Wayne: An Abused Child's Story of Courage, Survival, and Hope

by Wayne Theodore, Leslie Alan Horvitz (With), Sally Jesse Raphael (Foreword)

This book is a story that sends the reader careening through episodes of childhood abuse, teenage drug addiction, and as an adult the compulsion to repeat the sins of his father.

Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction, Mental Health

Kindle Edition

First published March 3, 2003

Reviews

[Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the autobiography, ‘Wayne’ by Wayne Theodore (2003), Wayne is a boy from Massachusetts who was abused mentally and physically by his father. The abuse was so bad that his father nearly killed Wayne when he was only 6 years old. Wayne’s mother did nothing to improve the situation, as she was abused too. She saw the kids getting abused and did nothing about it. His mother often fled, leaving the kids alone with their abusive father or often alone while he was searching for her. Wayne lived with 11 other siblings. His father was manipulative, he’d pit the siblings against each other. He’d torture them into “spilling” about their guilty sibling. The children were practically starved, only getting moldy pig bread to eat. This was one of the worst child abuse cases ever recorded in Massachusetts. Wayne was pulled out of school by the time he was in 7th grade to work and make money for his father. Wayne attempted to leave home several times. He had many struggles in escaping successfully, including getting addicted to heroin. Ultimately, he overcame the addiction. Later in life, he had a baby with a woman named Ronnie. The baby passed away shortly after it was born. Their marriage did not work out, either. Then Wayne met Sharon. He started a very successful business and they got married. Wayne also had struggles in his business and this marriage but he managed to overcome them. Wayne and his siblings both denied and lived with the pain of their childhood until they finally decided to let the world know. They exposed their childhood to the nation on the Sally Jesse Raphael Show. Wayne Theodore is still married to Sharon and is a father to 6 children.
The book jacket sparked my interest for this autobiography. I find abuse and recovery books inspiring so this novel really drew my attention. Also, the first sentence on the inside jacket is, “When I was six years old, my father almost killed me.” From that quote, I knew this story would be very interesting.
The cover artwork for this book is a photograph of a little boy (Wayne) that is ripped into four pieces. I think this symbolizes how Wayne’s childhood broke him. I found this cover art intriguing and I could tell that it would tie into how Wayne’s abusive childhood had damaged him.
The title, Wayne, is simple and not very creative. Wayne is the name of the boy who was abused. The subtitle “An abused story of courage, survival, and hope” was an indication about Wayne’s struggles and that he did overcome them. The title was simple but effectively explained the mood of the story.
This book is an autobiography. It was written by Wayne Theodore about his own story. His purpose in writing this was to share his horrible childhood and inspire readers with his courage, hope, and survival.
Wayne perfectly described his struggles and how he overcame them. He included exactly how he felt at the time and I feel that this story could not have been written better than from his first hand experiences.

There were no other pictures in the book other than the cover photo. The cover photo was a picture that Wayne found of himself when he was 6 years old, the same year he was almost beaten to death.

The author, Wayne, was able to explicitly describe how he felt about his father and how his father would torture them. “You pulled me over your head and dropped me on the cement floor on my back. I have chips in my spine to this day. They said I was unconscious,” he said while exposing his father on The Sally Show. Wayne was also elaborate when describing how his father would yank him and his siblings by their hair (de-root them) and torture them. Another scene that stood out to me was when Mr. Theodore came to attack Michael at Wayne’s house. Wayne described how angry he was at his father and how good it felt to stand up to him. “Come on, do you want to bite me? Come and bite me. I’ll knock your teeth out,” Wayne dared his father. This was the first time that Wayne had ever stood up to his father. He described the scenes vividly enough that I could imagine them in my head.

Throughout the whole story, there was only one thing that I disliked. It bothered me how long it took the Theodore kids to expose their father for abusing them. I do understand, though, that it was hard for them to come out of denial and they may have felt embarrassed.

There was not a single thing that I would change in this book. Wayne described his agony and the pain of his childhood so well. He also conveyed the happiness of his survival. Reading the story, I felt as if I were part of his childhood because of how well he conveyed his struggles.

