Customer Reviews

Somebody's Someone: A Memoir

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

WOW! what a heck of a read! I found Somebody's Someone to be a page-turner from beginning to end--I simply couldn't put it down. It is about time that someone tells this story about the foster care system in a young girl's voice. I've read Dave Pelzers stories and this book is just as triumphant! If this is the first in a two-part series, I can't wait to read the next installment.

Regina wanted to be somebody, anybody, someone loved. SOMEBODY'S SOMEONE: A MEMOIR by Regina Louise is the story of Regina Ollison told through the voice of a young Regina, age ten through fifteen. We hear first hand the account of her life as a foster child in Texas, North Carolina and finally California. Regina deliberately and painstakingly lays before the reader a first hand account of her ordeal as an unwanted child and what an ordeal it was. So much so that no child should be subjected to life that Regina led. While reading, a few questions came to mind such as, why was this child literally abandoned to a family friend with a history of harboring children and allowing their mistreatment by others? Were her parents so selfish not to want this child but as the years went on, continued to have other children whom they treated like gold? Were Regina's behaviors so incorrigible that she could not be loved?

Through it all, Regina possessed a spirit of wanting, forgiveness and determination that literally saved her from herself and others. At times her antics were humorous but for the most part, this is a sad account, told with a strong southern dialect, which forces the reader to savor the message that Regina was trying to get across to the adults in her life. Her voice resonates her need for a mother and a family regardless of color, which is something that no one inside of the system captured with exception of one woman.

While reading I was hoping to get a glimpse at Regina today and where she stands. I went to her website and discovered that she is doing wonderful things for children "caught" in the system. She is artistically creative and continuously giving of herself through the arts. Anyone who reads SOMEBODY'S SOMEONE: A MEMOIR will be affected by the life of Regina Louise. I highly recommend this novel if you can stomach the pain that may come along with it....

What does a child do when her both her mother and father do not want her? When their actions make it perfectly clear that they do not love her and do not care what happens to her? Regina Louise, in her moving, compelling memoir, Somebody's Someone, chronicles her life as a child searching for a place to belong. Though she grew tired, disenchanted and weary, she knew there had to be somebody, somewhere who wanted her.

Regina Louise Ollison is an eleven year-old girl, born to a woman who had Regina's sister, Doretha, at age thirteen and then her, five years later. She is given away to Big Mama, Johnnie Jean Thornhill, as a baby because her mother is unable or unwilling to care for her and her father's whereabouts are unknown. In this household, every kind of dysfunction exists, not the least is physical abuse of which Regina is a recipient. When she is beaten within an inch of her life by Lula, Regina runs away and calls Odetta, a woman she remembers as her father's mother. Odetta comes to the rescue, and is eager to do right by her granddaughter but trouble always finds Regina and she runs back to Big Mama's house where she feels safe. Big Mama puts her on a bus to North Carolina with some vanilla wafers, a soda and twenty-five cents and tells her that someone may or may not meet her on the other end.

Regina is overjoyed to be reunited with her mother, Ruby, even if she has to share her with two younger brothers and Mr. Benny. Yet though she has her mother, she still yearns for the demonstrative signs of affection that never seem to materialize. The next thing Regina knows, she is on a plane to her dad in Richmond, California. Her father is supposed to be a songwriter and artist who spends long periods in Los Angles away from his wife and two younger daughters in the Bay Area. Again, Regina is unwanted and unloved and through a series of events, ends up in a wayward home for girls. The County continually attempts to place her in a succession of foster homes to no avail. Regina, who grows up on 70s television with a vision of being part of a Brady Bunch family, is still looking for someone to love her. She finds it in one of the workers at the home, Miss Claire, who shows her unconditional love.

This is such a compelling, heart wrenching story--- hard to read yet it begs to be. Descriptive and well-written, the sometimes illiterate, southern dialect might be a distraction for some readers. At times you want to wring Regina's neck, her behavior seemed to be the cause of many of her problems, yet it went so much deeper. The years of abuse, the abandonment by her parents (her father tells her he doesn't love her), and the lack of black role models all contribute to her problems. To see the confident Regina today, who is a successful hairstylist/businesswoman and writer, there is no evidence that she was once destined to fail. This story will grab you, shake you up and make you count your blessings for your childhood. This is truly a testament to human survival and the strength of the human spirit.

