Unloved: The True Story of a Stolen Childhood

The story is just through the eyes and memory of the boy in the picture. It’s sad to learn that he was only dressed to pose for the picture(cover). They weren’t even his own clothes, and once the ‘poverty project’ was over, he nor his siblings were ever checked on to see that their lives improved. I honestly believe that each and every one of his siblings could write an account of their childhood and they would all still be so horribly shocking to read about. This little boy was from a large family. Being one of the youngest, he’d have to fight to eat, fight for school clothes for school. This was the daily norm. From the nightmare of a childhood, he wet the bed for many years and would smell of urine all day at school. After reading this book, I felt it reminded me of someone I once went to school with. He lived a sad and short life. He was a bully, but I wished I understood him better then. However, the little boy in this book grew up and decided to take hold of his life and through fighting his demons, he managed to come out of the other side and make a good future for himself. A true inspiration!

This book is so shocking and so sad, it should be a must read for all middle school American students. I say this because the cruelty and torture this poor family endured is almost more than I could read. And our children in America, (for the most part) are so spoiled, this is truly something I would have expected in the dark ages. Even Hyenas care for their young!

Somehow, amazingly, despite terrible abuse in his own home, against all odds, a little child manages to grow up. And we get to read his or her story, because of an incredible survival. Somehow, amazingly, when that person was still a little, defenseless child, a school teacher or someone belonging to institutions aimed to protect the weak, turned a blind eye (to say the least). Somehow, amazingly, the particular child in this autobiography was even part of a "study" about the poor in London at the time (1960s). The NSPCC got involved. Pictures were taken by one of the most famous photographers in the world and his entourage for fund-raising purposes. A noble and respectable intent, aimed to help other children like him. But. Somehow, amazingly, nothing changed for this particular baby, Peter Roche, nor for his siblings. Nothing. Granted that his image was utilized to help others, how could he himself (or his siblings) be forgotten? This book will make you swallow twice and stare into space reading the atrocities Peter had to go through, along with his numerous siblings, at the hands of their parents. And not only. The photograph on the book cover speaks for itself. The book begins and ends with it. As hard as I try to take into consideration certain aspects of this story, which could "explain", marginally, the lack of action by the authorities or institutions aware of the Roche family (such as the historic frame at the time -1960s- things have certainly changed for the better these days), I still think there are no valid excuses. It is incredible that not even an attempt was made to help out. The "explanations" Peter was given as he discovered this picture of himself decades later sound lame to say the least. Still. Peter was able to tell his side of the story and to come to terms with his past. I truly hope that the photograph of himself, which has helped many others in the past and moved the public, is now deservingly serving its purpose to Peter himself and hopefully to other neglected, abused children.