Somebody's Someone: A Memoir

by Regina Louise

What happens to a child when her own parents reject her and sit idly by as others abuse her? In this poignant, heart wrenching debut work, Regina Louise recounts her childhood search for someone to feel connected to. A mother she has never known--but long fantasized about-- deposited her and her half sister at the same group home that she herself fled years before. When another resident beats Regina so badly that she can barely move, she knows that she must leave this terrible place-the only home she knows. Thus begins Regina's fight to survive, utterly alone at the age of 10. A stint living with her mother and her abusive boyfriend is followed by a stay with her father's lily white wife and daughters, who ignore her before turning to abuse and ultimately kicking her out of the house. Regina then tries everything in her search for someone to care for her and to care about, from taking herself to jail to escaping countless foster homes to be near her beloved counselor. Written in her distinctive and unique voice, Regina's story offers an in-depth look at the life of a child who no one wanted. From her initial flight to her eventual discovery of love, your heart will go out to Regina's younger self, and you'll cheer her on as she struggles to be Somebody's Someone.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Biography Memoir, Fostering, Abuse, Adoption

384 pages, Hardcover

First published June 12, 2003

Reviews

[Regina Louise]

I think that it takes a lot of courage to put your life out there for the world to read (If I should be so lucky to have the entire world read my book). I am proud of my book. More than that, I am happy to give voice to so many children and youth who are lost, dismissed and or completely invisible in the foster care system.
I am currently working on another book.

[Linda Parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had to ready this book for some foster care training. In working with kids--I found this true to what can happen in the system & how kids can fall through the cracks. And the element of the movement in so many places is unfortunately a common theme for kids in foster care.
A hard read--there's language (very true to the story) so be aware of those variables.

[Christina Culbertson · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first couple of chapters I felt extremely sorry and sad for Regina. Tje fact her mother nor her father wanted her and how they came in and out of her life for no reason. Regina at first was a sweet precious little girl that helped her big mama (which was her foster guardian) her daughter and their baby an tried to stay out of trouble for the most part until Lula Mae beat the hell out of her for no reason all because one of the girls who libed with big mama was an instigator an Regina got the blame for everything up until she ran away I felt so bad for her. The fact she had noone to love her was very sad and all she wanted was a "mother". Now we get to the rest of the book after a couple more chapters around twelve Regina pissed me off many times. I understand youve had enough bad times in your life but her acting out and making things worse irritated me like sayin she could cook but really couldnt then catchin the beans on fire hell I would have been mad too if I was told she could cook but burnt my beans im sorry but Reginas whole attitude and persona as she got older just really bothered me. She slick became a brat and the fact how she perceived white people REALLY irked my nerves! Like makin fun of the way we talk and look and how our families were "loving" and perfect when in reality alot of us white folks grew up broken family no mother or father people pawning you off not ALL white people have the white picket fence kind of lifestyle. Were just like you its just a skin color now if white people wrote a book talking about black people "some type of way" it would be considered rascism and I believe its double standard. Anyways I did read tje whole book and I did find it interesting, I love biographies and I would read another book by Regina again. I dont like how the book ended though either because of the simple fact what happened to Regina? Did she live happily ever after? What about her rape accusations against Will when really it was almost consensual thats what im talkin about all the lying for no reason. If theirs a sequel to this im not gonna loe im gonna probably read it so I know what happened to Regina and how she became the book writer she is today. I dig the fact she shared her life with millions of people. The foster care system is all a crock of shit and thats just an excuse to put unwanted children in horrible living conditions then turning their back on you, what a shame I feel for all these kids glad you made it Regina

[Diana Buttram · Rating 1 out of 5]

Too much profanity.

[Laiaja · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story about a young woman without a home or a family and the love a stranger provides to get her through it all her trails and tribulations.I really liked that I was able to really feel for poor Regina and understand how she could have reacted in the ways that she did. I disliked she didn't really explain what had happened to her the last few years of her childhood.I would recommend this book to people but warn you that the information is pretty heavy and will make your heart want to reach out to help people with lives similar to Regina Louise.

