The author describes life at the reform school and the treatment he and his friends received at the hands of the guards is horrifying. This reader could not fathom such abuse, all sanctioned or ignored by government officials who looked away rather than deal with abuse of very bad boys, after all.
If the detail of life within the reform school were not enough to drain the reader emotionally, the book continues on to a most amazing ending.
Those boys finally got out of that reform school, their bodies and minds never to be the same. At some point, a guard of their torment passes the path of several of the friends and at some point the guard meets an unfortunate end.
The book takes another turn as the trial of the guard's murderer is handled by two of the other friends, one the PROSECUTOR!
The fix was in.
The trial takes place and what should have been an open-shut case turns out to be anything but. For the people in Hell's kitchen gather all of their resources and justice, in a most unbelievable and amazing fashion, is done.
I can't recommend this book enough. Every human on earth should be required to read this book, in fact.
It will change your life forever.
Understand that I am not proud of this fact as no one likes being fooled. But for the past few years I have been reading bits and pieces about this book, which Carcaterra alleges to be the story of his childhood.
It was all a lie. Even though the author claims it to be true. Indeed the book was in the "non-fiction" section of the library.
There's nothing wrong with it being a fiction piece. If properly classified it would still have been a wonderful book. Although I don't know about that life-changing thing had I known the book was not true as claimed. Fiction rarely changes my life. I thought my life was changed because I THOUGHT it was all true.
Why I was ready to don riot gear and march upon New York for its horrific reform school system. For it was the fact that I thought the book was TRUE that raised my ire. I thought that young children in NY reform schools routinely had guards pee in their cornflakes and that murder was the norm in these institutions.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - DrPat
You give a lot of credit for being fooled to the books you've read, and very little to the reader...
2 - Bill
I read this book too, I found it amazing as well, and since I thought it was non-fiction, I too was shocked. After a while I realized through modern media and a person who is a DA in new york city, that there is no such case. Carcaterra never justified the book, acting like he is protecting the characters in the book. I liked the book a lot, and the movie was excellent too, it is unfortunate that he claimed it was non-fiction, but guess what, nobody would have talked about this book unless it was portrayed as non fiction. I too will not read his books again.
3 - Bennett
Patfish, We have all read books that twist the truth, and most of us have had instances where we believed the purported "facts" contained within, and became outraged or angry, or went on a personal jihad - until someone rubs our nose in the true reality of the subject matter.
This is one aspect of being a passionate reader, a passionate person. The big suck comes when you write about your new found perspective in a public forum, and suffer the humiliation of having your naiveté ruthlessly exposed. I know what this feels like...
However, to ascribe lies and misrepresentation solely to lefty liberal books, news reports, politics, or whatever, and to have it change how you view the world? I have to ask, how solid was the foundation of your belief system to begin with?
For every left wing lie, there is a right wing lie. If someone tells you different, they're lying.
4 - Mya
Sleepers was an amazing book and I cried at the end. That book was so powerful that whenever I think of those four friends I cry. I can't help it because what happened to them was so horrible. They were so young and I don't care what anyone says but that book is a true story. It may be hard to believe but it is definitely a true story. I don't know Lorenzo personally but I would love to meet him and tell him how much his story affected me. And I hate how people actually think it's fiction. Maybe the NY legal system tried to cover up what happened because that's what people love to do: make others look bad. I have a lot of respect for Lorenzo and I can't believe people have the nerve to accuse him of lying. Lorenzo and his friends went through such a horrible experience, be a little more considerate. How would you like it if you got raped but nobody believed you?
5 - mikka
sleepers was introduced to me by my father. I really appreciated the movie and somehow it became a lesson to me, a lesson which says that not every juvenile delinquent is safe. If I'm a parent, watching sleepers would make me grow my child more careful.
6 - Kanna
It really doesn't matter if a book is true or not. People read for many reasons, and perhaps you do read for the truth. But is it not an entertaining book? Is that not what you look for in a book? You should never deny an author credit, but if their book is labled as nonfiction, and you find that hard to believe, then read with the thought in mind that while this book may be a lie, at least it is not a waste of time. Because no book is a waste of time if you enjoy it or are emotionally moved. And by the way, few of this authors works are labled true. You admitted tourself that you liked his writing. If you do not want to be lied to, maybe it would be best to read those, because then you can be fairly cirtain that you get what you are told you will recieve.
7 - emily
Reading anything is infinetly helpful to many aspects- hidden or visible- in your life. Whether Carcaterra's story, Sleepers, is factual and the events are some that have affected his life or if it is infact only a lie, should not be the issue in understanding his novel. The rawness of great friendship, humanity, love, revenge and brutality are more honestly shown in our every day lives that Carcaterra has in fact captured a truth that need not be proded too deep to comprehend. It's sad that in order to grasp the true meaning of a novel, we must turn all attention to the author's crediblity when really, he's only opening the door to your personal better understanding of such crucial issues.
