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A Rock and a Hard Place: One Boy's Truimphant Story
A 14-year-old boy's powerful, eloquent, and heartening memoir: how he survived abusive parents, made school and the New York streets his refuge, and finally found a genuine family--only to be confronted with the ultimate challenge of AIDS. Like The Diary of Anne Frank, this is a young person's personal account of rising above the worst terrors of a troubled time. Line drawings.
- GenresFictionYoung Adult
213 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1993
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November 25, 2009Fake memoirs that pass themselves off as real are dispicable. Fictional accounts of child abuse serve to bring knowledge and insight to readers, as do accurate real autobiographies.
I thot this was real when i read it. Years later, i found out it was fiction. Then i understood how a young boy with all these horrific events happening to him could be so optomistic and problem-free. Sounded strange to me.
I thot this was real when i read it. Years later, i found out it was fiction. Then i understood how a young boy with all these horrific events happening to him could be so optomistic and problem-free. Sounded strange to me.
May 3, 2011
more like a crock and a hard place
July 12, 2015
how does this tissue of lies have an average 3.67 rating?
January 13, 2019
I bought this from a library sale, knowing it for what it was (a fake) before I handed over my dollar, due to things I'd read about it online. I bought it as a curiosity.
For the most part, it's what you'd expect from a fraud exposed as an adult pretending to be a child - overly verbose, almost sagely 'wise', full of framing context that would be fine in a novel or an older person's biography but seems anachronistic in a book that is supposedly by a fourteen-year-old - and a fourteen-year-old deprived of pop culture for the majority of his life, at that. There is very little substance at all. There are a lot of words, strung one after the other, but compared to other child memoirs I've read, the feel is all wrong. The book is a series of essays, but instead of defining moments, they're retrospectives on his entire relationships with people. It's not a style that makes much sense for a book that is supposed to focus on the intersection between HIV/AIDS and child abuse and sell based on that. Instead, the book revolves around the myth of Anthony, the phantom child, whose abuse is never detailed, whose adoption is somehow processed in the tiny amount of time between calling the authorities and his release from hospital, and who somehow immediately bonds with his new family despite a lifetime without any human kindness. It's a confection of lies to feed one woman's conceit. And the shame of it is, some of the things said in the latter half were sorely needed at the time: a plea to shift from blame to unconditional care and treatment for all people living with HIV/AIDS, a heartfelt urging to stop blaming gay men for paedophila, and a need for the end of the myth and deification of the 'innocent' AIDS patient. I have no doubt these arguments were cribbed and regurgitated wholesale from the writings of other people - Paul Monette's book is mentioned several times - but it's the only section of the book that reads genuinely, not like fiction. In that moment, it's not a fraud, but a child (not real, but his words could be spoken by any of the actual kids living with HIV/AIDS in the early nineties) sitting on that barely contained impotent fury that characterised much of the activism of the time - we're here, we're dying, while you try and decide which of us deserves to live and which 'earned' this sickness. It's a moment of truth in a pack of lies, even if it is only a reflection of someone else's pain.
For the most part, it's what you'd expect from a fraud exposed as an adult pretending to be a child - overly verbose, almost sagely 'wise', full of framing context that would be fine in a novel or an older person's biography but seems anachronistic in a book that is supposedly by a fourteen-year-old - and a fourteen-year-old deprived of pop culture for the majority of his life, at that. There is very little substance at all. There are a lot of words, strung one after the other, but compared to other child memoirs I've read, the feel is all wrong. The book is a series of essays, but instead of defining moments, they're retrospectives on his entire relationships with people. It's not a style that makes much sense for a book that is supposed to focus on the intersection between HIV/AIDS and child abuse and sell based on that. Instead, the book revolves around the myth of Anthony, the phantom child, whose abuse is never detailed, whose adoption is somehow processed in the tiny amount of time between calling the authorities and his release from hospital, and who somehow immediately bonds with his new family despite a lifetime without any human kindness. It's a confection of lies to feed one woman's conceit. And the shame of it is, some of the things said in the latter half were sorely needed at the time: a plea to shift from blame to unconditional care and treatment for all people living with HIV/AIDS, a heartfelt urging to stop blaming gay men for paedophila, and a need for the end of the myth and deification of the 'innocent' AIDS patient. I have no doubt these arguments were cribbed and regurgitated wholesale from the writings of other people - Paul Monette's book is mentioned several times - but it's the only section of the book that reads genuinely, not like fiction. In that moment, it's not a fraud, but a child (not real, but his words could be spoken by any of the actual kids living with HIV/AIDS in the early nineties) sitting on that barely contained impotent fury that characterised much of the activism of the time - we're here, we're dying, while you try and decide which of us deserves to live and which 'earned' this sickness. It's a moment of truth in a pack of lies, even if it is only a reflection of someone else's pain.
