This is a powerful story of childhood friendship, and a prank which went wrong, leading to detention in a reformatory school. It reads like a thriller. It raises many issues about the American penal system, and concerns about how we deal with young offenders in the UK. I was involved to a minor degree in the supervision of a secure unit for young offenders. Our regime was nothing like that experienced by Carcaterra.

For Lafontaine

Postal release today

Received today with many thanks - I look forward to reading it.

This books does tell a story of a difficult and deeply disturbing adolescence. One can only begin to imagine how a person can retain their humanity and ability to trust their fellow man. I did feel, however, that the writing of the book did not move me as much as the subject matter might have led one to believe. I'm not sure why this might have been, perhaps it is linked to the dual feelings one gets when reading non-fiction: on the one hand it is a book, on the other hand it actually happened.
I can't say that I enjoyed reading it, because as an autobiographical piece one would feel guilty at deriving enjoyment from such pain. I did find it very readable, though, and would cautiously recommend it.