8 - daphne
How this addresses lying liberals is beyond me. I sense you were angry at being taken in and decided to blame his views instead of his dishonesty.
I am willing to bet conservatives lie about sex abuse, child molestation, and wife beating just as much as about anyone. Their track record in the senate sure suggests so.
9 - Bill Miller
Hi Pat -
I saw Sleepers for the umpteenth time last night. I have always enjoyed the movie and never much thought about the "true story" tags at the end except to ask myself one single question. So I started doing some googling to see what others had to say on the matter and you seem to have one of the most vociferous reviews of the matter. Anyway, my question is this: if the story is true, what happened to Rizzo's body?......Did the family not get it back? Was not an autopsy performed, by the family? He was held in a state sanctioned institution, was not an autopsy in some official capacity required? Where is he buried? Who buried him...family or Wilkinson's? Who are the doctors that attended to him? Physical evidence as opposed to heresay is what most frequently proves matters true or false. The paucity of physical evidence throughout this story, in particular the issue of Rizzo's body, would lead one to conclude as you have. It's entertaining B.S.
10 - Alex
The story is true. Simple as that. It is true. I know lorenzo and...did you guys ever think the names are changed hence why you cannot find any autopsy on rizzo's body. Also, Rizzo's body...do you really think his parents where in any place to ask for an autopsy, autopsies were part of the police department, part of the conspiracy.
Lorenzo is an amazing person. He's been through alot. This is his story. His true story.
11 - Emily
I don't worry about the facts in this book. Rizzo's body in the 1960's during which these events are said to happen could have been covered up. I have no doubts as to the truthfulness of the first half of this book and movie. As for the justice the victims received, that seems like wishful thinking. Of all the children I know who have survived horrific abuse as described in this book, revenge fanatsies are commonplace. As is the inability to attain that revenge. The words of pain and horror are too real and people look too easily away from such horror or refuse to believe it. As for the 'happy ending' that rings a little too true as well. Not the court drama, but 2 dead, one retired and one left to speak for them all. That's real. It could have been my life, if I'd been a boy. It was Adam's. I have seen goverment officals and teachers turn a blind for the sanctity of family or whatever. It was a different time and I only hope that we have become better at facing such horror and addressing the needs of the victims. Truth, not truth I don't care, an important story was told in a way that made people look for a change. I'm betting it was mix and he couldn't bear to tell the whole truth and couldn't bear to call it fiction.
12 - MartinHenriksson
It would be a huge job covering up the loose ends thats left. But why couldnt it been done? A lot of things that are more noticeable have been covered up to finally be revealed. This case is to small to be looked up properally. I dont know if its true or not but I hope the bastards suffered if it was.
Please Pat. You cant be serious with your accusasions towards the liberals? I can understand your frustration when your favourite book is questioned, but please direct your anger towards Lorenzo Carcaterra instead of the hope for the United States.
Love from Sweden
13 - Jim
Please read The Franklin Cover-up by ex U.S. senator John DeCamp. He investigated child abuse by other politicians and people in powerful places.
Yorkshire TV made a documentary on this with key statements from some of the people involved. It is called Conspiracy of Silence. It was meant to air on Discovery Channel in the U.S. but certain politicians threatened Discovery Channel by reviewing their licence. It can be viewed on google video.
14 - rebecca
I think that the story could quite possbly be true. Why wouldnt the government cover this up...it makes sense that it would I mean seriously if this was proved true then that would put them between a rock and a hard place. They would then not only have to explain why the system is flawed enough for something like this ...two people getting away with murder... to happen, they would also have to explain why the juvinile systems where so flawed that this is happening within them. Not to mention the public uproar it would cause and the amount of parents demanding that thier children be removed from these systems...it would have been way to much drama, and what reason would they have not to lie ....do you really think they care about ONE little boy wanting his story heard. Also personally knowing how it feels to be abused...it is most deffinatley something that cannot be faked...you can't pretend that you have been abused and write the things he wrote....and he is probably not fighting back because he cant....not only is it painful to remember but how could he possibly prove it ....everything is hidden...and because he is now a man it is hard to just take his word for it but if he were still a boy saying those things there would not be a single mom,dad, sister, brother, grandparent,or friend out there that wouldnt belive him and i think we all are at least one of those.