May 12, 2022
I read the jacket of this book and was intrigued. I wondered to myself, "Goodness. What terrible events this little boy endured - child sexual abuse and then AIDS! How tragic!!" As I read the book, I was impressed with that maturity and vocabulary with which this boy wrote. I even thought to myself that I couldn't have written as well as he did. After about 5 chapters and as I often do with nonfiction books, I looked on the internet to see more about him - pictures, obit, etc. I saw a movie had been made about him "Tony Fraginalis" - I made a mental note to watch the movie at some point - but didn't find much else so I kept on reading. I told my husband about the book and I kept on reading....AND THEN I searched the internet again and found articles about 5 of the biggest cons. or 10 of the biggest lies, so I stopped reading and read those articles. I remember seeing the Law and Order episode that was based off this story.
From everything I could find online, "Anthony" has since vanished and "Anthony's mother" has died. I did finish the book but after the curtain had been pulled back, it was no longer a tragic story but a disgusting farce.
From everything I could find online, "Anthony" has since vanished and "Anthony's mother" has died. I did finish the book but after the curtain had been pulled back, it was no longer a tragic story but a disgusting farce.
December 7, 2007
Sadly out of print. With a forward (or post-script, can't remember which) by Mr. Rogers, this book is an emotional one-two-punch. This boy's story is heartbreaking; you will never listen to "The Rainbow Connection" the same way again. I cannot recommend it more highly - I think that everyone should have to read it. It is not a happy story; it is difficult to get through. But it is a very important story to know.
April 17, 2019
A hard story of a person who lives in abuse as a child, goes to a home where love is given, and finds after all the trauma, they now have aids. It's considered a triumphant story, mostly out of coping through adversity, and continuing to face life head on, but in reality it is a very sad story of desperately needing a love and acceptance almost too late for it's young victim
November 23, 2024
Ho scelto questo libro attratta dalla trama e dalla copertina, e devo dire che mi ha coinvolto fin da subito. I temi affrontati sono profondi e complessi: abusi, solitudine, morte e AIDS. La narrazione ci riporta agli anni '90, quando l'HIV era ancora avvolto dall'ignoranza e dal pregiudizio.
Tony, il protagonista, vive una vita che avrebbe piegato chiunque. Eppure, ciò che emerge non è solo il dolore, ma anche il coraggio e la voglia di vivere fino in fondo. Il libro, raccontato in prima persona, è suddiviso in capitoli che Tony dedica alle persone che, in un modo o nell'altro, lo hanno aiutato a resistere.
Nei primi anni della sua vita, Tony sperimenta un'alternanza di momenti dolorosi e gioie effimere. Le persone che ama davvero, come David, Pop, Mom e gli altri, lo sostengono fino alla fine. Tuttavia, il contesto sociale di quegli anni ci ricorda quanto fosse difficile per i malati di AIDS: isolati, colpevolizzati e spesso trattati con indifferenza.
Questo libro non è solo un racconto di sofferenza, ma una lezione di forza e amore. Ci insegna quanto sia importante accompagnare chi soffre con dedizione, nonostante il senso di impotenza. La storia lascia spazio alla riflessione su temi sempre attuali, come l'accettazione e la lotta contro i pregiudizi.
Consiglio vivamente questa lettura: tocca il cuore e spinge a riflettere sul significato della vita e dell'amore per il prossimo.
Tony, il protagonista, vive una vita che avrebbe piegato chiunque. Eppure, ciò che emerge non è solo il dolore, ma anche il coraggio e la voglia di vivere fino in fondo. Il libro, raccontato in prima persona, è suddiviso in capitoli che Tony dedica alle persone che, in un modo o nell'altro, lo hanno aiutato a resistere.
