On Wednesday, January 8 at 7PM, join us at the Clapp Memorial Library for a book talk with Ed Orzechowski. Becoming Darlene: The Story of Belchertown Patient #4952 is Orzechowski’s second account of life within the Belchertown State School following You’ll Like It Here: The Story of Donald Vitkus. After the presentation, books will be available for purchase and signing.

“Born in a Massachusetts mill town in 1956, Darlene Rameau is number eight of what would become 14 children. When she is three years old, a social worker reports that Darlene is segregated from the rest of the family in a filthy room, treated like an animal, and unable to walk. At age seven, Darlene is sent to Belchertown State School, a de-humanizing institution where she meets a sister she didn’t know she had. Darlene considers herself an “it,” unworthy of a name. Little Girl, Boy, and Brains are voices in her head who help her survive. Her dream is to raise a family of her own, but at 17 she is discharged into a world where she has no idea how to make that dream a reality.”