Reviewer Fran Lewis:
Fran worked in the NYC Public Schools as the Reading and Writing
Staff Developer for over 36 years. She has three masters degrees and
a PD in Supervision and Administration. Currently. She is a member of
Who's Who of America's Teachers and Who's
Who of America's Executives from Cambridge. In addition,
she is the author of three children's books and a fourth Alzheimer’s
book is Memories are Precious: Alzheimer’s Journey: Ruth’s story
in honor of her mom. Fran
hopes to create more awareness for a cure of Alzheimer.
She
was also the musical director for shows in her school and ran the
school's newspaper. Fran writes reviews for authors upon request and
for several other sites. You can read some of my reviews on Ezine.com
and on ijustfinished under
the name Gabina.
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Authors: Gloria Nixon-John and Robert “Skip” Noelker
ISBN: 9780982697146
Publisher: Neverland Publishing Company
Follow Here To Purchase The Killing Jar - Based on a True Story
Authors: Gloria Nixon-John and Robert “Skip” Noelker
ISBN: 9780982697146
Publisher: Neverland Publishing Company
Abuse has many faces more
frightening than that of Dr. Jekyll or Mr. Hyde. Picture a child who
is denied of deprived food and looks emaciated. Picture a child
denied proper and clean clothing, verbally abused and raised by a
mother who is a religious fanatic only concerned with her own needs.
Picture a straight A student whose demeanor, attitude and personal
appearance take on a radical change.
Imagine a young man hoping to
find a moment’s solace with a close friend drinking whiskey and
smoking pot to stave off hunger. Many children endure different types
of abuse but the children in this book seemed to battle it every
moment of every day. This is my review of the Killing Jar based on
the real life story of Todd Ice.
The character in this book is Ted
Lynch and the story related by the authors will make you wonder why
anyone would ignore the signs of abuse that were right in front of
them. The story unfolds in the church as the family meets the good
pastor and you hear Ted’s thoughts as he thinks the pastor knows of
his misdeeds and misconduct. He fears him at first sight.
Thinking he can read his mind and his impure thoughts and that he is not worthy of God’s love. The author’s then include information about his sister Renee and her hospitalization and her emotional problems caused by her mother. Aware of the poor conditions and lack of food provided to these children the social worker assigned to her case attempts to get her some help. But, it is too late for Ted as the authors recount an incident with a bearded man and next we learn he is being arrested for murder. Fifteen-year-old Ted Lynch murdered his seven year old neighbor Debbie Knowles. Now, he has everyone’s attention.
When the social worker and
the court looked at Ted they saw a shell of a young man blaming his
behavior on his upbringing. Dr. Newport or Chip did the analysis and
it is his voice you hear describing Ted. The courtroom scene is quite
compelling as you listen to the rather disjointed testimony given by
Ted’s mother. The psychological evaluation of Ted’s behavior and
intelligence are included for the reader to determine whether Ted is
aware that he even committed a crime.
While riding in the back of the
police car Ted’s thoughts are heard as he wonders why anyone thinks
he killed Debbie. With a corrupt judge overseeing the case, an
inexperienced attorney and no one other than Chip to plead his case
the end result for Ted is incarceration and the death sentence. Just
reading the transcript of the trial and the different testimonies
given by the witnesses the reader knows that his young man had no
chance. The authors describe his first minutes at Bardi Castle and
what his life will be like. Ted loves to read and his poetry
expresses his inner most feelings and the way he relates to the
world. Imagine feeling like an ice-locked tree or hoping to fly up in
the sky and soar like a bird.
Letters written to his mother are quite
revealing. Intelligent, has a love of reading and just wants to feel
accepted, loved by his family and understood Ted finds more
compassion and understanding from the inmates on death row then he
did from his family at home. Enter The McKnights, who hope to get him
a new trial and off of death row. Nine years in the State
Penitentiary. Friends with those on death row and his inner thoughts
revealed in his poems as the reader enters the world of Ted Lynch,
the prison cell he lives in and the interactions he has with his
fellow inmates. Expressing his thoughts, desires and feelings about
himself you can decide for yourself whether he is sane or not just by
reading his poems, his letters and his thoughts. Ted is delusional.
Ted gets a new trial and the death penalty is reversed.
Listen to his
words and read the transcripts from the trials and you decide where
he belongs. Is he insane? Will they prove it before it’s too late?
A small town community that turns a blind eye to this young man, his
life, his struggles and abusive life.
The authors present the information and the trial transcripts and ask the reader to consider many questions at the end when you read the epilogue and decide whether justice really prevailed for Ted. Read the poems and the letters that he wrote and decide if the end justified the means and if Ted voice was ever heard. The authors really bring to light so many issues that many ignore today. Abuse rears its head in so many different ways. We need to pay closer attention.
Follow Here To Purchase The Killing Jar - Based on a True Story