I have read this and the sequel to it as well. I believe there are 3 books about the same subject. This was an amazing story , extremely well written. As an abused child myself when I was young, I can certainly relate to the story and found the book touched on all the same feelings I felt. I spent many years in and out of extreme depressions, and never did forgive my relative that continually abused me as a child. I was told by our parish priest not to talk about things like that as it was only bad girls that discuss such things. I spent a few months as an adult in therapy. Aces to the author, Dave Pelzer, and we should see more books on this type of subject to wake up the public as to what goes on behind closed doors, even in families. There was also a lot of sexual abuse that went on in Indian Boarding Schools . I worked in one for a short while but was dismissed as soon as I started asking the students too many questions. Being only 19 at the time I did not know who to go to with that story either. All places where students and children could be abised should have large notices of who to contact if they need help or even just to talk/ Sorry for the long tirade but you hit on a subject I feel needs to get out more. Shirley