The Long Winter

Paul Owen began his life with a lot of disadvantages. His single mother did the best she could to raise him on food stamps and welfare. But when he was only thirteen, she died tragically of cancer, leaving him at the mercies of relatives and foster care. This is the story of his journey through seven foster homes, across three states, during his high school years. Eventually, he found a settled life, and a career as a college professor in North Carolina. How did he get there? This book explains how ordinary people can overcome difficult challenges. Among many poignant themes in these pages, one will read of teenage angst, the despair of poverty, the solace of nature, the power of romance, a boy's love for his dog, and the challenges which face many thousands of children who live in foster care in our country.