In the early '50s, a family tragedy lands Dwight Abbott in the Los Angeles County Juvenile Hall. This begins his horrifying account of a childhood spent careening from one brutal institution to the next. After suffering abuse at the hands of 'counselors' and fellow prisoners, Dwight learns to react with swift violence. Such behavior helps him survive within the system, but also makes his return to society impossible. This is a difficult yet necessary read which underscores the need for immediate prison reform as well as a humane, rehabilitative approach to dealing with troubled youth.