An Oklahoma Story

Book Review by Shanna Locklear

The Orphans’ Nine Commandments by William R. Holman

Texas Christian University Press. Hardbound. $24.50.

The Orphans’ Nine Commandments is one of the best memoirs I have ever read. It is the true, well documented story, of life during the Oklahoma dust bowl era. It follows little Roger Bechan’s journey from his first abandonment by his mother in The Oklahoma Society for the Friendless in Oklahoma City onward. Through foster home after foster home and orphanage after orphanage we see all the changes that Roger has to face. Even his name changes over and over. To this day, many of his orphan classmates know him only as Will Rogers, the most famous name change of them all.

This will make you angry, then you’ll cry in frustration at all the foolishness the adults hand out to him. But sometimes you’ll laugh at the escapades that this kid dreams up. You’ll want to shout, “No! Don’t do that!” but to no avail. He does it and the truth is you’re falling in love with this Oklahoma “Huck Finn.”

Meanwhile, the mystery in his mind will be yours; where is my father? What happened to my Mother? Will I find them before I disappear from this earth?

Be prepared! You will not be able to put Orphans Nine Commandments down. Its understated, readable prose will draw you in to the mystery and mayhem. You’ll never want the book to end.