This book truly moved me. It made me rage with anger and cry with an overwhelming grief for Wayne and his brothers and sisters. However, there were many places in the book that would lead me to disbelieve what is being said. I tend to be hypercritical of these types of books and fine tooth what I hear.

For example:
On page 79 he states that after a split between his parents the boys would go back with his father and "My *sisters* would stay with Ma in Haverhill" then on page 80 he states his father had left for some time and it was unspoken between the brothers that he would be visting his mother as settling for 4 of his kids wasn't gonna be good for him.. Time goes by and then "My mother was right behind him with Christopher,the baby, in her arms."
Okay, here's my problem with this. Checking the dates of birth of the kids at the front of the book...If Christopher was the baby carried in his mother's arms, there could not have been sisters (plural) staying with mother. Typo? It could be....

Example 2:
page 129
"He took a bag full of white powder out of his pocket and showed it to me"....."The first time I got high on *cocaine* I felt like I could do anything...."
He goes on then with a few more sentences how he felt in control of it, once a week or so, as a reward....still with the context of cocaine being the drug...but THEN he switches it mid paragraph to heroin and never again is cocaine mentioned just heroin. Another typo? Cocaine typed instead of heroin at the beginning. Well, I'm not a drug addict and am no expert, but if it was a typo, why was it described as a white powder which is clearly cocaine? hummmmm

Example 3:
page 167
Describing the end of his 1st marriage he told how his wife left him with their daughter. Within this separation time, a son was born. He then goes on to tell how he met Sharon. "Even if she was interested, why should she want to get involved with someone who was married, with a *kid*?" HUH... paragraph before it was a daughter and a son. Plural two kids ...not a 'kid' singular

Okay... so I know this guy and his brothers and sisters went through hell... I do NOT dispute that. I didn't see the Sally Jessy Raphael show that did their story, but that at least would be a fact which couldn't be denied as the book states the father nor mother never denied the abuse and of course, there are reports from social services and such to that could be verified. So I dunno I can't get passed the few examples I gave. Books of fact should be pristine, especially books dealing with abuse, IMHO. This one, however, emotionally moving it was for me ...did NOT live up to that standard. ( )

Wayne was abused by his dad so much he almost killed him one time it wasn't just him it was his brother and sister to. And his mother doesn't do anything about it. Even when she was pregnant her husband still hit her and she got beat uup and lost the baby. Yes i recommend the book to all students because you will learn life aint always sweet and some ppeople grow up rough.
K.C.

Reviewed by hoopsielv for TeensReadToo.com

Wayne was one of twelve children. He is now married with four daughters and is a successful contractor in New Hampshire. It sounds like he is living the American dream; however, a phone call from one of his younger brothers triggers Wayne to seek answers from his past.

Wayne, his brothers, and his sisters were abused throughout their childhood. There were hospital visits and questions from teachers and social workers, but the abuse continued. Wayne digs back into these painful memories and the information he finds shocks and surprises him.

He has to confront his parents, and does so on a national talk show.

This is a true story of a brave man whose spirit could not be broken. His past continued to haunt him throughout his life. He needed to find out the truth, not just for himself, but for his family, as well.

This is a novel of terrible times and times of hope. While sometimes painful to read, the message of WAYNE comes through loud and clear to the reader that strength can prevail. ( )