Daddy's Apprentice: Incest, Corruption, and Betrayal: A Survivor's Story [Paperback]

Sandy Wilson (Author), S. L. Bolton (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 12, 2000

Incest. Abandonment. Crime. Betrayal . . . the integral elements of Sandy Wilson's life.Born of incest to a brother and sister, then abandoned to the care of her grandparents, Sandy learned to forage in dumpsters for food, to dupe government caregivers, and to defraud insurance companies. When she was six-years-old, her father returned from prison. Within hours, he had molested her and reestablished himself as the head of the family. Sandy became his criminal accomplice and his sexual partner. She accompanied him on countless burglaries throughout the Pacific Northwest. Through the years, she knew that her father ducked FBI raids, murdered two teen-age hitchhikers, sweet-talked prostitutes into his bed while molesting their daughters, and committed crimes with other accomplices. Somehow, he avoided capture or prosecution. After a decade of his brutal enslavement and her grandmother's silent complicity, Sandy emancipated in the only way she knew - with cunning and violence. Determination. Hope. Self-preservation . . . the enduring elements of Sandy Wilson's survival.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Sandy Wilson shares her childhood experiences so that others may have a better understanding of sexual abuse and child exploitation. Writer,S.L. Bolton's articles, short stories, and essays have appeared in anthologies and both regional and national publications. As a ghost-writer, she has published titles on sexual harassment and sales management.

Product Details

• Paperback: 132 pages
• Publisher: iUniverse (October 12, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0595135544
• ISBN-13: 978-0595135547
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #515,446 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #9 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Parenting & Families > Family Relationships > Dysfunctional Relationships

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Appreciating Daddy's Apprentice, December 27, 2000

By 

Holly R. Perrin-Myers (Ishikawa City, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Daddy's Apprentice: Incest, Corruption, and Betrayal: A Survivor's Story (Paperback)

Sandy Wilson's "Daddy's Apprentice" is an account that deserves serious attention. One of the many profound issues that this work addresses is that of the devices employed by abusers to intimidate their victims into silent compliance. The courage summoned by the author to reveal her secrets broke the fundamental bonds of her father's control. The themes of guilt, fear, and accountability are brilliantly woven between the lines of this text. The storyline is exciting and fast-paced, while deeper personal and social issues are subtly explored. The reader is not bombarded with the explicit details or the extent of the sexual abuse, however, the issues of power, violation, guilt, and perpetual dread are apparent. Meanwhile, the notion of "pigeon-holing," which is only mentioned directly towards the end of this memoir, is ever-present throughout this book. Sandy accepts a society that views her as "white-trash" and by this, our society not only minimizes, but compounds her sufferring. Nonetheless, the author does not depict herself as a martyr, a helpless female, or a heroine. She addresses her situation honestly, and reccounts her experiences without prejudice. This work not only lends understanding to a very sensitive subject for every reader, but empowers those who can identify with Sandy's struggle. As this is a true story, it cannot be neatly packaged up and shipped out. Therefore, the unanswered questions, the jagged edges, linger with the reader and offer a sense of wonderment at the vague line between what can be seen and what lurks in the shadows beyond. I invite those who pick up this book to examine such themes as co-dependency, enablement, the depth of trust and the depth of fear, isolation (personally and geographically), stereotyping, and the ease at which we can be manipulated by others. Sandy's gift to the public in sharing her story must be noticed and appreciated.

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars eye opening account of what many children endure behind closed door, March 11, 2006

By 

Jennifer E. Kaufman (Virginia, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Daddy's Apprentice: Incest, Corruption, and Betrayal: A Survivor's Story (Paperback)

I had to read this book for a class in college.
Not only did the author make you feel like you were actually there, but I honestly could not put it down. (And I am sorry to say, I hate reading what my teachers assign me) It was an eye opening account of what many children endure behind closed door. I recommend this book esp. to Psychology and Education students, faculty, or even someone in the profession already.

11 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Good Story, Bad Book, July 21, 2007

By 

A. Villanueva (West Covina, California - USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Daddy's Apprentice: Incest, Corruption, and Betrayal: A Survivor's Story (Paperback)

Though meaning well, this book couldn't keep me wanting more. The story is riddled with poor grammar, minuscule chapters, and frequent mentioning of "the sickness." I swear, by the end of the second chapter, "the sickness" was mentioned so many times that "the sickness" lost all meaning to me, as she also tried to make "the sickness" sound overtly ominous. Whatever. And don't get me started on the somewhat open-ended finale. So how does she cope with her past and find a way to move on? Good question.