danielle2

About... 3?  Years ago I read this book.  It's about a six year old girl who started a toddler on fire, and a new teacher had her in her class.  The class was full of students with... issues.  And ironically, that arson was her favorite.  The story was a little adult for me (let's face it, I was a 'mature' eleven year old... but that book was craz-y) and throughout the story the background of the girl unfolded.  She lived in a trailer with her father, who was an alcoholic, and most of her clothes she found in the dumpster behind a thrift store.  She never took showers, and often had accidents.  Yes, it was an icky smell.  Later in the book the girl was raped by her uncle and the details are a little to graphic for an individual blog entry, and while reading it I remember getting sick.... But you know, I just couldn't stop reading.  When you read a book like that, things kind of stick in your mind.

I'm told the book is similar to A Child Called It.  Haven't read that one quite yet... But I am looking forward to it.  If anyone's got a copy, let me know.  Cuz I've got issues with the library and their due dates for the books.  I'm just too busy gosh darnit!

 So, anyway.  I remembered this book today because on the Message Boards was a thread about a ten year old who confessed to arson and murder.  A little epic.  (btw, the kid that girl started on fire lived.  disfigured... but alive)

And so I decided to make a blog entry about it.  Because it really DOES happen.  And it blew my mind.  Of course, it has yet to be proven it was really him.  And there is yet to be a trial.

But what if he did?  What drives a young boy to start his own house on fire, with his mother and fellow children inside?  Is it just a spur of the moment thing?  Or do we have a young Jack the Ripper on our hands?

So... it disturbs me.  The girl... I don't know what was going through her head when she started the fire.   I know that as she developed a relationship with that teacher, her quality of life improved, and that it was mostly her background.

Is that what happened to this boy, IF he is found guilty?  Should parents that cannot support their children really be allowed to... raise them?  If this is what's going to happen?

Ouch.  I hurt my brain.  My heart aches for these children.  And for the victims.   Please tell me your opinions on the boards.