Book Review of Julie Myerson's 'The Lost Child'.

‘The Lost Child’ tells the emotional story of Julie Myerson’s drug addicted son and the problems he causes within their family. In addition to this Myerson also explores the life of Mary Yelloly, a nineteenth century girl who died young. Her interest in this girl links to her son: they are both ‘lost children’. This contrast of biographical and autobiographical accounts is an unusual technique.
She uses direct and personal language in relation to Mary, addressing her as ‘you’, which shows how close she feels to the subject of her biography. Another note worthy technique is the abrupt shift from one genre to the other, which demonstrates how closely related the two subjects are in her mind. Myerson began by intending to write a biography but because of her personal difficulties, thoughts about her son began to interweave with the story of Mary. To some extent, the juxtaposition of the two stories gives more depth to the auto/biography genre. Myerson is aiming for a story which has more than personal importance. She is interested in the question of to what extent parents can keep their children safe. Mary’s parents could not keep her or her siblings from dying, and Myerson could not keep her son safe from drugs.
This book is controversial. It has been widely questioned whether it was right for her to expose her son in this way, however cathartic the writing of it may have been for her. In interviews with the media, she attempts to justify her actions by claiming that the book would provide the necessary shock that would bring her son to his senses.