Publisher's Synopsis
In the tiny town of Smith Mills, his parents don't care if he lives or dies. At eight years old, he's forced to survive on his own. Ten, he buys his own clothes and most of his food. Fourteen, he's the manager of a service station paying rent to his mother to live with her. He's kicked down and pushed to the physical thresholds of flesh and bone, always knowing the sting of abandonment. He expects nothing more, and nothing less. In this incredible true story, John Utley proves that hardship forges strength, that success is measured only by cold hard grit in the face of oppression. And, sometimes, our greatest demons can reveal our most powerful virtues. He thought he'd left his hometown for good, but he returns one more time to take you on a trip you'll never forget. Smith Mills. Some boys are just born tough.
