Nobody's Child: The Marie Balter Story

Balter's unusual life story, told in collaboration with anthropologist-psychologist Katz, traces the self-healing of a woman who spent nearly 20 years in the Massachusetts mental hospital she entered at age 17. A chaotic upbringing by strict adoptive parents, depression and multiple misdiagnoses are some of the elements that contributed to Balter's institutionalization. Now a mental-health professional, she describes in heart-wrenching detail her gradual and ongoing emergence from psychosis, through the love and respect of others and herself. She tells of her admission to college after leaving the hospital, of a happy marriage ended by her husband's death and of graduate study at Harvard. Generous with praise and forgiveness, Balter (whose story was the subject of a TV movie) exemplifies the power of courage, hope and spiritual commitment. (Apr.)