The Bastard Child is the long awaited autobiography by author Sean P. Hoggs. His gripping true-life story takes the reader from his abusive and turbulent childhood, through his struggles as a homeless teenager (in the violent inner city streets of Central New Jersey), to his incredible rise onto the national and international stage as an humanitarian and mentor. Each chapter is a remarkable, yet humble, testament to resiliency and perseverance. Regardless of age, race, socioeconomic background, start or station in life, his tragedy to triumph story is one for the ages. The Bastard Child is an uplifting American success story that goes far beyond your stereotypical "rags to riches" story shared today. If you ever hungered for an inspirational life story to help you overcome personal hardship or a challenge in life, this book is simply a must read. The Bastard Child..."To say that this book will change many lives is an understatement. I am forever changed since reading it. A book like this comes along once in a generation!" -Dione Lauray-Davis (Community Activist) The Bastard Child..."Once I picked the book up, I could not put it down. This autobiography is a must read, it's inspiring me to continue my education. I highly recommend this book for anyone who's having any kind of doubts about achieving their goals in life." -Terrence Bellamy (Youth Advocate and Retired Law Enforcement Officer) The Bastard Child..."Is a must read autobiography for any adult or at risk youth that is struggling with his or her direction in life." "Powerful...!" -Vernice Jackson (Mother, Washington D.C.)

"As the one child Joseph Jackson fathered out of wedlock, Joh'Vonnie experienced an oftentimes emotionally chaotic, under appreciated and uncelebrated life compared with those of her world famous kin, some of whom saw her very existence as a threat to their public image. As she grappled with her father's complicated legacy and forged her own path as a mother, poet, designer, and author, Joh'Vonnie came to understand her station in life and sense of value and worth equal in every way with this larger-than-life family"--from Back cover.

The Bastard Child is a compelling true story of a man overcoming adversity and social stigmatization. The author, Leroy M. Allen, was born and raised in the Cherry Hill section of South Baltimore. Growing up on the streets and in a culture of survival, his lifestyle was extremely dysfunctional and included lots of abuse and adversity. Fiercely protected and loved by a mother, who lacked skills and resources to support the family, The Bastard Child, tells about the love and initiative Leroy had for his mother and the abuse they endured. The story exposes his mother's abusive relationships and how he became the man with a mission who started a non-profit organization the National Fund for the Awareness of Violence Against Women and Children (NAVA FUND). All proceeds from the sale of THE BASTARD CHILD go to the support of NAVA FUND.

A profound portrait of family dynamics in the rural South and “an essential novel” (The New Yorker) “As close to flawless as any reader could ask for . . . The living language [Allison] has created is as exact and innovative as the language of To Kill a Mockingbird and The Catcher in the Rye.” —The New York Times Book Review The publication of Dorothy Allison’s Bastard Out of Carolina was a landmark event that won the author a National Book Award nomination and launched her into the literary spotlight. Critics have likened Allison to Harper Lee, naming her the first writer of her generation to dramatize the lives and language of poor whites in the South. Since its appearance, the novel has inspired an award-winning film and has been banned from libraries and classrooms, championed by fans, and defended by critics. Greenville County, South Carolina, is a wild, lush place that is home to the Boatwright family—a tight-knit clan of rough-hewn, hard-drinking men who shoot up each other’s trucks, and indomitable women who get married young and age too quickly. At the heart of this story is Ruth Anne Boatwright, known simply as Bone, a bastard child who observes the world around her with a mercilessly keen perspective. When her stepfather Daddy Glen, “cold as death, mean as a snake,” becomes increasingly more vicious toward her, Bone finds herself caught in a family triangle that tests the loyalty of her mother, Anney—and leads to a final, harrowing encounter from which there can be no turning back.

The Bastard Child is the long awaited autobiography by author Sean P. Hoggs. His gripping true-life story takes the reader from his abusive and turbulent childhood, through his struggles as a homeless teenager (in the violent inner city streets of Central New Jersey), to his incredible rise onto the national and international stage as an humanitarian and mentor. Each chapter is a remarkable, yet humble, testament to resiliency and perseverance. Regardless of age, race, socioeconomic background, start or station in life, his tragedy to triumph story is one for the ages. The Bastard Child is an uplifting American success story that goes far beyond your stereotypical rags to riches story shared today. If you ever hungered for an inspirational life story to help you overcome personal hardship or a challenge in life, this book is simply a must read. The Bastard Child...To say that this book will change many lives is an understatement. I am forever changed since reading it. A book like this comes along once in a generation! -Dione Lauray-Davis (Community Activist) The Bastard ChildOnce I picked the book up, I could not put it down. This autobiography is a must read, it's inspiring me to continue my education. I highly recommend this book for anyone who's having any kind of doubts about achieving their goals in life. Terrence Bellamy (Youth Advocate and Retired Law Enforcement Officer) The Bastard Child...Is a must read autobiography for any adult or at risk youth that is struggling with his or her direction in life. Powerful! -Vernice Jackson (Mother, Washington D.C.)

American Bastard is a lyrical inquiry into the life of being a bastard, sandblasting the myth of the "chosen baby."

"'The Bastard Child' is the autobiography of the founder of Nava Fund [National Fund for the Awareness of Violence Against Women and Children], Leroy Allen, born and raised in the Cherry Hill section of South Baltimore. Growing up on the streets and in a culture of survival, his lifestyle was extremely dysfuntional and included lots of adversity. Fiercely protected and loved by a mother, who lacked skills and resources to support the family, 'The Bastard Child' tells about the love and initiative Leroy had for his mother and the abuse he endured, plus the exposure of his mother's abusive relationships and how he became the man with a mission, Nava Fund"--Back cover.