Gripping memoir

A very poignant, gut wrenching memoir. Even though it was very difficult to read, at the same time; I couldn't put it down. The author bravely bared his soul and made me feel like all of his emotions, the shame, devestation, and sense of violation were my own; This book affected me as no other has. The author's raw emotion reached deep into my psyche, and made me really think of something that I wouldn't have given much thought to before; because you usually don't hear it discussed in a serious manner. I admire the author for being brave enough to speak out, and being a voice for so many who don't have one.

Riveting, emotional and outstanding memoir of a young gay man

Tim Parsell was a skinny, 17 year old inexperienced gay boy from a dysfunctional family, when he ended up going to prison for an attempted robbery of a PhotoMat with a toy gun. After a gang rape by several older inmates, he became the "property" of an inmate nicknamed SlideStep, who protected him from further attacks in return for his complete obedience and sexual servitude. But Tim is separated from SideStep when he is called to court, is sexually propositioned by a probation officer who will make a report to the court, and sees his original plea bargain deal disappear when the rebuffed officer gives him a negative report. Now in a different facility, facing up to four years in prison, Tim takes the advice of another "boy" and hooks up with another older inmate for protection in exchange for favors.

Coming of Age in a Prison

I finished T.J.'s remarkable book in a few days and did not want it to end. Of course I am glad he made it out and has moved past the trauma and dedicated his life to helping others. This is not a story of prison sex, nor is it meant to glorify male on male contact. Rape happens, and it is not sex, it is about "power" and "control" and neither relate to sex or love. It is truly a coming of age story set in the economic blight of the 70's, when families started to lose their cohesiveness, parent's were not always leading the family, they actually floundered through life. Add to all this that our character T.J. is gay and being somewhat bounced around between parents with no real role models and nobody to truly grab hold of and pull himself up with. We would call that a "mentor" now, but these programs were not prevelant back then. My hats of to T.J. for being able to express his feelings, emotions and hope and faith in a time where most would think that there would be none.