by Anya Peters
child abuse/ homelessness/ sexual abuse/
Anya grows up in a physically/mentally and emotionally abusive home in England. Adopted by her aunt, hated by her uncle (who eventually beings to sexually abuse her), her biological mother lives in Ireland with there elderly parents, acting as caretaker for them. No one in Ireland knows of her existence because she was born out of an affair between her mother and a married man (who is still married with children), different social stigmas than today she would have been a huge shame... Anya is pushed into growing up too fast, and eventually finds herself homeless living in her car on the streets of London.
Anya's Original Blog
Anya's Newer Wordpress Blog
I was disgusted by every decision made by an adult in this book. Beginning with her mother Kathy, choosing to leave her to live with her uncle who was very outspoken with not wanting her there. Her aunt for making a definitive decision with anything, choosing not to force Kathy to take her, letting her be damaged day after day with the drinking, yelling mental home that she was living in. I understand that it was a different day and age but that both Brendan and Kathy chose to be part of her life in such selfish ways (them deciding to be part time parents was more detrimental than good from what I could tell. That her uncle was sent to prison for less than 5 years after molesting her at age 7 and raping her at age 9 until she was almost 12, he raped her sisters who as far as I can tell said nothing, the oldest girl could have saved the younger two if she had just spoken up (I realize thats next to impossible to do but to save your younger sisters?)... When reading this type of novel I have come to expect a certain type of emotional roller coaster; experience pity, sympathy, anger, outrage, sorrow, disgust and hope alternately.
*this is my blog, and my review please respect my right to an opinion even if you don't feel it is the right opinion to have.
This is my first experience with anger towards the author (which I know is a terrible thing to say and I hate to write it but honestly..) I felt a little bit irritated when she spoke of depending on Brendan after the first couple months that he had not delivered on his promises. It is definitively my perspective and personality kicking in there, I just couldn't believe after everything that she was so willing to put her life on the line like that. As she spiralled downwards I was both distraught and attempting to be understanding while I completely lost my patience. Unfortunately by the end of the novel I was distanced from Anya almost entirely. I don't question that she had rights and reasons to act the way she did but the times that literally threw away all the help offered infuriated me.
