Carissa Phelps

I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/12549021

True story by a young woman who left a neglectful, abusive family to live on the streets when she was very young. Phelps tells us the details of how she got caught up in prostitution, how she landed in one institution or another, and finally how one of the counselors in a youth institution believed in her enough to help her start believing in herself.

Not without some slips, she strove to get an education and show more became a lawyer working for homeless and at-risk youth.

It's certainly an inspiring story. Like others I have read that have an undertone of God in them, this one feels a little lacking. I wanted something more and I think I know what it is. It is clear from how Carissa was treated as a young girl that a great many people in the youth-treatment industry give up far too soon. They assume they are all "bad kids" and point to their arrests and other misdeeds as proof without looking beyond those to ask "how did you get here?" That was the question that the counselor, Ron, had asked Phelps. I feel we are asking the wrong questions and that while this was emphasized in this book it needs to be its own book.

Worth reading for the details. Also of note: Carissa spent some time living where I do, so there is a little bit of a local aspect to the story. show less