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4.16 AVERAGE
4.16 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
slow-paced
dark
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
A solid read about a tragic event that could have been stopped so many times by so many people.
Do you remember the shocking story of intellectually disabled men who were rescued from a slave-like environment in Atalissa, Iowa? I do, and I was anxious to learn more! The men were moved from Texas to live in an abandoned schoolhouse in rural Iowa. They worked from 1974 until they were rescued in 2007 at a turkey packing plant, doing the nastiest jobs in the facility. The company they worked for controlled every aspect of their lives. They kept most of their earnings, including social security, for rudimentary room and board. They were denied medical treatment and were physically and mentally abused. After their rescue, the men won a lawsuit with unprecedented damages of $240 million. Unfortunately, they did not end up getting near that amount in the end.
The content of this book is incredibly thorough. It is full of facts and interviews, but it reads like a long news story. This journalistic style bothered me for most of the book, but it was still worth reading. The book gives every side of the story, even that of the company owners. In my opinion, the author went a bit easy on the bad guys, which prevented me from feeling as much sympathy as I should have.
I live in Waterloo, Iowa, and loved reading about my little city's contribution in helping these men in the last part of the book. I didn't realize that many of them live here now. My best friend from college is from Atalissa, which also peaked my interest in the story.
The content of this book is incredibly thorough. It is full of facts and interviews, but it reads like a long news story. This journalistic style bothered me for most of the book, but it was still worth reading. The book gives every side of the story, even that of the company owners. In my opinion, the author went a bit easy on the bad guys, which prevented me from feeling as much sympathy as I should have.
I live in Waterloo, Iowa, and loved reading about my little city's contribution in helping these men in the last part of the book. I didn't realize that many of them live here now. My best friend from college is from Atalissa, which also peaked my interest in the story.
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Modern slavery in 2009 Iowa - 30+ men with intellectual disabilities taken from state schools in Texas in the 60s and 70s and sent to work in a turkey processing plant in Iowa. Where they would earn full wages but only receive $65 a month and endure decades of physical & verbal abuse and medical & physical neglect. And nothing being done until the media stepped in and forced the State to take action.
This fantastically researched, comprehensive and well written book will completely break your heart. I really can't believe that all the events actually happened--and only a ways down the road in Iowa. (Yes, Wapello County got a mention in the book. Not a favorable one.) I especially can't believe that social workers and reporters had investigated this operation before, and no one had done anything. Tragic. This was a very easy read for nonfic. Recommended for anyone who is still human.
Whether or not you have a family member with special needs, this should be horrifying and heartbreaking to anyone who reads it.