in particular, the book details the physical, emotional, and sexual abuse meted out by agents of the commonwealth of massachusetts youth service board (ysb), later becoming the department of youth services (dys). johnson provides descriptions of the abuse he and other boys received but stops short of any prurient references. although this book has much to do about child abuse, the main theme is one of survival. johnson was able to find some mentors who helped him become a successful adult and he names them and gives the details in his book.