[Jeannie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was so full of anger and sadness it made it hard to read and stay with. Many times I just wanted to give up and put it down but wanting to know how life turned out for her kept me going so needless to say the ending was not only a big disappointment but left me hanging. I don't care much for books that do that. Yes I see another book coming but don't think I'm interested at all. The writing style was very odd also. All in all this book just wasn't for me.

[Denise Meister · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartbreaking

No child should have to experience this. Rejection. A broken foster care system. Courts insensitive to a child. On and on. I had to read this book after seeing the Gina Louise story on LIFETIME. This remarkable woman survived. She survived on the love of one person, Claire who refused to let the system make her give up on a little girl. It is time, past time that the foster care system is fixed.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was great. A true memoir about a girl in the foster care/relative care system. She spoke as an adult at the Children's Justice Conference in Seattle last year and I was blown away at how far she'd come and felt so "proud" that she was able to make so much of herself after so many bad things had happened in her childhood. A true inspiration.

[Jennifer Owens · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a social worker in foster, I truly know all youth in foster care don't have necessarily good endings in their lives. Didnt like the ending, but accepted it. Loved that Louise could so vividly tap into the mind of an adolescent abandoned & depict it so well. Nice to know as well the hope shared with a positive loving adult helped shape her identity and to feel worthy again.

[Kenyatta Robertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome and touching book

I read this book after watching the movie because I wanted to get the details of her life that were not presented in the movie. All I know is that Regina is a resilient woman, and I am so happy to see how she beat the odds, and came out on top, despite her hard life.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stayed up all night to read it! This true story starts in Austin and takes a young girl zig-zagging the country carelessly discard by her family. A testimony to overcoming abuse, neglect, abandonment and the foster care system.

[Selene · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's so sad! and to think that it all really happened is worse. It makes you realize how some people in this world can really be. It even made me think about when I had children in the future and how i would never choose a man before my kids.

[Beatrice McClearn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved how this novel told the story of an adopted girl and the pain that she went through. It gave me a new perspective of the adoption process and what some orphans must go through. This was a great novel!

[Jocelyn Contreras · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite book so far because of how true and unbelievable the story is. The whole story is sad and its amazing how she overcame all of her rough times at such a young age without depending on anyone.

[Kivalina Mauck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

Regina tries so hard to be loved by everybody . Her parents did her very wrong. 1 special lady who really loves her but system was so messed up they would not let them be together. I feel so sad for her and want to hug her.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This author is brave to tell her story, but there was an awkwardness about her writing voice that bothered me throughout the entire book. She seemed to have trouble deciding whether to use dialect or proper English and that made the book seem inauthentic.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sad, real story but not an amazingly well-written book. Worth the read to hear about how the foster care system often fails.

[Morganlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

True story about foster care that will make you love your parents.

[Love · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just could not get into this one..I really wanted to but just was forcing myself.Did not like the writing style.

[Maya Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a very good read. To give up your child for a man is ridiculous in my opinion. The writing wasn't very good though. Other than that, I liked it.

[Csdoglover]

I really want to read this! Regina came to my school and talked to us!

[Ruth · Rating 3 out of 5]

You'll want to reach out and give Regina a big bear hug after reading this resilent and inspiring story of surviving under a cruel system of foster care.

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book. I was able to really feel for poor Regina and understand how she could have reacted in the ways that she did. Our system is definately very flawed.....

[Leone · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked this book - I like the way she writes. Ending???

[cati · Rating 3 out of 5]

the author was so great in person! not my favorite book. sorry for her sadness, but it wasn't great writing.

[Jenrene · Rating 3 out of 5]

Start out very intriuging... iw ill contnue to comment on the final read...

[Mariana · Rating 2 out of 5]

I kept hoping that the book would get better but the main character seemed to go from catastrophe to catastrophe with only one positive relationship.

[Darlene · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book.

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book maybe because I've lived a life similar to her's.In all This is her life story and I think she did a great job of telling it.

[Teona · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely fell in love with this book and ended up reading it twice, which usually never happens.