Synopsis and style Abominable Firebug

1 synopsis , style

1.1 explanation of title
1.2 governmental abuse of children under care
1.3 significance
1.4 mentoring
1.5 resilience of youth

synopsis , style

this book chronology of life of author, richard b. johnson, starting in town of north brookfield, massachusetts. begins @ age of 2 , continues until johnson 21 years of age. book details significant events in author’s life leading incarceration in america’s first reform school, lyman school boys in late 1950s.

explanation of title

when author lived in institutional foster home, stetson home boys, in barre, massachusetts, indentured servant, built relatively large solid-fuel rocket. last flight of rocket resulted in institution’s barn being set on fire. author charged juvenile crime of arson , remanded custody of massachusetts youth service board , sent roslindale detention center. thereupon, called firebug juvenile authorities.

governmental abuse of children under care

in particular, book details physical, emotional, , sexual abuse meted out agents of commonwealth of massachusetts youth service board (ysb), later becoming department of youth services (dys). johnson provides descriptions of abuse , other boys received stops short of prurient references. although book has child abuse, main theme 1 of survival. johnson able find mentors helped him become successful adult , names them , gives details in book.

significance

the book significant because details day-to-day life of inmates in america’s first reform school, lyman school boys. written perspective of resident who, because of earlier experiences, thought school place live, provides unique view problems , solutions facing juvenile correctional facilities @ time. book details of many problems encountered children growing in institutional settings such institutional foster homes. instance, there particularly poignant story boston police officer beating johnson when discovered playing church pipe organ had repaired. management of foster home not because such police activity considered “normal,” johnson should have avoided police.

mentoring

this book demonstrates value of mentors in child’s life. johnson approaching adulthood, found people had faith trust him activities of significant consequence. instance, @ age of eighteen johnson’s boss @ radio station let him build new radio transmitter. mentor in boston taught him repair pipe organ , trusted him right thing.

resilience of youth

throughout book continual evidence of resilience of youth. johnson encounter problem , fail, else , succeed. book demonstrates idea there should never “lost cause” when dealing youth. in worst possible circumstances, possible succeed.