Ghost - The Rick Watkinson Story

A True Life Crime StoryFor most teenagers, rebellion is a rite of passage. You fight with your parents over curfews and music. You push limits. You sneak out. You test the boundaries of independence and eventually, grudgingly, you find your way back. But what happens when that rebellion is fueled by extreme betrayal, years of abuse, spiritual brainwashing, and a final fit of explosive rage?In the case of sixteen-year-old Rick Watkinson, it meant one fateful night in Alaska that would alter the course of his life forever."I died inside at that moment.
I remember telling myself: I am dead inside. I am a ghost. A sudden switch flipped, and I literally felt an empty coolness inside my soul that brought comfort through absence. Thus, Ghost was born." - Rick WatkinsonRick was a typical American kid - adventurous, bright, idolizing his pilot father and thriving on their shared love of flying and the open road. Then his father filed for divorce and walked out the door, and something inside ten-year-old Rick Watkinson broke beyond repair.
With his mother unable to offer comfort beyond fervent prayer and a deepening obsession with spiritual warfare, Rick turned to the streets for belonging. He found it - among the criminals, the angry, and the lost. He found his voice. He found his confidence. He found Ghost. By the time he was sixteen, Rick had been sent to live with his father and stepmother in Alaska. He did not want to go. Things did not go well.
And one November night, unable to withstand the physical and psychological abuse any longer, Rick snapped. Buy Now!Ghost: The Rick Watkinson Story is a true crime narrative that asks the questions most of us would rather not sit with. Who is this man? What causes a person to cross the boundaries of humanity? Can these events be traced purely to upbringing and environment, or do some people have an inherent propensity for violence? Is rehabilitation even possible? Is redemption?Watkinson's compelling true story - and his subsequent trial and controversial sentencing - raise serious questions about society, the treatment of children, and the reach of the American justice system.
Stripped down to its core, this is the story of a boy who just wanted to be loved. A boy who just wanted to belong. A boy who turned off every feeling he had in order to survive - and the devastating consequences of what happens when that works. "Trish Faber will capture your attention in Ghost. It is compelling and written so well - real and harsh, yet heartbreaking at the same time. Trish invites you to feel, or not feel, what was running through Rick's head at the time of the tragedy.
The writing and intensity will intrigue you. I wanted to know who Ghost was." - J. Abbot"What I found awesome is how realistically you captured the mindset of Rick. He is not completely one way or the other. Yes, he committed horrible acts - but he is not without remorse. He is also shocked by what he did and fluctuates between that and feeling justified. I look forward to reading more to get a better understanding of the circumstances that worked so against Rick and his family.
Well done." - S. Reynolds"What a powerful book. Trish has allowed her readers to walk with Rick through the incomprehensible act of murder, immersing them into his emotional pain leading up to the act and the subsequent realization of what his action meant for himself and those few souls that he loved. As the book progresses, Trish reveals the many layers of trauma and betrayal that led a child to this destiny.
Such a good job, and such wonderful writing. I couldn't put it down." - C. Grieve"This book is absolutely fantastic. An unbelievable but sadly true story of betrayal, child abuse and parricide. Fascinating." (N. Boudreau)