My story begins aged 3, when my mother abandoned me and left me with my brutal father to raise me. Nobody knew the secrets that went on inside that house, or the journey that I travelled on after leaving it, until now. This is the story of my survival.
What do you do when no one wants you?
How many people need to destroy a child until that child wants to destroy herself?
What if social services always got told a different story?
What would you do if you were in my position?
Survival is key.
What did I think?
What Nobody Knew is a very difficult book to read, purely because it is the author's shocking true story. There's no escaping the fact that it is a true story with the inclusion of real reports and letters documenting Amelia's life, which at times left me open mouthed in shock that nothing was ever done to help her.
It's a very harrowing account of parental abuse and the absolute failure of social services. Thankfully, Amelia doesn't go into too many details of her abuse, which would have been far too difficult to read so I can't imagine how difficult it would have been to write. I often had to pause at the end of the chapter to contain my fury at her father, step-mother and social services. I'm sure social services do some good work but when they get it wrong, they get it SO wrong. Their mistakes actually ruin people's lives and that's not something I would want on my conscience so it's definitely not a job I could do. I just think there is often too much red tape and bureaucracy that they forget there is a vulnerable person at the centre of it all who needs their help.
Amelia Hendry's heartbreaking yet inspirational story, What Nobody Knew, is one that will stay with me for a long time. I can't even imagine the trauma she went through and it takes such great strength to be able to relive her story and show the world that in spite of it all, she survived. It's survivors like Amelia who deserve to be awarded the O.B.E. for finding the strength to speak out and to help others.
Amelia has finally found a voice that people listen to and take notice, so if her story helps even one person to spot the signs of abuse or gives someone the courage to speak out against their abuser then it's a job well done.
I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
My rating:
Buy it from:
Amazon UK
Amazon US
Apple
Waterstones
Book Depository
Barnes & Noble
Kobo
WHSmith
About the author:
Amelia is a mum and a survivor. She wrote her book What Nobody Knew to help other people who have been through similar experiences and to educate people who are unaware of what goes on behind closed doors. She has no previous writing experience, she’s just one person who wants to change the world for the better. She also loves cats and reading In her spare time.
Twitter: @AmeliaHendrey
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Thanks so much for being part of the blog tour today Michelle x
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