The Last Days Of Willowbrook was inspired by the actual Willowbrook institution. The author, Ellen Marie Wiseman, did research about the institution. I remember hearing about it from Geraldo Rivera on television back in 1972 I think. The author told the story with the voice of a 17 year old character named Sage. Sage lives with her step-father. Her parents divorced years ago. Her twin sister, Rosemary, died 5 years ago. Her mother died two years ago. Sage overhears a telephone conversation with her step-father where she learns that her twin sister didn't die but was put into an institution called Willowbrook. The phone call wasa to let him know Rosemary was missing. Sage goes to the instituion to find out more information. Since Sage and Rosemary are identical twins the staff at Willowbrook assume Sage is Rosemary. Sage is confined to the institution where the residents are underfed, the conditions are filthy, some of the staff are abusive, and everyone is medicated to keep quiet. The author was able to capture the voice of a 17 year old who is obsessively over-thinking and worrying. The subject matter was horrible and upsetting yet I still enjoyed reading the book.
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