The caller claimed there were about 20 intellectually disabled men living in squalor in the old Atalissa school house. The men worked in a nearby turkey processing plant and did some of the worst jobs while being paid substandard pay. The social worker was doubtful but followed up on this outlandish claim - only to discover it was true. And worse.
The Boys in the Bunkhouse by Dan Barry is the story of these disabled men: how they went from institutional care into a experimental group home promoted as a means to give them job skills and independence while providing a warm home environment. Instead, over the years it devolved into a situation of medical neglect, emotional abuse, and unsanitary living conditions.
I used to live near Atalissa, and I try to read Iowa stories whenever I get the chance, so, of course, I grabbed this one off the new shelf. To say it is very compelling is an understatement. I have been talking about this book to almost everyone I see.
While reading it, I asked myself over and over "How could no one have seen what was going on?" Of course there are reasons, and this book does a great job trying to suss them out. Barry doesn't take the easy way of just pointing fingers but he seeks out the perspectives of the Atalissa community, the men's caretakers, and Iowa's social services agencies who perfected the art of passing the buck when it came to these men.
I was especially caught by the life stories and personalities of these men, and appreciated the author's effort in tracking down their backgrounds and following up on where they are today. Although it is a heartbreaking story in many ways, it's also complex and nuanced. It's great nonfiction writing, and I highly recommend it.
PS - And in case you were wondering about the book cover - yes the schoolhouse was bright turquoise. The inside was just as garish, but much shabbier.
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