The Butterfly Garden: Surviving Childhood on the Run with One of America's Most Wanted

June 2, 2008. I was supposed to meet Chip St. Clair in the HCI Booth last week at the Book Expo America just to say "Hi." When I got there, he was busy and I didn't want to interrupt. My regret is that I didn't get back to that booth and missed the opportunity to meet him in person. I started to read The Butterfly Garden on the day after the Expo and couldn't put it down. Every time I did, I was compelled to pick it up and read more. There are other comments about the "meat" of the story, so I won't repeat those. I highly recommend this heartfelt story and can assure readers that once they open the book they won't put it down. The story is one that tugs at your heartstrings and it makes one wonder how he came through everything. But his dedication to literature and his escape into poetry is reflected on every page. Chip takes the reader on a journey narrated in a voice that makes the horror beyond imagination that was his childhood, extending into his young adult years, a story written so beautifully that even the squeamish of heart can read and understand what went into making Chip the person he is. This book is a must read and I have already recommended it to several people and will post it on my website. MORGAN ST. JAMES Silver Sisters Mysteries [..]

In September of 2004 Chip StClair called my office seeking help to keep his father, Michael Dean Grant, in jail. This phone call was beyond belief because Chip's story is unbelievable. We call children who have been abused "children of the secret" because they spend their lives keeping their terrible secret. Eighty five percent of children who are abused are abused by someone known to the family. Children love their parents and are confused even when those parents abuse them - the children somehow believe they caused their own abuse. Families do whatever it takes to preserve their "dirty little secret." This cycle of abuse repeats itself. That is not to say that all abused children become abusers but the data are pretty clear that most abusers were abused themselves. I was in tears on that September day listening to Chip tell his story and I was mostly moved by his determination that his life of abuse would count for something. Chip said that he found his heroes in art and literature and he was committed to overcoming his life of adversity by helping others so that he could become a real life hero like those mythological heroes that saved his life. Over the next months, Chip and I and a young man, Sameer Mandke, who was volunteering at Justice for Children had many long conversations. Michael Dean Grant was to be released from prison on April 1, 2005. Sameer and Chip worked together to prevent that from happening and instead, on April 1, 2005, the Michigan Chapter of Justice for Children was born, with Chip StClair as our new regional director. Chip StClair's story is an inspiration to me but more importantly, he is a hero to all of the children of the secret. Jim Shields Executive Director Justice for Children Houston, TX

The Butterfly Garden: A Memoir is the true-life story of author Chip St. Clair, who survived a bitterly abusive and life-threatening childhood overshadowed by the menace of a physically abusive father. Eventually he learned a shocking truth; the man he called "Dad" was an escaped child killer who had fled justice for over two decades, and one of America's Most Wanted. Forced to turn his father in rather than risk allowing him to harm any more children, Chip St. Clair subsequently dedicated himself to protecting children and keeping child predators behind bars. A grim true crime story that at its heart deals with roots, identity, and cultivating the will to make a better future no matter what horrors lie in the past.

I recently read this book and met the man who wrote it. What a touching and phenom story. I had a hard time putting this down becuase it is not only written so well, but is captavating with how it travels. His honesty is so raw and naked that everyone can relate to some aspect of his story. His wife is also a huge part of this survival and is such an amazing woman. It's amazing what positivity came from Chip and this whole nightmarish experience. So many people could learn much from Chip and about themselves from this book. I felt many emotions thru this book. Chip is an amazing human!!! This is a must read for everyone, espcially for children everywhere.

I was in an Ohio bookstore when the author was signing this book. I had the privilege of speaking with him for a few moments and was so impressed with his story. For someone to live through such a horrible childhood, but work so hard to become an incredible man! It was such a touching story. Once I started to read the book, I could not put it down. He wrote in my book "Continue to Soar" and after reading this book that is exactly what you want to do. Soar through life, be happy and help others. This is a must read.