I would recommend this novel to anyone who likes inspiring stories. Also, anyone who enjoys tragic stories would appreciate this as well. This story is a mature piece and could interest any type of person. I would recommend it to readers over the age of 12 years. It was well worth my time.

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

So far what I've read is this little kid named Wayne Theodore is growing up in this abusive house with a father who is very cruel to him and his brothers and sisters. Theodore being six, wets the bed constantly and is not sure why he does, and he does this till he is eleven or so but one time he wet the bed and knew his father was gonna be very mad and he was right his father was so mad he dragged him into the bathroom and banged his head against the tub. His father would feed them moldy bread with peanut butter while he ate steak. The mom well she was in her own world and didn't really help the kids fight back. Wayne would explain the place they lived as a concentration camp. Wayne finally got out of the house and got a job and got married over a couple years then had some trouble with that and got divorced and later married someone else and had three little girls whom he loves and treats very well compared to how his father treated him.

[Shawna · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I saw that Sally Jessy Raphael had endorsed this book, and that the Theodore children had appeared on her show, I wasn't expecting too much. I feel that shows like that are exploitative "abuse porn" for the audience. So I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of this book. Credit to Theodore's co-author for being able to parse out the chapters so there was some narrative tension as Wayne uncovers family secrets. There was one typo that slipped past them, heroin spell "heroine" that made me wince, but that happened late in the book. The chapters are very short, so it acts as a catalyst to draw you into reading just one more chapter before you put the book down then before you know you're nearly done. A flaw I thought, was the lack of his siblings' perspectives -- we know nothing of how their lives turned out, especially his sisters. Drug abuse? Bad marriages? Children born? Successes? Higher Education? Careers? We don't get any indication on the wider affects of his parents' abuse an neglect.

This wasn't as exhaustively researched or as intellectual as other book on similar topics that I've read, I think it will appeal to the same folks who read "A Child Called It."

Also kudos that Wayne didn't find religion at the end which made everything all right, and grant forgiveness to his father (as has happened in other books I've read on this topic.) When I was reading the opening scene of the Sylvia Likens-level abuse he suffered, I thought "he better not end up forgiving this guy."

[Reader · Rating 1 out of 5]

While it's evident that Wayne and his siblings endured abuse from their father and neglect from their mother, the primary aim of this book was not simply to recount his abuse but to gain fame and wealth. Unfortunately, the story reveals a distressing truth: the cycle of abuse Wayne experienced in his childhood was perpetuated, causing ongoing pain for his own children. Abuse can manifest in various forms, and Wayne is adept at inflicting it.

Apart from his relationships with his daughters and son, Wayne has shown himself to be an unreliable and dubious businessman, with a reputation that extends throughout New England.

Trauma like Wayne’s can lead in one of two directions:
1) Learning from parental mistakes and growing beyond them, dedicating oneself to being the nurturing parent one never had and ensuring that one's children never endure the same pain.
2) Continuing the cycle of abuse and suffering, using the excuse of lacking a proper role model to justify failing to provide a nurturing environment and positive guidance.

I'll let you draw your own conclusions as to which path Wayne has chosen.

- Wayne's youngest child

[Tara Simonini · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel weird saying I enjoyed this book, given the graphic nature of most of it, but as far as memoirs go, this one was very well-written and I liked the story telling. A great story of overcoming adversity.

[Brayden · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an eye opening book. It does a good job of bringing awareness to the tragic and brutal lives that some people have to live.

[Charley Ruehl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this straight in one sitting, I couldn't put it down.

[Makayla]

Wayne's story is truly heartbreaking. The book kept me on the edge of my seat, and although
I would usually wonder what would happen next, I was almost scared to know what happened to Wayne next.

[Abby Fortner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such an amazing book! Every page was so interesting and showed how survival is possible even after profound childhood trauma.

[justablondemoment · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book truly moved me. It made me rage with anger and cry with an overwhelming grief for Wayne and his brothers and sisters. However, there were many places in the book that would lead me to disbelieve what is being said. I tend to be hypercritical of these types of books and fine tooth what I hear.

