18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
This book was good, but didnt have updated information, August 18, 2005
I saw this movie as a teenager and it haunts me to this day. Steven's pain, suffering and 7 yr ordeal is never far from my thoughts when the mention of a child molestation or child abduction is on the news. To live through this must have taken more than just self preservation techniques, but then we are all stronger than we think when we live through something horrible.
I bought this book because I had seen the movie and wanted to get a better idea of what Steven had to endure at the hands of a complete waste of space - Kenneth Parnell. Well I got a good idea just 2 chapters into this book. It certainly gives us readers a view of life from Steven's point of view, which is good because most books dont give the victims point of view, espiecally a child's.
However, Im at the end of the book and the writer sees fit to put the section on Cary Stayner being the yosemite killer, but didnt see fit to put how Mr Parnell has recently been in the news for trying to buy a little boy in Berkley Ca as late as 2003, but was referred to as "harmless" because he was in a wheel chair! Mr Parnell had previous convictions of child rape and kidnapping. To this day he is a free man, whether in a wheel chair or not he and others like him are a threat to society.
Child Predators are a threat to all of our children because people are too worried about being Politically Correct, instead of doing what is right; ie., voting, questioning people who are around children, confronting someone when we are suspicious of their actions, making sure our children are in a safe environment with safe adults, etc.
This book may not have been done properly and maybe the writer didnt do it perfectly, but at least he was and is an advocate for children and at least he was willing to put his name on something and put it out there for people to read. Which is more than I can say for alot of people, they lack backbone when it comes to doing what is right.
So read the book if you want to get a more defined idea about what Steven Stayner had to live through, as well as his family, etc. It's like the movie, but more defined and detailed
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The System Failed Steven Stayner, April 7, 2004
This is a really heartwrenching book. Although I could do without some of the details used to explain the sexual abuse, but I suppose to get a full understanding of what little Stevie went through it was neccessary in some parts.
The books chronicles right before the kidnapping, when the family was still living in the ranch, until Steven tragically died in 1989. You'll feel Steven's pain as Steve, Parnell himself and other people tell of the seven years in which Parnell treated Steven like a sex slave.
Even when Steven is returned to his parents, his pain doesn't stop. The book doesn't chronicle much of this-just outlines a few things and doesn't give any specifics. That is the only thing the book was lacking-it tells that Steven had a rough time getting back in a family fold,but otherwise just skims upon the subject. The movie helps you get a view of this, though.
All in all, a very good book. Steven, collectively, only got to spend roughly 16 years with his family..He left behind a killer brother, 3 sisters, a wife and 2 children (Steven and Ashley).
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14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
There is always more..., July 30, 2003
In this dramatic story, we hear of the horrors endured by Steven Stayner. As some may also know, Parnell served only five years of his eight year sentence. What many don't know is that Parnell was convincted in 1950 for the molestation and kidnapping of an 8 yr. old. As if this wasn't enough- and his sentence obviously did nothing for him- he was caught in Jan 2003 attempting to buy a 4 yr. old. Beyond that, was Steven destined to be a victim of child abuse? Some may know that Cary Stayner, Steven's brother, was recently given the death penalty for the Yosemite murders. Cary was said to have been physically abused by his father and blamed for the disappearance of Steven, and to have been sexually abused by his uncle. (In 1990, the uncle was found shot to death- some still believe Cary was responsible although at the time, he had an alibi.) Although Steven was very heroic in finally overcoming his captor and saving the life of Timmy White, what would have become of him if he had stayed home? I recommend this book to all as a reminder of what people are actually capable of. It is also an example of why parole and leniency should not be shown to child offenders.
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