* This review is for all three parts of Dave Pelzer's story

A horrible translation! I needed to get that out of my system first. There is so much bad language in my Finnish translation that it's almost difficult to concentrate on the actual story. The grammar geek in me would love to hit this book with the Red Pen of Dissapproval.

The story in itself is obviously horrible. I'm so happy that times are changing and it's more and more easy for children to get the help they need. I was a bit dissappointed in this book's strong message of self-reliance. Sometimes it even seemed a little anti-therapeutical. I believe that everyone needs help sometimes, everyone needs someone to talk to. To tell children that only determination and hard work will get them through, is putting responsibility on them instead of the adults that should be taking care of them.

I would have loved to hear more about Dave's relationship with his brothers after their mother died. Did they become close and share their childhood experiences and memories? This was probably excluded out of respect for the brothers though.

I really hope this book isn't the whole truth about the American foster care system. Everything I hear about it is more or less sad and confusing. From where I'm sitting, the Finnish system of providing long-term homes for every child in foster care and after-care up to the age of 21 just seems superior in every way.

A very sad book with a questionable message of self-reliance, success and "just getting over it". Would not recommend it as a therapeutical reading.