Boarding School Paperback – January 21, 2008

I have to respectfully disagree with the reviewer reviewer who said this story is child pornograpfy and should be band. The book is graphic, much more so than most others that of similar subject matter. It is dark, graphic and at times, VERY difficult to read. And though I feel everyone, especially those with children should read it, it's not for everyone.This story is a very honest, very blunt account of the author's childhood experiences. If you are upset by the graphic and detailed discription of sexual acts, violence and forced drug use against children, then you SHOULD NOT read this book. If, however, you can push through that to see the message this book delivers, then it can be a much appriecated read."Boarding School" is probably one of the most important, if not THE most important book I've ever read, as it sheds light on a topic many of us would like to pretend doesn't exist. Once you read this. your eye will be open. It's like when they say you see somethign that can't be "unseen". So take causion. I commend the author for opening up about his story, even amid the critisism he's faced for it.Despite the dark nature of the book, it's aslo an inspiring story of hope, and love it it's purest form. No one should have to go through what Clint and Matt go through in this book, but everyone should be fortunate enough to have a friendship like theirs.If there's anyone going through a rough patch in their lives, or is stuck in a situation they can't see a way out of, this book will show you that it CAN be done. We are all more powerful in our own lives, than we might realize.

good book many great visuals

I found BOARDING SCHOOL to be an easy, fast read. It was so good, I read it twice. I was once a teacher at Ulster Academy. If Clint had remained as a student, I would have had him in class. I did not know the sexual history of the establishment at the time I learned about its past by reading the book. Clint's writing is vivid. He paints a picture of the physical surroundings that made me feel as though I was back in "Ulster Hall." I could see the cheap, pine paneling as well as the worn, aqua carpeting on the floor. The scenes in the dining room brought back many memories (I don't mean drugged potatoes). Every inch of the campus as well as the descriptions of the buildings was describer to a "T." I have had the privilege of being a "pen pal" with Clint and we wrote often as I progressed through the chapters of BOARDING SCHOOL. He explained a lot to me and we shared ideas and insights. It was a reading adventure that I will never forget. This is my second writing about this book. I think the first time through, I was defending the faculty of the school of my time frame. During that frame, we were a different group of people than Clint experienced during his time. Ulster Academy changed faculty members during my 1 year as often as I change socks. It wasn't an easy job for a first-year teacher. Back to the book.... I was shocked with the first sexual event and thought of putting the book down, not to be completed. Once through the shower scene, I started to listen to what the main character had to say, his though processes and the psychological ramifications on this boy. As I tore through the chapters (easy read..I already said that.), the sexual encounters were still there but didn't weigh as heavily as the first encounter. I kept thinking: "How's this going to pan out ?" and "How's Clint and his friend going to survive this?". This is a MUST READ for anyone who works with youngsters. I wish I had known about the early sexual situation when I was working there to heighten my awareness for the good of the kids. As I said, I read it twice. If you do decide to read this book, I strongly suggest a second reading. It gets you into the minds of the abused as well as the abusers. It was such a great book, I read Clint's other books, THE CULVERT and DOLLAR LAKE. I strongly suggest that you read THE CULVERT before DOLLAR LAKE. Don't read it with spell check in mind. Clint's a very capable writer. He just happened to have had an inadequate piece of software that converts voice to printed word. I didn't believe that this type of sexual abuse could actually take place. After reading his books, I ran a few Google Searches. It's all real in one place or another. Read the book !

The most honest part of this book is at the very beginning an open letter from the author to his brother who was supposedly abused as a child and then disappeared never to be seen again. The letter was heartfelt and genuine probably the only part of the book that was absolutely honest. I'm even prepared to take certain claims of the author as given fact there is and always has been in some places systems of abuse. It isn't right or fair or moral but it does happen teachers abuse students who abuse other students and when those other students get older they abuse younger ones. In this way the system is perpetuated espically hypothetically in a private boarding school. I am even prepared to go along with the author's claims that such abuse was known within the elite of the town with powerful people in the community serving as spectators and even participants it has been known to happen in documented cases. I'll even admit that the authors claim that the boys were introduced to drugs to keep them dependent on their abusers is not without precedent among heterosexual prostitutes.There are two instances for me that raise big red flags and signal to me that if the author isn't making all of this up he is at least embellishing certain details. The most important part is that every single person the main characters engage in a sex act with stops in the midst of the act and informs the child who is being raped how well they are doing in terms of performance. This praise is never of the middle of the road caliber apparently each time Young Master Adams gives one the town perverts satisfaction it with greater skill then the last time. This praise reaches insane heights towards the end of the book where a literal waiting room is described at a local motel where apparently demand for the services of the boys has reached such a great level that there is a line that reaches out the door. Which brings me to my next point during one of his appointments at the motel Young Master Adams talks with one of his clients about a "Young Friend" that this man used to have in his old neighborhood. Young friend used in the context that the fictional character meant it is a Code Word that only came into vogue on various "Pedosexual" forums in the last few years.Overall-At times completely honest in other places you could almost laugh if the subject matter wasn't so serious. So read for shock value, or because you suffered from a similar pattern of abuse or to marvel that such a book was published but do it with your eyes open.

this was one scary read based on what the author went through I have heard of things like this going on in British boarding schools but nowhere near as bad as I read in this book The amount of violence used to break the younger boys down just so they could be used as sex slaves must have been horrific then later forced on to drugs to make them more willing to do what was required well evil And this school was sponsored by a big time drug baron plus the fact the staff were in on the abuse what the younger boys must have gone through was unlimited terror read if you dare

When I sent for this I expected an up-to-date version of Tom Brown's Schooldays. This is anything but: it makes Tom Brown look as if he was on a Sunday School treat! Not for the faint hearted, this book.

I found it difficult to get into the Americanisms of the writing initially, and generally thought the prose was not of a particularly high standard.In many ways it was quite a harrowing story, but nevertheless an interesting book and well worth the read. It gave an insight into what goes on in some American boarding schools. At first I wondered whether it was right over the top, but unfortunately, as the news not only in the U.S., but also the U.K. and other countries keeps showing, these things happened and quite probably are still taking place in some establishments. It is also worth pointing out that for all the awful schools that existed, there are far many more excellent schools, who both educate the students to a high degree and look after the welfare of the boys in their care.

Boarding School is an horrific tale of broken trust and abuse. It's told in a breezy matter-of-fact style that borders on fantasy. However there are enough markers to show that 11 year old Clint was serially abused at this school and led into a life of corruption, initially by senior pupils, with collusion of members of staff. It's not an easy read and could do with a good editor but I hope writing the book has enabled Clint to move on where so many who were abused as youngsters cannot.

Extremely well written account of what can happen in a BOARDING SCHOOL when BOYS have the FREEDOM to do anything that they really want to do .