Nei primi anni della sua vita, Tony sperimenta un'alternanza di momenti dolorosi e gioie effimere. Le persone che ama davvero, come David, Pop, Mom e gli altri, lo sostengono fino alla fine. Tuttavia, il contesto sociale di quegli anni ci ricorda quanto fosse difficile per i malati di AIDS: isolati, colpevolizzati e spesso trattati con indifferenza.
Questo libro non è solo un racconto di sofferenza, ma una lezione di forza e amore. Ci insegna quanto sia importante accompagnare chi soffre con dedizione, nonostante il senso di impotenza. La storia lascia spazio alla riflessione su temi sempre attuali, come l'accettazione e la lotta contro i pregiudizi.
Consiglio vivamente questa lettura: tocca il cuore e spinge a riflettere sul significato della vita e dell'amore per il prossimo.
July 11, 2019
Il libro si presenta come una autobiografia di un ragazzo che subisce maltrattamenti dai genitori, finchè arriva alla decisione di suicidarsi. Prima di compiere il gesto, chiama telefono amico, e la sua vita sembra risolversi. Ma l'AIDS è in agguato.
Il primo impulso, davanti a un libro come questo, è ritirarsi ed evitare ogni giudizio di tipo estetico. Ma poi si scopre che la storia è falsa. E quindi? quindi diciamolo. Il libro è brutto, monotono, scritto con un linguaggio piuttosto infantile, anche per un tredicenne, privo di quel distacco indispensabile per scrivere una storia e soprattutto una autobiografia.
Il primo impulso, davanti a un libro come questo, è ritirarsi ed evitare ogni giudizio di tipo estetico. Ma poi si scopre che la storia è falsa. E quindi? quindi diciamolo. Il libro è brutto, monotono, scritto con un linguaggio piuttosto infantile, anche per un tredicenne, privo di quel distacco indispensabile per scrivere una storia e soprattutto una autobiografia.
August 13, 2018
Ho riletto questo libro per la seconda volta dopo circa 6 anni.
Mi ha nuovamente spezzato il cuore, ma per le ragioni sbagliate.
Ricercando l'autore dell'autobiografia, ho scoperto che in realtà si tratta di un racconto di fantasia, e che Tony di fatto è un personaggio inventato dalla madre.
Per quanto "ho chiesto di avere le ali" è un romanzo che ti colpisce dritto al cuore, mi sono sentita tradita da ciò che è venuto fuori e trovo inaccettabile la scarsa trasparenza della vera autrice.
Consiglio la lettura, ma prendetelo per quello che è : una storia inventata (per quanto realistica).
Mi ha nuovamente spezzato il cuore, ma per le ragioni sbagliate.
Ricercando l'autore dell'autobiografia, ho scoperto che in realtà si tratta di un racconto di fantasia, e che Tony di fatto è un personaggio inventato dalla madre.
Per quanto "ho chiesto di avere le ali" è un romanzo che ti colpisce dritto al cuore, mi sono sentita tradita da ciò che è venuto fuori e trovo inaccettabile la scarsa trasparenza della vera autrice.
Consiglio la lettura, ma prendetelo per quello che è : una storia inventata (per quanto realistica).
February 24, 2017
Okay memoir supposedly written by a 14 year old diagnosed with AIDS as he is dying. Writer was supposedly horrendously abused as a child but gets saved by adoption by a couple then finds out he has AIDS. Was expecting more about living with AIDS - this memoir really seemed to be much more about being a teenager and his stories. Okay read but probably not memorable.
April 14, 2019
Una storia molto toccante. Faccio davvero fatica a leggere cosa certi “genitori” possano infliggere a un figlio, veramente non comprendo quale insanità mentale possa permettere cose del genere verso la tua stessa creatura...
March 2, 2022
Controverso...la scrittura è scorrevole, il libro toccante, gli argomenti trattati importanti, credevo fosse l'autobiografia dell'autore, quindi una storia forte vera ed emozionante.
Poi ho scoperto che probabilmente è tutto inventato e che il protagonista nonché autore non esiste.
Davvero fastidioso e deludente, un pò una presa in giro per il lettore.
Poi ho scoperto che probabilmente è tutto inventato e che il protagonista nonché autore non esiste.
Davvero fastidioso e deludente, un pò una presa in giro per il lettore.
