Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Jeffs, Brent Lost Boy

Jeffs, Brent Lost Boy
Broadway Books see Random 2009 241p 24.95 978-0-7679-3177-9 hs/adult

Brent Jeffs, member of a fundamentalist Mormon sect, tells about life in a polygamist community and the sexual abuse from leader Warren Jeffs. Brent heartbreakingly documents the life of boys who are culled to lessen the number of males. For grades 10 and older. Brent Jeffs knew something was wrong when he was five years old and he was sexually abused by Warren Jeffs, leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS). Life inside a polygamist community is well documented with all the jealousy between wives, lack of money to feed the 15 people in Brent’s household, and the strict religious guidelines followed in the community. The biblical background and Mormon beliefs adopted by this sect are explained along with the feelings that members had in following the dictates of Warren Jeffs. As the dictates grew more strict - what TV shows were acceptable, what clothing had to be worn, the contact allowed between sexes outside of marriage, and the beliefs that Gentiles were evil - the lives of members became almost robotic. Polygamy depends upon having fewer males than females as each male strives for at least three wives. Therefore, two of Brent’s older brothers are rejected for various sins and tossed out of the community. As Brent’s family succumbs to infighting between wives, Brent too leaves the community. All three brothers descend into drug and alcohol addiction with the older two brothers committing suicide. Brent struggles with assimilation into city life as do all the “Lost Boys” who are cast out of the FLDS. Brent’s childhood memories come to haunt him and he along with other “Lost Boys” file a lawsuit against Warren Jeffs for sexual abuse that leads to Warren’s imprisonment. Strong, realistic depiction of drug use, sexual abuse and occasional language limit this book to upper high school and adults who are curious about the FLDS. LMN

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