American Orphan

"Renowned poet Jimmy Santiago Baca explores in lyrical prose one young man's attempts to break free from the cycle of addiction, violence and abuse that contributed to his imprisonment and impede his search for happiness and a productive life. In a society that considers him a criminal because of his brown skin, and where those in authority-including a parade of priests when he was just a boy-take advantage of him, Orlando must learn to believe in himself against all the odds, in spite of the institutionalized racism he has endured since boyhood"--