The Wild Boy of Waubamik: A Memoir

"An inspiring story of resilience, told with a vivid sense of character and humour." --RICHARD CROUSE, CTV host and film critic

Film critic, writer, and broadcaster Thom Ernst chronicles his life growing up with an abusive father in rural Ontario.

The residents of Waubamik know about the Wild Boy, a somewhat feral child, standing nearly naked in a rusty playground of weeds and discarded metal, clutching a headless doll. They know the boy has been plucked from poverty and resettled into a middle-class family. But they don't know that something worse awaits him there.

This is the story of a system that failed, a community that looked the other way, and a family that kept silent. It is also a record of the popular culture of the 1960s -- a powerful set of myths that kept a boy comforted. But ultimately, The Wild Boy of Waubamik is a story of triumph, of a man who grew up to become a film critic and broadcaster despite his abusive childhood. It reminds us that life, even at its darkest, can surprise us with moments of joy and hope and dreams for the future.

Author: Thom Ernst
Publisher: Dundurn Press
Published: 02/28/2023
Pages: 248
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.65lbs
Size: 8.40h x 5.50w x 0.80d
ISBN13: 9781459750876
ISBN10: 145975087X
BISAC Categories:
- Biography & Autobiography | Personal Memoirs
- Family & Relationships | Abuse | Child Abuse
- Biography & Autobiography | Entertainment & Performing Arts

About the Author
Thom Ernst is a film writer, broadcaster, and critic. He was the former host and producer of TVO's Saturday Night at the Movies. Thom currently lives in Toronto with his wife, daughter, and a cat.