 |
A Life Without Consequences 
|
A semi-autobiographical
novel from emerging author
Stephen Elliott, a former
ward of the court and current
Stegner Fellow at Stanford
University. |
"Stephen Elliott tromps through the mine
laden fields of his past with the lack of protection that makes
you hold your breathe in anticipation of the viscera ripping
explosion. This book should be required reading for any childcare
worker before they are even allowed near a kid. And any kid in
placement will be relieved to know their story has found a voice."
- JT Leroy, Author of Sarah
Order the book... |
Paul, is a ward of the court stuck in
various juvenile institutions. Since it costs the state the same
whether the children are in locked facilities or specialized
foster homes there is very little impetus for the state to move
the children once they are inside.
Paul rebels against the system and against his own adolescence.
A self determined kid with a record Paul tries to succeed in
schools where children aren't taught to read. He tries to get
straight in homes where drug abuse and violence are the norm.
He tries to find affection in families where the children are
constantly being moved and the parents are paid six dollars an
hour to look after kids they have no stake in or relation to.
This is a book about commitment. This is a book about adolescence
and growing up set against the backdrop of a juvenile system
that is pre-programmed to fail. Most of all this is a book about
children that have been forgotten and have nowhere else to go.
More from
the book... |
About the
cover... |
|
|
|
|
