Michael E Bemis

Abandoned by his mother at birth, his biological father unknown, Caleb was placed in state custody before he was a day old. Not eligible for adoption because officials were unwilling to terminate parental rights, Caleb was shuffled from one home to the next in the generally lacking foster care system. Despite this, Caleb, an intelligent, petite boy, managed to excel at home, in school, and in the community. But when the bullying started, Caleb had met his match. Pushed by the bullying into a life he would never have otherwise known, Caleb becomes entwined in a largely uncaring institutional system blind to his situation and generally oblivious to the harrowing freefall he was experiencing.

Readers will be intrigued by the detailed scrutiny of the closed institutional world of private special purpose schools and staff intensive group homes operated by behavioral health agencies for troubled youth and will be emotionally moved by a powerful story of how even a young boy can persevere in the face of overwhelming adversity.

Ten percent of all author proceeds from the sale of Caleb will be donated to PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center.