Broken: The Most Shocking True Story of Abuse Ever Told

This is a very good book very touching based on a true story

I found this story terribly disturbing. I also found I could not stop reading it until I had read the whole book in one session. As a man who finds this behavior appalling, I find myself wanting to apologize to and help anyone who was abused by a man. Anyone who treats a child(or an adult) in the way written in this book should be eliminated immediately - there is absolutely no place on this earth where this behavior is acceptable. I am a 54 year old male and I found myself with tears in my eyes often while reading this horrible story. It made me very upset and very sad. To think that this could happen to such an extent(or at all) is just incredible, and really terrible. I think that everyone should read this book - first, to put into perspective ones own life and second, to remind us that all of our actions have consequences. What I mean is this: I was not abused during my upbringing, and I have never abused anyone either. But what came to my mind is that I have certainly over looked events that I should have investigated or reported. None of these events were anything horrible as Shy went through, but they were events that may have had an adverse effect on someone. And I did nothing. I am sad and ashamed of myself now. I know I am a bit off topic here, this book was about child abuse, but I just wanted to say that reading this book has changed the way I look at events that happen in my every day life. I hope I will never again ignore any sign of a problem.

This book is a devastating first-person account of child abuse. No, not just abuse but almost the obliteration of a child by the people who should be protecting her the most - her parents - a mother and stepfather. And the system that should have helped protect her - from teachers to neighbors to relatives to police to Child Services - all helped the parents by turning a blind eye and sometimes worse. This woman - and her sister - went through some of the most horrific physical, emotional and sexual abuse I have ever heard or read about and survived. Shy Keenan, the author, went on to help expose and convict her abusers and is now a Chief Advocate, fighting for other children. This book is brutally graphic, gutwrenching. I cried, I cursed, I applauded. I thanked God that there were two couples that gave Keenan enough hope in her bleak world to persevere. NO child should EVER have to endure what Keenan did. I know.

I cannot say I love this book as its subject is so difficult.The many times Shy was failed by adults is truly appalling,both the abusers & those who failed to listen & above all act of the disclosure. It's well written & hard hitting without being gratuititous in detail.

This book is a eye opener to all those people that refuse to see the truth which is that even thought sexual abuse is not a topic that many people talk about it is a problem everywhere. You will find yourself going through a tornado of emotions when reading this book. It is some comfort to people that have gone through similar experiences to know that they are not alone and that they can move forward making there life a positive one. This book even talks about people in power turning a blind eye to such a serious issue. After reading this book you will realize that sexual abuse does not look at color nor social levels it can happen to anyone in any family so please don't think that this can't happen in your family. The author is a very courageous woman to make her story public may everyone that reads this book that has had similar experiences get the same courage as this author to speak out.

Horrible to understand the reality that this evil exist in our world. The consolation is knowing in the final results not only that these people go to jail but they will rot in hell. As difficult as this was to read, I applaud her courage to tell this story. How tremendously brave she is.

Amazon "suggested" this book to me based on my previous purchases when I was going through a polygomous research phase and was taken aback by all the positive comments and alluring description of a young woman that has overcome her horrific struggles. I recieved it, and instantly sat down to a relaxed night of reading. But... thats not what I got. There is a warning in the front of the book that states clearly to continue on if you think you can muster it. I thought - no big deal! Well, it has become so. It is such a horrific account of pedophilia and disgusting humanity at the price of an innocent girls life that half way through the book, I had to put it down. It took some time, I would come back to it and try again, but promptly put it down again. Keenan writes in such a way as it feels like a little girl is just screaming for help and I felt so powerless. The little girl in the book still haunts me, and I feel bad for not being able to keep reading. For those of you that finished, my hats off to you. I just couldn't stomach it, the tears were too much. I instead went to youtube to check out her interviews and was able to feel justice FINALLY at this little girl that was so wronged. I just couldn't keep reading it. Unfortunately ****SPOILER**** gross Stanley has already been released from prison. UGGHH!! Well, I am finding ways to feel like I can help, I have begun to look for volunteer orgs. I give it 3 because I could not finish so can't adequately rate, but she definitely made her point and her story has encouraged me to step up and let my voice and actions be heard to stop this filth from happening to any more innocent children.

I really give so much credit for how strong this author is. I can't even imagine how hard it must be to put your life story out there when it was so traumatic. From the first page of this book, I wanted to stop reading because it made me feel so sad for Shy Keenan. I continued to read, because I had to know how it all turned out!! This is a heart wrenching story of a young child who really was neglected by almost every adult that was in her life. This is a story that will open your eyes about what kind of monsters are out there and how society sometimes doesn't open there eyes to the truth! Thank you for sharing your story Shy Keenan. God Bless you!

Shy Keenan's autobiography is incredibly moving, raw and a powerful read. It covers her childhood, growing up with a neglectful immature mother and a step-father who systematically sexually abused her from the age of four. Keenan details her abuse at the hands of Stan and at the hands of his paedophile friends. She escaped into the care system, only to be abused there and ended up on the streets of London. Every time Shy voiced what was happening to her, she was ignored or demonized as a 'problem child'. Eventually she was able to get justice via the BBC Newsnight programme in 2000. She bravely confronted Stan as an adult and he finally got the prison sentence he deserved, for abusing many children. The book made me reflect on how we need to give survivors of abuse a voice. Too often we, as a society, do not hear their words or have preconceived ideas about victims or abuse. As I was reading, I was wishing that just one professional had taken the time to see the pain Shy was going through and to act. Shy Keenan has established herself as a campaigner and advocate for those abused by paedophiles. She is one of those women that I have a huge amount of admiration and respect for. She is a fighter for justice and to support those who have also gone through similar experiences to her. She amazes me. A very courageous woman.

The sadest story I have ever read! It is unbelievable the strength that Shy has. She is an inspiration beyond belief! Her story has made me decide that as a society we have to do something to protect our children from the horrors of pedophiles. I have always felt strongly about doing something to stop violations against children, but Shy has made me realize we have to! The internet is amazing, but it only allows a forum for these monsters to abuse innocent children!

It was a terrible story to read about Shy what she had to go through with that man and others. live in Brisbane and so does Shy I would really try to meet her I felt really sorry for her.

I couldn't put this book down and finished it within a few days. The strength of the author's spirit, the survivor of the child abuse, is amazing and inspiring.

The book is a riveting though heartbreaking insight into the sickening, real-life experiences of one child caught up in a malevolent world where no child should ever find themselves. It is a story of survival, with a glimmer of faint, but tantalizing light, finally seen at the end of a long and desperate journey through a dark, unrelenting tunnel of deprivation. It is here where one sees the altered existence of the survivors, where empathy is painful, and comes with the realization that, in adulthood such victims may survive, but the child is irretrievably broken. Deep respect for the author for revealing the truths that nobody wants to hear. An excellent book!