For example:
On page 79 he states that after a split between his parents the boys would go back with his father and "My *sisters* would stay with Ma in Haverhill" then on page 80 he states his father had left for some time and it was unspoken between the brothers that he would be visiting his mother as settling for 4 of his kids wasn't gonna be good for him.. Time goes by and then "My mother was right behind him with Christopher,the baby, in her arms."
Okay, here's my problem with this. Checking the dates of birth of the kids at the front of the book...If Christopher was the baby carried in his mother's arms, there could not have been sisters (plural) staying with mother. Typo? It could be....

Example 2:
page 129
"He took a bag full of white powder out of his pocket and showed it to me"....."The first time I got high on *cocaine* I felt like I could do anything...."
He goes on then with a few more sentences how he felt in control of it, once a week or so, as a reward....still with the context of cocaine being the drug...but THEN he switches it mid paragraph to heroin and never again is cocaine mentioned just heroin. Another typo? Cocaine typed instead of heroin at the beginning. Well, I'm not a drug addict and am no expert, but if it was a typo, why was it described as a white powder which is clearly cocaine? hummmmm

Example 3:
page 167
Describing the end of his 1st marriage he told how his wife left him with their daughter. Within this separation time, a son was born. He then goes on to tell how he met Sharon. "Even if she was interested, why should she want to get involved with someone who was married, with a *kid*?" HUH... paragraph before it was a daughter and a son. Plural two kids ...not a 'kid' singular

Okay... so I know this guy and his brothers and sisters went through hell... I do NOT dispute that. I didn't see the Sally Jessy Raphael show that did their story, but that at least would be a fact which couldn't be denied as the book states the father nor mother never denied the abuse and of course, there are reports from social services and such to that could be verified. So I dunno I can't get passed the few examples I gave. Books of fact should be pristine, especially books dealing with abuse, IMHO. This one, however, emotionally moving it was for me ...did NOT live up to that standard.

[Lilli Honeycutt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an amazing book and so incredibly eye-opening. The way that a child had to deal with abuse that adults wouldn't be able to take is crazy. The fact he had moved on from it is truly remarkable.

[Laren · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the true story of one of twelve children abused by their father as their mother ignored it and often abandoned them as they grew up. You may know the family from their appearance on Sally Jesse Raphael's show, which apparently was one of the most watched episodes they ever did. In that show, the grown children confront their parents who deny nothing, offering little explanation. At one point, the father simply shrugs and says, "It happened" as though that was a valid excuse.

Of course the descriptions of the abuse are hard to stomach. And while it happened to all of his siblings too, he largely focuses on his own experience and leaves much anonimity for them given that many of them are having a much harder time overcoming the past.

Obviously life was a struggle for our author too. But what I like about this story is his emphasis on constant choice to overcome his history. He chose not to beat the crap out of his father when finally given the chance. He chose to stop living a drug-filled, directionless life and get help to save his marriage. To break a cycle of violence is a choice, and a very difficult one if there is no one there helping and showing another way deal with things as was true in Wayne's case. The reader never quite fully understands exactly how Wayne did it as a result. It seems he just had some innate self-awareness that helped a lot, but he doesn't have the answers for his siblings other than to be there and not keep the secret anymore.

[Jennifer Wardrip · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed by hoopsielv for TeensReadToo.com

Wayne was one of twelve children. He is now married with four daughters and is a successful contractor in New Hampshire. It sounds like he is living the American dream; however, a phone call from one of his younger brothers triggers Wayne to seek answers from his past.

Wayne, his brothers, and his sisters were abused throughout their childhood. There were hospital visits and questions from teachers and social workers, but the abuse continued. Wayne digs back into these painful memories and the information he finds shocks and surprises him.

He has to confront his parents, and does so on a national talk show.

This is a true story of a brave man whose spirit could not be broken. His past continued to haunt him throughout his life. He needed to find out the truth, not just for himself, but for his family, as well.

