Charlie’s Kid is riveting, horrifying, mesmerizing, and unforgettable. It haunts, and it inspires. It is a story you cannot escape whose imagery stays with you. This is is a story of monstrous child abuse, years spent alone on the mean streets of Chicago, a hardscrabble adult life—and, ultimately, redemption. Charlie’s Kid is a tale of survival at a deepest level against excruciatingly insurmountable odds. From sea to sea and even to fighting war in Iraq; this book will keep your attention to the end. And for all its horror and despair, Charlies’ Kid is an inspiring tale about redemption, kindness and nobility.

This biography of a life lived under the radar is addictive and difficult to set aside. Honest and unvarnished, Charlie’s Kid is a story in the best sense of the word, pulsing with lessons born from difficult experiences, written for his son, and told out of love, not for glory. From soul crushing to smile-inducing, Sean X. Oljer’s fictionalized memoir Charlie’s Kid is extreme and unforgettable. If you are looking for a gritty read with meat, this is an understated gem by an unknown author. $2.99 on Kindle.