A Stolen Life by Jaycee Lee Dugard

Summary:
In the summer of 1991 I was a normal kid. I did normal things. I had friends and a mother who loved me. I was just like you. Until the day my life was stolen.
For eighteen years I was a prisoner. I was an object for someone to use and abuse.

For eighteen years I was not allowed to speak my own name. I became a mother and was forced to be a sister. For eighteen years I survived an impossible situation.

On August 26, 2009, I took my name back. My name is Jaycee Lee Dugard. I don’t think of myself as a victim. I survived.

A Stolen Life is my story—in my own words, in my own way, exactly as I remember it.

I have heard some good things and some bad things about this book and the bad things almost made me not read this, however I'm glad that I did. Jaycee's story of abuse and being held captive broke my heart. The way she wrote the book is very much like a journal which is how I bekieve it should be written so if you are looking for something that will win an award for being written in the classic story telling style then you'll probably be among those that do not like it.
I have been following Jaycee's story since she was found and reunited with her family. Now I'm not one to pray but I have been hoping for the best for her, her daughters and her family and friends.  Now that she's been found I hope she can find happiness. She deserves it after all she's been through.
Despite the horrific sexual, physical, emotional and verbal abuse she suffered during her eighteen years of captivity with Phillip and Nancy Garrido who are monsters in my opinion and should suffer she emerged a strong, powerful woman who has a heart full of love to give.
She was raped at 11, became a mother at 14 and again at 17 but she loves her daughters with every fiber of her being and when the Garrido's forced her to become her daughters "sister" she did so knowing it might save them from harm.
I found her story to be disturbing, but at the same time it held a promise of hope. I think that everyone should read it but please beware there are some situations that will disturb you. I even walked away learning a little something about life. Despite what happened to her Jaycee refuses to let hate rule her, instead she looks to a new and brighter day. I wish her all the best in her future and those of her family and friends.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★