This is a novel of terrible times and times of hope. While sometimes painful to read, the message of WAYNE comes through loud and clear to the reader that strength can prevail.

[Xenia0201 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember seeing this family on the Sally Show years ago and never forgot it. There's actually a Foreword by Sally Jessy herself stating that it was the most memorable show she did. When I picked the book off the shelf, I had no idea the book was written by one of the abused children. It was the first sentence that grabbed me..."When I was six years old, my father almost killed me." Wayne's story made me cry countless times...your heart just breaks to read about such suffering at the hands of a madman from which there seemed to be no escape, even into adulthood, and a mother who was conscious of only her own suffering. It's amazing that any of them survived. I have nothing but admiration for Wayne, who has accomplished so much in his personal life, and the lives of his brothers and sisters by taking the courageous step to finally expose his parents for the miserable hell that was his childhood.

[Janey Rood · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book. However, it was really hard to get through. The reason for this is that it's a story about a guy, Wayne, who was brutally abused as a child and growing up. The descriptions of the beatings are graphic and sad to read. The book is Wayne's story about how he went through a lot of obstacles after escaping his abusive parents. He struggled to support himself, fell into an addiction to cocaine, struggled to keep his marriage alive, and almost killed himself. Wayne and his siblings eventually find a way to get over the hurt they went through in their life and hearing of their success is a big part of why I enjoyed this book so much. I recommend this book to really anyone but especially people who are stuck in a bad spot in their life and struggling to get out. It's a story that shows no matter how hard something about your life is, it's okay to ask for help and there's always a way out.

[Krista · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had to read this book for a class that I'm taking in college and I'm so glad that I've read it. Having lived in Massachusetts all of my life, it was eye opening to read this story happening virtually in my back yard. It's the only textbook that I've ever actually finished reading.

There were parts of this book where I had to put it down an walk away from it before I could come back and finish the reading. Some of it was tough to get through, and made me squirm and feel shocked by what I was reading, but it was worth it. I would recommend this book to everyone. It's very eye opening.

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the first chapter this book grabs your attention and sucks you into the story. Interwoven with the present day searching of records to find out exactly what happened to him and his siblings are detaled memories of the fear Wayne felt from his father. Eventually Wayne overcomes his trials and comes out a betterperson because of it. I could not put this book down. Honestly a wonderful piece of writing.

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

I remember watching Wayne and all his siblings on the Sally Jessy Raphael show and being so disturbed by their story.

I have a feeling that what Wayne has revealed about his abusive childhood at the hands of his father is just the tip of the iceberg.

This book was disturbing yet told in a way that was not overly dramatic or sensationalistic (is that a word?). It always amazes me the things people will do to their own flesh and blood.

[Megan Silver · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is both horrible and insightful at the same time. It's hard to get through emotionally speaking since it's based on one man's abusive childhood. However, I think that it was defiantly worth the read and was very eye-opening as far as how cruel and unforgiving the world can really be. This book really made me grateful for those that are in my life, and especially for my loving parents.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story about being abused child living in poor family - where father is sadist, mother - not willing to defend the children, and siblings spying on each other to not be beaten by father - through teenage years spend with drugs as best friends to adulthood trying to be opposite to his father.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a heartbreaking memoir of Wayne and his siblings' childhood that was full of horrible abuse and neglect. It was not a light read kind of book, by any means, but his resilience and courage are amazing and it was a hard book for me to put down. Definitely worth reading.

[Miloe Peck/Braden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another Depressing book but still worth reading.

[Kassie · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book was very good!! I give it two thumbs up because it shows how a child can live through pain and tourture.

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was so sad, cried so much.

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wayne's story of a harrowing childhood and adulthood will leave you shocked and awed.

[Kimberly Martin]

I am 10 and i went through the same thing basicly but now i live with my grandparents and life is better but when i read this book i was heartbroken.. :{ :{ :{

[Ana Valladares · Rating 4 out of 5]

Faith..never fails

[Chloe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finished this book! It is really good, but in the end it is way too slow for me!

[Jan Sandro · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would give this to students who like David Pelzer's A Child Called It.