Sometimes God Has a Kid's Face

by Bruce Ritter

For years, runaway children have been forced into abuse, slavery, and homelessness as a consequence of their decision. Father Bruce Ritter, is an ordained priest in the Roman Catholic Church as a member of the Franciscan Order in Rome as of 1965. He fed them, gave them a bed, talked to them and understood them. He tells their stories with great detail and realism. By telling the stories of America's exploited street children, Bruce Ritter exposes this issue in hopes that we all take action before it is too late......for the children.

Genres: Nonfiction, Theology, Christian Non Fiction, Christian, Memoir, Religion

121 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1988

Reviews

[Joanne]

My book had the same title, but listed Sister Mary Rose McGeady as the author. Short stories of children/teens in need who come to The Covenant House in NYC for help when they run away from home. Not a pretty storybook, but real life that isn't a fairytale. Nice poetry written by the children. Makes you appreciate a good family life.

[Kristen]

I read this when I get the need. Reminds me of how much humans all need eachother

[Jeff Jenkins]

Tragically, I found out after reading the book that Bruce Ritter was later accused of crimes: see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruce_Ri...

[Hadeel]

raw stories, unfortunate context.

[Sam]

When I was first saw the book, I didn't think much of the title or read underneath it. What I thought the book was about was killers, it was probably the cover. So it wasn't what I exactly expected from the book and by the time I realized what the book was really about, it was to late to stop, I don't like to stop reading a book once I have started on it.

Okay the actual review, it was a real eye opener for me, I know that there were and still are kids out there living on the street having to have sex for food and money, I know this but I didn't know it was as bad as it was decribed in the book. It's really sad to think that there are people out there buying kids for sex, it's just really sicking. It's nice know there are people out there like Bruce that are trying to help give thoes kids that need it.

[Heather]

Heartwrenching but soooo moving. I actually saw The Covenant House in NYC when I visited there (just acidentally stumbled upon it). If this book doesn't move you, then you might need to check your pulse.

[Theresa Powers]

so touching. After reading this book, I want to support covenant house and what they do for kids on the streets. You hear individual stories and it breaks my heart that children are
living that way.

[Trina]

I have avoided reading this book believing it would make me cry but it didn't it made me sad, it made me mad, but it did not make me cry. I'll be looking in to Covenant House and probably make a donation.

[Nicole]

A true story of a priest's work with sexually exploited street kids in America during the 1970 and 1980's. Depressing and graphic, yet honest and hopeful.

[Matthew]

Moving

[Anne Gray]

I first read this book when I was in High School. Few books have had such an impact on the way I view the world. Not only did Bruce Ritter engage with a problem he knew he did not solve and have a meaningful impact on the lives of many kids desperately in need, TOGETHER with them he figured out how to move forward. People told him he couldn't do what he was doing and he did it anyway.

People these days talk a lot about "injustice" and "trauma-informed care." Want to learn what cases like that look like from a street-level view in the poorest parts of a big city?

Read this book.

[Connie Backus-yoder]

My worldview has changed dramatically since reading this book. It took place beginning when I was in my young adult years. Never in a million years would I have ever even imagined that this kind of evil existed in the world, much less, the USA. And I don't even want to think about how much worse it has gotten in these days. The sorrow that these children endured what they had to ALONE!!!! And in their end became so hardened that they could not even respond to the love being shown by this priest and the caregivers of the beacon of hope with attention and acceptance. I am still weeping!!!!!

[Michelle]

This book is a selection of letters taken directly from Covenant: Life to the streets. It's a truthful account of what happens to the runaway and thrown away kids that wind up on the street. It was heartwarming and heartbreaking but made me want to read the longer original version.

[Olivia Palise]

Very heavy stuff, but necessary. We must know what sex trafficking is and how to prevent and ultimately stop it. Reading personal anecdotes is most helpful to get an understanding for life on the streets in the eyes of a runaway or stolen child.

[Parker Bracey]

While I was reading this, I was thinking his guy sounds kind of like a pervert so I googled him and wouldn’t you know it HES A PEDO

His way of writing about the kids is weird and kind of degrading, but he so sure of himself as like this hero.
Freak.

[Sujata]

A book about the sad and scary realties of street life for teens. Bruce Ritter is the person who started Covenant House who behind trying to help these teens. My friend had told me about this book.

[Julie]

This is a tough, but real, look into the struggles of kids who live on the street and the efforts of those who try to help them. It has a convincing aspect to it and will keep me thinking.

[Melinda Griffith]

Deeply upsetting. I’m sorry it’s true. Covenant house is determined to make a difference.

[Jean Flattery]

Human trafficking in the 70s and 80s was very visible. Now they’re able to hide it. So sad for our children.

[Nora]

Even as a gullible child, I thought there was something weird about this book.

[Robert Drake]

I feel really bad for the kids in this book. There are some sick people out there. Thank God there are some good people.

[Dominique]

backlogging but i remember finishing this in one day. such touching retellings of the lives of those kids

[Cassandra Ackerson]

I picked up this book at a book sale years ago and didn't really know what it was about. The content of the book is hard to read for obvious reasons. It gets such a low rating from me for two reasons - 1) the writing is bad and hard to follow and more importantly 2) I looked up the author and learned he was accused of sexual abuse on kids that went through covenant house. People are terrible and hypocritical. Those children thought they found a place of safety only to be further victimized.

[Victor]

Just picked up the Sister Mary version seems like a very watered down version of the original
although i have not read the father Ritter version since it came out back in the late 80's
i do remember it had dedications to some that have passed, kateyes being one of them my friend a 13yo boy who died of aids. I lived in the salt mines and an abandoned building on charles lane (cobble stone rd)a park we called shady rest by Bleeker and 11th, parks, subways where ever. been to project first step seen alot of people there Mr Ritter used to prowl the hustler bar on 7th by 10th off from Christopher st. the guy who did dog day afternoon was there as well what a loser lived at his moms house has to be on meds and see a mental doc every other day he tried to get the kids to hang out with him make them think he was cool i knew better! Angel the club kid, murdered by Alig used to hang this was before his clubbing days he used to where all black and have this mohawk that took atleast 4 cans of hair spray to keep i remember back in 94 before i left for the south i ran into him he was so excited he was moving out of gandmas house in jersey to move to NY i knew him as a kid that didnt drink didnt do drugs so i thought nothing of it thought he had a job i had no idea he was starting to sell drugs in the clubs or i may not have left he was a friend. Writing all this knowing most of the people i knew from back then are gone i thank God for my life and knowing he is with me all the time i made it to 45 and a fairly decent electronic board tech. - pray for all those going through it today!

[April Lyn]

I read this book when I was like 14. I'm 28 now, so I don't remember a whole lot about it. I do remember that I was so moved that I wrote to the author and asked him how I could help him to help kid's off the street. He wrote back and gave me some ideas. I guess I didn't realize at the time quite how cool that was (to hear from the author). But I do remember being so moved by his mission.

[Lisa]

Informational; I felt very naive after I read this.

[Cathy DuPont]

Sure was an eye opener to me. About exploitation of children.

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Odd, just went to other reviews, and first one I came across used the same term I did...'eye opener.'

[Piedmont CASA]

The story of America's exploited street kids.

[Don Gubler]

Who can help?

[Melanie Markey]

Stories of run aways, homeless & troubled teens in nyc's gritty streets of the past finding hope at the covenant house. Got it free in the mail as a fund raiser. Quick read