15 - rebecca
oh and please share all comments you have about my post...good or bad...thnx
16 - Jaymi
I am doing a report for a social worker class where I have to critique a book displaying acts of violence against children. I am dissapointed in how easily you are put off something that "changed your life" by attacks this book has recieved. While I can't say for sure if the actual accounts in Sleepers did take place as I do not know the author, nor was I there, I am the child of an adult survivor of institutional abuse. Whether or not Carcaterra's story is valid, there are many that ARE... The depictions of abuse in this story are realistic as there are many accounts on which this has occurred. While you may be dissapointed that this particular story could be false, this should not lead you to dispose of the anger you felt at the "system" past... This was a norm in institutions and it wasn't that long ago; my Mother is a few years shy of 50.
17 - Sue
If you think this sort of thing doesn't happen today, read "Jesus Land". While not as brutal, it's equally disturbing.
18 - Bookworm
Lorenzo Carcaterra stated in the beginning of his book that names, places, etc. had been changed in order to protect the people involved. so obviously no record was found in the area or by those names...... they were fiction but that doesn't mean that the entire story was.
19 - Stacy
This is a great book/movie. Who cares if it is true? We don't know the truth about anything in life. I do believe that some of his story is true and of course some of it is not. Lorenzo admits that some of it isn't true by changing names. Lorenzo and his friends could have gotten their revenge in ways we will never know about and maybe ways noone could ever tell us about. Maybe they didn't get revenge in real life. Making the court case part of the story made it more interesting though, didn't it? It tied in the whole Count of Monte Cristo revenge tale. The way the story tells of the abuse seems very real and something that only someone would know about who had been through it. True or not, it's a fascinating tale. It's a story about friends loyalty and redemption. Would all those stars be in a boring movie?
20 - marilyn
I found this book in the basement and just finished reading it. It had me until the priest thing...I wondered how on earth a priest would not come forward immediately (even if he was lying to protect the kids)upon the defendent's arrest and thereby exonerate them. I also had a problem with the time frames. That these sort of brutal things happen is unquestionable. Just read too many books in my life to not wonder about this being total truth. I say total truth because as a writer I know we embellish to make a point. Then I started wondering what that point really was. Thus I went to the internet and found this site and others. It was a good story and written well for the most part. (I thought the postcript ending was unnecessary as an example.) I, too, wish that publisher's and writers wouldn't pretend that this sort of memoir book is truth. But then, maybe if the book was sold as fiction it wouldn't scare juvenile delinquents into re-thinking the prison path their lives are surely taking. And maybe if it encouraged one kid to rethink his life the book was a success in the best way possible.
21 - Matt
A conservative calling all liberals liars? Now that is ironic and hilarious!
22 - Michael
In my heart of hearts I cannot call this work fiction. My God, if it has happened once it is too often. People like me who have lived past sexual abuse can, but wont tell you of the cruelty one's own mind plays after such an experience. Mine was no where near as violent as was portrayed in the movie, which I assume was more direct in the novel(which I did not read) After watching the movie three times now I could still not bring myself to open the book let alone read it page after page. I have spoken with a number of men who have had sexual encounters as young people and the majority never speak to anyone about it. Many spoke with me over anyone for the first time in their lives. Even though I believe this story to be true, even if it was not the story needed to be told by someone. Too many people live a life full of pain, hidden behind lies and deceit. The cycle of abuse usually continues as those who have been abused, go on to abuse others; some sexually and others physically and verbally. The only way I know of to break the cycle is honesty. Honesty with oneself and others.
23 - made
don't you think you're kind of inconsequent? i think it's surprising how little it takes you to change your mind and opinions on this. you are told the book is true and you tend to believe it. you find out some people are seriously doubting it claiming that there is no real prove and you accept it as your new proper opinion. i do not know whether this book is true or not but i cannot imagine why carcaterra should maintain such thing only for the better saling. imagine someone admitting to have been victim to such a dreadful crime. it just wouldn't make sense to me.
24 - katerina grassi
I dont understand why anyone would choose to believe that this book was a work of fiction. why would a man choose to share with millions of people that he was brutally raped and torured by 4 men as a child when he wasn't. Some may call it naivety but i think that believing in the goodness of people could never be described naive nor ignorant.i think that Carcaterra had an amazing amount of courage to write this book (and under his own name too) and it was a brilliant book at that and how dare anyone try and deflect the attention off this amazing book onto his own personal life.
25 - katerina grassi
I dont understand why anyone would choose to believe that this book was a work of fiction. why would a man choose to share with millions of people that he was brutally raped and torured by 4 men as a child when he wasn't. Some may call it naivety but i think that believing in the goodness of people could never be described naive nor ignorant.i think that Carcaterra had an amazing amount of courage to write this book (and under his own name too) and it was a brilliant book at that and how dare anyone try and deflect the attention off this amazing book onto his own personal life.