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Reviewed by Karen Pirnot for Readers' Favorite
Retarded Girl Raised in Dog Pen by Lauren Leigh is a fascinating study of an abused and neglected special needs child. Baby was adopted at birth and was pronounced eyeless and without vocal cords. In addition, she was paralyzed from her waist down and it was thought she was also intellectually deficient. Baby is a resourceful child who began to know her world despite her challenges. She has an adoptive mother who provides unconditional love, but an abusive father who forces the child to live in the dog pen while bringing the dogs into the house. The story of abuse is not new but the way in which the child deals with the little she has been given is nothing short of phenomenal!
When Baby's father is murdered, her mother, Rivers, is accused of the murder and immediately incarcerated. Out of a sense of guilt, she pleads guilty and Baby is removed by child services in Mississippi. During her placement, she gives clues to a special mental health professional and as a result, important clues to the murder of the father are uncovered. The child is precious, both in her abilities to protect herself and in her ability to learn of the world about her. At times, the thoughts appeared a bit mature for a child of ten who had undergone such deprivation. But, for the most part, the child was responsive, insightful, and highly adaptive. The mother's inability to remove herself and her daughter from the abusive relationship is in keeping with research that concludes that trauma of that sort prevents action. I thoroughly enjoyed the book, but wish the author had perhaps reworded the title. This is a quality and thought-provoking book which should be read by every healthcare provider dealing with special needs children.