Dera Williams
APOOO BookClub

I loved this book!! Regina Louise shares her story with honesty, grace and humility. Her struggles highlight the injustices of our "child welfare" system as well as the resiliency of children in the worst of circumstances. Regina is a survivor in every sense of the word and is an inspiration to all oppressed peoples. Thanks for writing this book.

This book is just beautiful. The author's voice is so real and so clear. The book gives a gritty view of the foster care system without ever slipping into self-pity. The author is a fighter and this comes through in the feisty, engaging story.

When I picked out this book at the bookstore, it put me in the mindset of another book call "Gal" that I read years ago. I loved that book, so I was excited about going home and getting started on it. After reading this book, there were so many questions that I feel like were unanswered. I wanted to know if her sister ever came back into her life, and did she ever hear from anyone from Texas again. Maybe these things will be answered in her next book.

Another thing that bothered me was that she seemed like she put black people down an awful lot. Referring to the skin color, "black as tar" and "black dog" and things like that. I understand it was a nonfiction book, and these were her feelings, but there were times when I had to put the book down for a minute. I am happy she turned out okay considering her life, and I hope somewhere along the line she got some counseling for her feelings toward black people.

This book about broke my heart. Even with her limited financial resources her mother was able to keep her two younger sons with her and Regina felt she preferred them because they were male. What really broke my heart was how when she ended up in a temporary childrens shelter at around age 13, she was able to bond with one of the care workers.

This lady truly loved her and wanted to adopt her but was not allowed. Because she was white and single she was found to be unsuitable and they lost touch until only recently. I could understand the racial preference with a baby but not an older child, esp one who, geez, might have a few issues due to her abusive upbringing and is unlikely to be adopted. I really think it is people confusing their own very understandable issues with the needs of a child.

A lot of the issues she had at the shelter were due to the fact that she did not want to go to a foster home and kept running away when they insisted on taking her there. Given that she was nearly beaten to death in the foster home she lived in till age eleven, her response makes total sense.

However, it did not fit the preference for foster homes over residential treatment that was politically correct. If they couldn't place her with the care worker than maybe a non-punitive residential placement would have been more appropriate.

I found out about this book through an article in the paper. She was reunited with the former care worker as an adult and was adopted by her. One thing I found distracting is the way the book is written in dialect, but once I got pulled into the story it was not an issue. I look forward to her next book which will hopefully have more detail about the remainder of her teenage years and adulthood. I'm also looking forward to being able to access her website as well once it becomes available again.

I just finished reading this book, which I started yesterday! It is 3 a.m. and I had to write a review. One of the most powerful books I have ever read!!! "Somebody's Someone: A Memoir" by Regina Louise is a powerful autobiography of a strong couragious girl born into hatred and her journey through neglect and abuse and the foster care system. It is written beautifully and with the passion and power of an individual who has experienced an abusive childhood first hand. It proves how unconditional love and trust can save a child!!!

This book should be required reading for all, it opens the worlds eyes to the neglected children in our society and could hopefully bring change for them all.

Thank goodness Regina you made it!!! I hope that there is nothing but good for you forever!!!! I am so moved by your book!!!

I will add Regina Louise to my list of favorite authors. I fell in with her character from the very first page. It's a difficult read only in that Regina Louise has the ability to pull me into her story and each dissapointment she felt, I felt along with her. My biggest wish is for this book to be a movie. It reads like an Oscar performance to me! BUY THIS BOOK! You won't be dissapointed.

I've read plenty of biographies but this one did not do it for me..don't get me wrong I'm sorry that happen to her but I was not all pleased especially with the ending It took me awhile to finish this book..wish she would have talked more about her life as a adult not so much of her childhood I felt I was reading the same chapter over and over..