The Children at Santa Clara

I read this book for one of my classes. What kept me hooked on this book was not that I needed to finish for a grade but because the subject and author made me want to read more. I wanted to find out how more about these children. The author gives her account of a year spent at the RTC, a center for mentaly retarded chilren.While at the RTC the author works with a number of children. Most of there backround stories are alike in some way. They have either been abused or neglected by thier family.It was sad to read this story and see the children, only some getting better, the rest serving out their 18 months and then getting shipped off somewhere else.The staff tries thier best but is often overworked and there isn't enough staff to go around.I would recomment this book to anyone studying emotionally disturbed children. Marek paint a real, but often sad picture of the lives of these poor souls.