September 5, 2025
non mi è piaciuto ma non voglio dire nulla perché mi pare male data la pesantezza della storia :)))))
December 22, 2014
This particular book tells the story of a boy who was severely abused by his biological parents, his reaching out for help, receiving it, and his discovery that he has AIDS. Looking at various websites to learn the fate of “Tony,” my husband and I discovered that there is quite a controversy about whether or not “Tony” is a fictional character, created by his “adoptive” mother. Is this book a hoax? As I began to read it, doubts drifted into my thoughts that a 14 year old could write so well, but then, he was supposed to be a gifted child, having already earned his high school diploma. Either way, fact or fiction, this book reads like a series of essays put together, a collection of memories belonging to Tony. There were neither graphic details of the past nor much time spent on the negative. The book focused on the positive aspects, seeing the rainbow at the end of the storm. It was a moving account of one boy’s struggle through a horrible childhood, how he held onto hope, and continued to believe in the good of humanity. I am curious to find out how the debate of whether his story is fiction or nonfiction turns out.
November 15, 2016
I agree with the other reviewers that any book that lies about being non-fiction, like The Education of Little Tree, is awful. I have the uncorrected proof and there are a lot of errors that should have flagged the publishers and others that this was fake. The biggest error is that the narrator (Tony) often erroneously refers to his best friend, David, as Pete. I was amazed at the worldliness of this teen boy and could not help myself from reading other reviews thinking, "wow, this kid is just too good to be true." To my disappointment I found out this book was a fraud. I guess the thing that bothers me the most is that excellent people (Maupin, Monette and Rogers) used there time and gave there name to this creepy woman when they could have better spent time interacting with those who deserved it.
January 9, 2009
Good book, but the person who wrote this is a hoax just like J.T. LeRoy is a hoax when he/she wrote The Heart is Deceitful Above All Things and Sarah.
May 10, 2013
I don't know if it is just me knowing that this book is a hoax or just the way I read it but it seemed to me that every story had a moral to it, a poor mans Chicken Soup for the Soul book
Don't get me wrong, I love the Chicken Soup books, this book just doesn't seem right to me.
However, if this book was a true account, then it would horrific to think that parents could do such things to their own child, but I am glad that he got his happy ending
Don't get me wrong, I love the Chicken Soup books, this book just doesn't seem right to me.
However, if this book was a true account, then it would horrific to think that parents could do such things to their own child, but I am glad that he got his happy ending
January 15, 2016
A questo libro una volta avrei dato quattro stelle.
Lo farei ancora.
Certo, se non fosse una bufala...
(La presunta autobiografia di un ragazzino intelligentissimo ma che ha avuto la sfortuna di venire sistematicamente picchiato dal padre e abusato dagli amici di lui; viene adottato e salvato da due assistenti sociali che si sono conosciuti e innamorati al suo capezzale, dopodichè scopre di avere l'AIDS.)
Lo farei ancora.
Certo, se non fosse una bufala...
(La presunta autobiografia di un ragazzino intelligentissimo ma che ha avuto la sfortuna di venire sistematicamente picchiato dal padre e abusato dagli amici di lui; viene adottato e salvato da due assistenti sociali che si sono conosciuti e innamorati al suo capezzale, dopodichè scopre di avere l'AIDS.)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 14, 2008
I found this book in Barcelona in the English language section and was surprised at how profoundly uplifiting the writing of a 14 year old boy who had been raped and abused all his life was.
This was obviously an enlightened being who had been put here to teach. His mom was obviously quite violently mental ill and his own father was too depressed to protect his own son.
This was obviously an enlightened being who had been put here to teach. His mom was obviously quite violently mental ill and his own father was too depressed to protect his own son.
January 16, 2008
This was such an Inspirational story. It gave me more to be thankful for and know that everyone's journey in life is a testimony. This boy overcame the worst abuse, wrote his journey for others to know even when life is hard one can overcome and inspire others to do the same.
April 17, 2008
I learned a lot from this book made me cry a bucket. it showed much on the value of friendship, & how to be the best posituve person that you ever could be. it made me thankful for everything that God gave me.
January 3, 2011
Needing inspiration or to feel better about your own situation? This is the book for you. Though if you are a right-wing Republican, this may not be the best book choice. This read is appreciated by the enlightened.
January 17, 2009
Apparently this book is a fake. Nonetheless it's an interesting read along with Stephen Glass's 'articles' for the New Republic.
January 3, 2010
breath taking
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