This novel by Howard Buten is one of the most complex and emotionally charged stories I've read.
"Burton Rembrandt is placed in the Children's Trust Residence Center, an institution for disturbed, psychopathic or autistic children, following an inappropriate amorous encounter with female classmate Jessica. Told in Burt's precocious voice, the story is supposedly written by the boy in pencil on the walls of the Quiet Room. It is a compelling study of the tragedy that can result when literal-minded children and literal-minded adults fail to understand each other. The adults (parents and psychiatrists alike) take little responsibility for the misinformation they spout while they narrowly interpret as sociopathology Burt's innocent comments, normal for any child, about his "hate" or his desire to "kill" something. Wrongly incarcerated with autistic and truly sociopathic children, it is not until Burt encounters a sympathetic psychiatric resident that hope begins to grow, both in Burt and the reader, that the boy will finally be seen for what he is: a child who has a right to an ordinary life."
Despite the front jacket's claim that Burt is misunderstood, I still found myself unsettled by this character. I don't remember having such violent thoughts when I was little, and I'm sure that any child who did even today would be placed in a facility as Burt was. Much of Burt's mannerisms were adopted from those around him: his older brother, his parents, his friends. He often uses words he doesn't understand. His imagination is hyper-active. Buten captured a child's voice with uncanny grace, but I felt like something is lurking on the pages, just beneath my understanding. I feel like I need to be told the answer, like I should talk with other people who have read the book so they can explain it to me. I enjoyed it, I really did, but I think it warrants a second read-through to unlock those deeper layers.
A trademark of a great story? I think so.
Five out of five stars
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