Willie, his dad and grandfather all ended up hospitalized before the age of 10 for their anger. The family could no longer handle them. All were labeled anti-social. Willie was the first child ever to have the diagnosis of depression added to his chart. He had been beaten and molested several times in his young life; his grandfather the oldest of his sexual attackers.

This book will captivate readers. You will feel as if you are watching slaves being sold. You will feel the anger and desperation felt by the Bosket family throughout the generations. Readers will see how the imbalance of justice for blacks from the days of slavery still remains. Poverty and violence combine to create lost souls. “He beat Butch so savagely with a belt, leaving scars on his back. It was like the mark of slavery. The Boskets had been whipped so many years as slaves, it seemed as if now they couldn't stop repeating the cruelty.”

Willie Bosket agreed to participate in this book because he was concerned his niece was following in his footsteps. He wanted a better life for her. Willie has been nicknamed “Hannibal Lecter” by the guards at the prison. He lives in a specially designed cage to keep him from harming the staff. The one of a kind cell is silent except for the flushing of his toilet. Guards are not allowed to speak to him.

Mr. Butterfield's voice is so clear and detailed readers will feel as if they have literally traveled back in time. Heartbreaking and honest this story holds up over time. First released in 1995, it is just as relevant today.