In his memoir The Lost Boy, Dave Pelzer tells the story of his experiences in foster care after being removed from the care of his abusive mother. Following a trial in which it is decided that he will be a ward of the state of California until age eighteen, David is sent to live with his new foster parents, Lilian and Rudy Catanze, and their other foster children. The Catanzes are a kind couple who have been taking in foster children for many years. They allow David more freedom than he has ever had before, but they have rules as well, especially about lying. Things start going downhill when David begins shoplifting candy bars and toys in order to gain the approval of other kids. When he is eventually caught, Rudy threatens to send him to Hillcrest, the juvenile detention center in San Mateo County. He follows through on this threat when David, who is now twelve, is accused of trying to burn down his school. In reality, the fire was started by a boy named John who had recently accepted David into his “gang.” David actually tried to put the fire out and had the fire department called. John claims David started the fire, however, and Rudy doesn’t believe David’s protestations of innocence (although Lilian does). Believing David is too much of a troublemaker to have in their home, Rudy takes him to Hillcrest. David is charged with arson and forced to defend himself in court against his mother, who wants to have him confined to a mental institution. Taking into account David’s excellent behavior at Hillcrest, the fact that the Catanzes want him to come home, and David’s new probation officer’s recommendation that he stay with his foster parents, the judge—who still believes David may have set the fire—sentences him to one hundred days in juvenile hall, including the time he has already served. About a month later, David is released from Hillcrest and returns to the Catanzes.
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