A Child with a Broken Heart: Trapped-Book 1

In 1983, Ace's small, five-year-old world consisted mostly of Michael Jackson songs coming in full of static on a small kitchen radio as his mother cooked. He assumed that the frequent beatings meted out to him and his mother by his father-a man who was all vodka and venom-were all part of a normal, picture-perfect family. Labeled a sissy by his father, Ace was a prime target for the frequent tirades. Trapped: A Child with a Broken Heart shares gut-wrenching stories of Ace's family, which included his domineering and drunk father; his mother, who was too afraid to leave; and a little sister who somehow escaped the torment. Left to do battle with real-life monsters, Ace made his way through school stumbling two steps behind as he navigated a never-ending barrage of bullies, questions, and sexual uncertainty. Still, he dreamed about getting ahead. Far from a traditional hero, he attempted to save himself. In this personal narrative, one man recalls his powerful journey from boy to not-quite man. It is a story about hope and about how the choices one makes can help make life better.