Customer Reviews

Emily's Story: Based on a True Story

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Dear Jeanne Wood, I was very touched by your story. It's amazing that Emily could survive such a childhood. My heart goes out to her and all other unknown children in similar cicumstances. Your story shows us all that with sheer will and perserverence, children from such abusive families can overcome. Thankyou.

It was a book hard to put down because you keep wanting to jump in the book and help out. It was a reminder as a mother of three of how much I needed to hug my children more and tell them how much I love them.

What a book! It's hard to believe someone could surive such a childhood. Jeanne Wood has given us the true story of Emily's brutal upbringing that is as graphic as it is sad. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is concerned about the abuse of children. Emily's ultimate climb out of a horrible childhood is an uplifting triumph.

This is a terribly painfule story about a young girl growing up at the hands of an evil, sadistic step-mother and a father who chose to ignore the horrible abuse. Reading this book, I had to stop several times as anger overcame me. How could the authorities not have done anything? How come the step-mother didn't end up in jail, and of course the million dollar question: how could the father ignore and allow the abuse? The incomprehensible thing about this is that the step-mother goes on to have children of her own with the father!

This book is written very simply and to the point, and what a point. Those pro-spankers out there ought to read this book, yes, spanking is different from barbaric beatings but I honestly think the impact on children is the same.

Emily turned out to be a normal adult who has put her past behind her and has a loving family of her own. But how many child abuse victims grow up to have normal lives? I really recommend this book especially to people who routinely smack their children in the name of discipline.

I'm the daughter of Patrica who was mentioned in this book. This book had me in tears from the beginning to the end. I learned alot from this book I was told some of the things that had happened to my mom but many of the things were never talked about, it was a closed book to her and still is. I thank my mom for not continueing the history of her life with us kids. Mom left the disaplining to dad she never scolded or spanked us in any way or form. I used to think my grandfather was a great man untill I read this book. I can't believe he closed his eyes to his own kids like he did. My moms life did not get better for the abuse follwed her in her adult life and she took it then and now.
I would like to thank the author for writing this book and giving me a part of my past history and giving me a better understanding of my familys life. Thank You.
I recoment anyone to read this book abuse is still going on in this world today If you know of anyone who is abusing someone please report it. I did.

From a daughter and a niece

This is a wonderful but sad tale of siblings growing up under
a cruel stepmother, and weak father, during the Depression of the
1930's and 40's. Another example of man's inhumanity to man, in our own country, not that long ago. The wicked stepmother finally pressures her silent husband to send his children by a former
marriage off to the care of strangers. Emily, the little protagonist, ends up in a convent orphanage run by nuns. We dont
have to look to Ireland ( "The Magdalene Laundries " ) to see what a cruel life that could be in those hard days. But the book ends out more happily than one would expect. Emily is sweet but tough, and perseveres. I thoroughly enjoyed this well-written
book.