideous facial disfigurement. Rocky is the son of biker Rusty and he is accepted without question by his mom's boyfriends and her cycle buddies, but treated with pity and disgust by much of the outside world. The local high school principal doesn't want to enroll Rocky, but Rusty fights for her son's rights. Rocky eventually falls...

The lives of most children are filled with joy, laughter, and their daily adventures with friends, classmates, and teammates. Some children, however, seem unable to make these important connections with peers and, as a result, are often islolated and ignored. Richard Lavoie explores the causes and consequences of "social incompetence." He provides strategies for teaching friendship skills in the classroom, at home, and in the community.