Read it, fascinating, SOLD it. ( )

This forgotten dark history of thousands of troubled youths being trapped in a system of abuse, is written with not only concreate facts but with lots of heart. ( )

Journalists who turn to writing book-length nonfiction are often out of their element, and D'Antonio is no different. The style in which the story is presented draws on cliche and shows a lack of artistry or even good judgment about what to include and what to omit. However, this book may be of interest to anyone living in Massachusetts, or who are interested in the history of institutionalization in mental health, IQ testing, and ethics in research. The story traces familiar ground: how those charged with caretaking of others in institutional settings are often tempted to take advantage of that power to exploit and manipulate; the often lifelong effects of such exploitation; and the problems inherent in incarcerating people deemed unable to care for themselves. ( )

A clearly-written documentation of the plight of children who ended up in the state-run juvenile welfare institutions in the 1940s. Often these boys were institutionalized for being rebellious kids, or being poor and unwanted by their parents. The book tells much about the misuse of the IQ test (and the factors that could lead to a low score without really reflecting the person's intelligence and abilities). It also told the stories of the abuse faced by these boys. I thought a lot about how much chance in involved in someone's life "success." Although I was inspired by some fo the boys who fought back against the institution in later life, I really felt despair at the ways in which people can find any reason to exercise power over others. ( )