Boy Number 26
Boy Number 26 by Tommy Rhattigan, published by Mirror Books in 2019, is a poignant memoir that recounts the author’s experiences in institutional care during the 1960s. At just eight years old, Tommy was taken from his family and placed in a system that was meant to provide safety and support but instead exposed him to a world of abuse and neglect. This edition spans 336 pages and is written in English, offering a personal narrative that sheds light on the harsh realities faced by children in care.
In this memoir, Rhattigan shares his journey through various care facilities, highlighting the stark contrast between the state’s responsibility and the reality of his experiences. The book delves into themes of family and relationships, as well as the impact of child abuse on young lives. Through a blend of humor and resilience, Tommy reflects on his childhood filled with both cruelty and laughter, illustrating his struggle to survive in an environment that often failed to protect him. Readers will find a raw and honest account that challenges perceptions of the care system and its implications for vulnerable children.
Official synopsis Publisher
Placing a child in care doesn’t mean caring for a child. When little Tommy Rhattigan was taken into care in 1964 aged just 8, he entered a closed off world of institutional sexual abuse. Moved between a care home in Manchester to a reform school in Liverpool, the state was supposed to pick up the duty of care that his parents had failed to give him. But instead, separated from his siblings, young Tommy was thrown to the wolves. Tommy Rhattigan takes us, in his own inimitable way, back to his own childhood of pranks, cruelty and laughter grown from a need to survive his daily torment and to stick two fingers up to the system that was failing him so spectacularly.
Publisher
Topics
FAQ
What is “Boy Number 26” about?
Who is the author of “Boy Number 26”?
When was “Boy Number 26” published?
What is the ISBN for “Boy Number 26”?
What are the book details (language, pages, edition)?
