An Orphan Has Many Parents

Rating:
Summary: Outstanding memoir of growing up in a unique orphanage.
Review: Friedland, especially, is very very sensitive and an excellent writer. Shows that being an orphan is necessarily a hardship. Can be an advantage. He is a modern hero.

Rating:
Summary: Outstanding, sensitive comment on life in orphanage
Review: Friedland, especially, is very very sensitive and an excellent writer. Shows that being an orphan is necessarily a hardship. Can be an advantage. He is a modern hero.

Rating:
Summary: Outstanding memoir of growing up in a unique orphanage.
Review: Phil Craft's mother died giving birth to him. Rejected outright by his father, he immediately was placed in a foundling home, where, according to his own words, he was "terrorized" for five years, the very first five years of his life! He then was transferred to an orphange, where he thought he was being sent to die. Little did he know then that the orphange would save his life instead. It was the Pride of Judea Children's Home in Brooklyn, New York. He would emerge from that Home thirteen years later, a stronger human being, ready to get on with the rest of his life. PeeWee Friedland and his older brother, Bernie, were stuck in an abusive foster home for three and one half years. Finallt, they could take it no longer and they ran away. Where to next? It was a despondent time. One more bad placement, Pee Wee thought, and he'd be a wreck for life. But good fortune smiled upon them. They were placed in the same orphanage as Phil, the Pride of Judea. Peewee Friedland would be helped immeasurably by the place and his life would be turned around. Just what kind of orphanage was the Pride of Judea and who were these surrogate parent figures who helped these orphans so much? This book, written by Messrs. Craft and Friedland, is a fascinating memoir of this orphanage, complete with its entire scene, its colorful cast of characters, and a full description of the wonderful people who staffed it. In fact, three of the main four adult figures, (all still alive) give their own first hand account of their experiences in the orphanage. The result is a poignant and moving memoir of two kids initially thrown on the scrap heap, only to be resurrected by a unique institution staffed by caring adults. Another related theme is raised, starting with a powerful foreword to the book by Father Val J. Peter, the Executive Director of the most well known orphanage in the world, Boys'Town. The theme, further elaborated on by the authors in an excellent final chapter, strongly recommends that small quality orphanages can definitely meet the needs of many of the three quarter million children who are shuttled through foster care today in this country with very poor results. These small orphanages would serve their needs far better and should be considered as strong options to the one track system of foster care. This book is an excellent read, and as one review put it, "a remarkable memoir, both moving and entertaining."