The Butterfly Garden: Surviving Childhood on the Run with One of America’s Most Wanted

Chip St. Clair
Health Communications Inc. (2009)
ISBN 9780757306952
Reviewed by Angela Henley for Reader Views (7/09)


I am a Social Worker by degree and have been involved with, victim of and read and seen many cases of severe abuse.  This type of story or memoir is of great interest to me.  “Chip” is unique in that he was a kidnapped victim, rather than the biological or step child of the abusers.  In addition, the main abuser in the family was wanted by the F.B.I. for the murder of another child.  Reading the book was a priority for me as I felt it would be “different,” “gripping,” and enlightening.  These unique details enticed me to read the book.

I was disappointed in the book.  Chip was typical in the verbal abuse that goes on in many dysfunctional families.  The verbal abuse and situations described in the book are low to moderate, not severe.  This abuse is by no means acceptable and the incidents described are good indicators that more severe abuse is not only possible but probable.  This book would make an excellent academic book to read before going into the field of Child and Family Protection, Social Work, Criminal Justice, etc.; but is not a book that shows the true reality of severe childhood abuse.

While Chip did endure violence and verbal and physical abuse he quickly was able to break off the relationship, triumph and had people around him to assist and “love” him despite the baggage that all abused children and adults that were abused as children have. Schools, Social Workers, Courts, etc were all bypassed by this family and were not described in the book as “a way of life.” This is the case in many instances.

The story of Chip in “The Butterfly Garden” is one worth reading for the lucky ones, the ones that haven’t seen or been involved with severe childhood abuse.  The “gripping” stories are the ones in which we often don’t hear too much about, the stories of the children who are not getting “applause,” “plaques” and recognition for turning in America’s Most Wanted, but the stories of the silent, unrecognized and many times unable to tell their stories and too afraid to turn in America’s Most Evil. 

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