Those Boys on the Hill

Welcome to the official page for "Those Boys on the Hill" – a powerful biographical coming-of-age story by Elliott Glover, shining a light on the incredible journey of three inner-city, African American brothers.

Synopsis:

In this poignant narrative, Elliott Glover takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions through the lives of his brothers, Jacque and Iszel, and himself. Growing up in a group home in a rural Pennsylvania farming community, they face challenges that will touch your heart and soul. Through a mix of humor, sadness, and raw situational honesty, Elliott shares the harrowing experiences that shaped them into the resilient men they are today.

Explore the harsh realities of group homes, foster care, the child welfare system, and the daunting odds stacked against them. "Those Boys on the Hill" is not just a story; it's a cathartic journey of the bonds of brotherhood defying a system designed to fail, of perseverance and survival, and ultimately, of the unyielding resilience and tenacity of the human spirit.

Readers' Reviews:

See what early readers are saying about "Those Boys on the Hill":

• Reviewed by Lorraine Cobcroft for Readers’ Favorite

  Elliott Glover grew up in foster care, shuffled from place to place until he was finally sent to a group home managed by an uncaring authoritarian couple pursuing financial gain rather than the emotional rewards of making a positive impact on the lives of disadvantaged children. Those Boys on the Hill is Elliott’s story. Elliott was fortunate not to be separated from the brothers he loved, and their bond strengthened all three of them, enabling them to survive abuse and discrimination. He was also fortunate to encounter some caring folk who offered understanding, compassion, and support. Elliot takes us into his world, showing us the challenges he faced, the traumas he endured, the cruelty and thoughtlessness of some he encountered, and the kindness and wisdom of others who cared and sought to make a positive impact on the lives of the foster kids they were charged with helping. He takes us deep into his heart and mind to expose his most private emotional battles, the impact of painful events and his successes, and the acts of kindness and recognition that helped him through the hardships. Those Boys on the Hill is a moving and inspiring story of survival against the odds, highlighting a flawed system of ’care’ and racial discrimination. It shines a light in a dark corner and calls for positive change.
   
  Elliott Glover holds nothing back in disclosing his family history, his sufferings, and the impact of the events that shaped him. He provides rare insight into a world of poverty, addiction, and racial prejudice, and the world foster children survive. He exposes their emotions and motivations, and the reasons so many of them struggle in adult life. Some of what he discloses may shock but will leave readers considering carefully their past unintentional prejudices and adverse judgments of people whose early experiences shaped them in undesirable ways. Ultimately though, his story will inspire you and give you hope that those who endure adversity in childhood can, and often do, make it through to shape happy, healthy lives for themselves and the families they build. This story is evocative. It’s raw and challenging, intentionally. Elliott is unapologetic in his criticism of the system and his condemnation of those who exploit it and fail children in need. Yet he also reassures us of the strength and resilience that enables survival against the odds, and in some cases - with help and support from the more enlightened workers in the system - facilitates impressive success. Those Boys on the Hill will leave its mark. It will leave you railing against injustice while celebrating kindness and kinship. It might, hopefully, leave you inspired to contribute either financially or by personal involvement to improving the foster care system to bring more love, joy, and hope into the lives of the children our society is failing.

• Those Boys on the Hill is a heart-rending memoir by Elliott Glover, encapsulating his remarkable journey with his brothers, Jacque and Iszel, as they maneuver their way through life, transplanted from North Philadelphia to a group home in rural Pennsylvania. Glover expertly draws readers in, immersing them in his life’s harshest moments while brilliantly maintaining an uplifting narrative tone. Each page is steeped in brutal honesty and rich in poignant scenes as Glover’s upbringing unfolds, effortlessly coupling both humorous and tragic events. His resilience against his difficult upbringing symbolizes the defiant victory over a system poised to set him up for failure. Readers are presented with an all-too-real image of what life in group homes and foster care truly looks like, a side that many aren't privy to. 

  Glover recounting his experiences takes bravery, but it’s an emotionally gripping and necessary story to tell.  I was not only moved to tears but came away with an understanding of a flawed system and its detrimental impact on society.  Accounts like Glover’s can lead to real, positive change.  Those Boys on the Hill is a testament to hope, survival, and ultimate triumph, bound to touch every reader's heart.

   Derek Frey

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