Betty's Child
A Hoffer Award Grand Prize Finalist, and recognized by the Hoffer Awards as one of the best new memoirs of the year.

In the tradition of Frank McCourt and Angela's Ashes, Don Dempsey uses Betty's Child to tell the story of life with his cruel and neglectful mother, his mother's abusive boyfriends, and hypocritical church leaders who want to save twelve-year-old Donny's soul but ignore threats to his physical well-being. Meanwhile, Donny's best friend is trying to recruit Donny to do petty theft and deal drugs for a dangerous local thug.

In a memoir that has also been compared to The Liars' Club, The Glass Castle, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Outsiders, and Studs Lonigan, young Donny is a real-life cross between Huckleberry Finn and Holden Caulfield as he tells his story, with only his street smarts and sense of humor to guide him. Donny does everything he can to take care of himself and his younger brothers, but with each new development, the present becomes more fraught with peril--and the future more uncertain.

--
MORE GREAT BOOKS FROM DREAM OF THINGS (all for $2.99 or less!):

Dream of Things is an independent press focused on "distinctive voices, meaningful books." Other books include:

Everything I Never Wanted to Be by Dina Kucera: A family's battle with alcoholism and drug addiction. "Raw and funny." Joel Stein, Time Magazine

Leaving the Hall Light On by Madeline Sharples: A mother's story of living with her son's bipolar disorder and surviving his suicide. "A moving read of tragedy, trying to prevent it, and coping with life after." Midwest Book Review (MBR)

Swimming with Maya by Eleanor Vincent: A memoir of healing after the traumatic death of a loved one. "Vincent's poignant decision to donate Maya's organs will resonate with even hard-boiled readers." Booklist

Daughters of Absence: A collection of twelve essays written by daughters of Holocaust survivors. "A powerful, life-affirming read." MBR

Saying Goodbye: to the people, places and things in our lives. "Tender perspectives helping readers with their own goodbyes." MBR

Be There Now: Travel stories from around the world. "More of an experience instead of reportage; I was truly THERE instead of HERE." Marginalia
1114702958
Betty's Child
A Hoffer Award Grand Prize Finalist, and recognized by the Hoffer Awards as one of the best new memoirs of the year.

In the tradition of Frank McCourt and Angela's Ashes, Don Dempsey uses Betty's Child to tell the story of life with his cruel and neglectful mother, his mother's abusive boyfriends, and hypocritical church leaders who want to save twelve-year-old Donny's soul but ignore threats to his physical well-being. Meanwhile, Donny's best friend is trying to recruit Donny to do petty theft and deal drugs for a dangerous local thug.

In a memoir that has also been compared to The Liars' Club, The Glass Castle, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Outsiders, and Studs Lonigan, young Donny is a real-life cross between Huckleberry Finn and Holden Caulfield as he tells his story, with only his street smarts and sense of humor to guide him. Donny does everything he can to take care of himself and his younger brothers, but with each new development, the present becomes more fraught with peril--and the future more uncertain.

--
MORE GREAT BOOKS FROM DREAM OF THINGS (all for $2.99 or less!):

Dream of Things is an independent press focused on "distinctive voices, meaningful books." Other books include:

Everything I Never Wanted to Be by Dina Kucera: A family's battle with alcoholism and drug addiction. "Raw and funny." Joel Stein, Time Magazine

Leaving the Hall Light On by Madeline Sharples: A mother's story of living with her son's bipolar disorder and surviving his suicide. "A moving read of tragedy, trying to prevent it, and coping with life after." Midwest Book Review (MBR)

Swimming with Maya by Eleanor Vincent: A memoir of healing after the traumatic death of a loved one. "Vincent's poignant decision to donate Maya's organs will resonate with even hard-boiled readers." Booklist

Daughters of Absence: A collection of twelve essays written by daughters of Holocaust survivors. "A powerful, life-affirming read." MBR

Saying Goodbye: to the people, places and things in our lives. "Tender perspectives helping readers with their own goodbyes." MBR

Be There Now: Travel stories from around the world. "More of an experience instead of reportage; I was truly THERE instead of HERE." Marginalia
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Betty's Child

Betty's Child

by Donald Dempsey
Betty's Child

Betty's Child

by Donald Dempsey

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Overview

A Hoffer Award Grand Prize Finalist, and recognized by the Hoffer Awards as one of the best new memoirs of the year.

In the tradition of Frank McCourt and Angela's Ashes, Don Dempsey uses Betty's Child to tell the story of life with his cruel and neglectful mother, his mother's abusive boyfriends, and hypocritical church leaders who want to save twelve-year-old Donny's soul but ignore threats to his physical well-being. Meanwhile, Donny's best friend is trying to recruit Donny to do petty theft and deal drugs for a dangerous local thug.

In a memoir that has also been compared to The Liars' Club, The Glass Castle, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Outsiders, and Studs Lonigan, young Donny is a real-life cross between Huckleberry Finn and Holden Caulfield as he tells his story, with only his street smarts and sense of humor to guide him. Donny does everything he can to take care of himself and his younger brothers, but with each new development, the present becomes more fraught with peril--and the future more uncertain.

--
MORE GREAT BOOKS FROM DREAM OF THINGS (all for $2.99 or less!):

Dream of Things is an independent press focused on "distinctive voices, meaningful books." Other books include:

Everything I Never Wanted to Be by Dina Kucera: A family's battle with alcoholism and drug addiction. "Raw and funny." Joel Stein, Time Magazine

Leaving the Hall Light On by Madeline Sharples: A mother's story of living with her son's bipolar disorder and surviving his suicide. "A moving read of tragedy, trying to prevent it, and coping with life after." Midwest Book Review (MBR)

Swimming with Maya by Eleanor Vincent: A memoir of healing after the traumatic death of a loved one. "Vincent's poignant decision to donate Maya's organs will resonate with even hard-boiled readers." Booklist

Daughters of Absence: A collection of twelve essays written by daughters of Holocaust survivors. "A powerful, life-affirming read." MBR

Saying Goodbye: to the people, places and things in our lives. "Tender perspectives helping readers with their own goodbyes." MBR

Be There Now: Travel stories from around the world. "More of an experience instead of reportage; I was truly THERE instead of HERE." Marginalia

Product Details

BN ID: 2940148394471
Publisher: Dream of Things
Publication date: 08/14/2013
Sold by: Barnes & Noble
Format: eBook
Pages: 438
Sales rank: 381,225
File size: 1 MB

About the Author

Don Dempsey experienced childhood abuse and neglect first hand, but went on to find business success and a fulfilling family life as an adult. "If you're lucky, you make it to adulthood in one piece," says Don. "But there's no guarantee the rest of your life is going to be any better. Abused kids are often plagued by fear and insecurity. They battle depression and have trouble with relationships. In the worst cases, abused children perpetuate the cycle."

But Don is living proof that you can overcome a childhood of abuse and neglect. "You start by letting go of as much of the guilt (yes, abused kids feel guilty) and as many of the bad memories as possible. At the same time, you hold on to the things that helped you survive. For me, it was the belief that you can make life better by working at it and earning it. It helps to have a sense of humor, too."

Some of Don's experiences will make you cringe, but you'll want to keep reading because of Don's natural storytelling ability and sense of humor. And in the end, you'll appreciate hearing Don's inspiring story.
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