William Morrow and Co., Inc. Description: This 493-page book is written by an investigative reporter and the
victim. The investigator, Gregory Morris, chose to live with the
victim, Tom Waters, in order to pursue the story and apparently the two
did not get along very well. Waters, a college student, sued the
Lorain County Children's Services of Ohio for placing him in a foster home
with an abuser who engaged him in oral sex for 12 years. He claims
that he brought suit against the state child protection agency to make
others aware and to "express his anger" (p. 484). The case was
settled out of court. Discussion: If the reader can put up with the rambling, long-winded chapters which have little to do with the lawsuit they will be rewarded by the fact that one state agency was held (financially) accountable. Although an occasional case receives media attention, most parents and children whose cases are mishandled by child protection services agencies receive no publicity and there is seldom any accountability, financial or otherwise. This is a good book if the reader can wade through the irrelevant material. Those in a hurry should read chapters 28 and 29. Reviewed by LeRoy G. Schultz, Professor Emeritus of Social Work, West Virginia University, Morganstown, West Virginia.
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