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When Jane Elliott was four years old, the nightmare began. She became the helpless victim of a sociopath—bullied, dominated, and sexually abused by a man only fourteen years her senior: her stepfather. For nearly two decades she was held prisoner, both physically and emotionally. But at the age of twenty-one she escaped . . . and then she fought back.

The Little Prisoner is the shocking, astonishing, and ultimately uplifting true story of one woman's shattering twenty-year ordeal—and how she triumphed against an evil and violent human monster when honesty and bravery were her only weapons.

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 "Not worth reading" 2010-08-27
By Ckimoo
Not only was this book poorly written but I am not sure that I believe the author's story.

There is no doubt that many children are abused like this but it seems that because of the need for anonymity that a larger cultural context is completely missing and that strips the book of an air of authenticity.

Several times the author references her missing records from her childhood--and yet no explanation of any kind is given for why they would be missing, if this was a regular occurrence or if her step-father really could have paid someone off to make them disappear.

More than anything, what is frustrating about this story is how the nanny state in the UK is an enabler in crimes like these because it allows people to get something for nothing.

Jane complains that she couldn't get a flat of her own because her mother and step-father would not write a letter saying that she couldn't stay at their house. It's like she is totally helpless, not only before her step-father but before the government as well.

And of course, not needing to get a job to make money, her step-father, supported by the government has all the free time in the world to abuse and terrorize his step-daughter.

I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone. There is no way to know if it is actually true. Someone could use their imagination the experiences of others to cobble together such a story. It's not a compelling story--as other reviewers have suggested, it reads more like a court transcript in some ways and emotionless and her nick name for her step-father of "Silly Git" is disturbing in its use of the word "Silly."

And there is just no context whatsoever. It is explained at the beginning of the book that not all memories are able to be put in order but as far as what year or era it might be--you just can't tell. It's like this family lives in a complete vacuum from the rest of the world save the British government.

The epilogue was particularly disturbing as you get the impression that after having been battered by members of her family, no one was punished for it.

And it seems that the author is confused about the line between self-preservation and courage. If her family is so bloodthirsty that they would set upon her and her friends out in public right next to a police station then moving far, far away and never having any contact whatsoever would be the path towards preservation. Going back to the old neighborhood is not an act of courage but stupidity. If she is not going to preserve herself, at least she should preserve the lives of her children.

Her father will be out of jail likely long before her girls are of an age where they would be safe from him. Ensuring that there is no contact, you would think, would be her number one priority, rather than attending reunions.

And lastly, she saves for the end of the book a little tidbit about how she used to suck on her baby brother's earlobes to calm him down. That's just bizarre! And why not just include it in order in the book?--describe that when you are describing your care of your brothers earlier on.

When it suddenly pops up at the end when she is talking to the adult brother, it just comes off as very, very strange.

I don't know what more is behind this story, but this book is far from honest. Graphic does not equal honest.

The only reason I could see someone wanting to read this is for the shock value.


 "Nice" 2010-08-04
By abryant
It is wonderful when an individual shares such intimate and meaningful details of their life.
Aaron Bryant: BSW, CSAC Author A Synchronous Memoir of Addiction and Recovery


 "Amazing!" 2010-05-24
By Vanessa Gilberson (Minnesota)
This book is amazing. It is graphic but yet so touching. To know that someone can go through so much and survive. This book has touched my heart in so many ways. I love this book, not for what it's about, but for its meaning and purpose!


 "The Hidden Things" 2010-05-14
By Theresa M. Powers (Sunnyvale, CA United States)
A shocking account, honestly and graphically written. Amazing that anyone could survive something like this. Very helpful for anyone else who may have gone through this sort of thing. Thankfully, I didn't, but there is far too much of this and it must be told.


 "An important memoir, but needed assistance with a more skillful writing." 2010-05-04
By bookloverintexas (Texas)
"Jane's" story of 17 years of mental, physical, and sexual abuse from her young stepfather is a horrific story, but could have been told much more effectively through more skillful writing.
The first three-fourths of the book felt mainly like a flat, aloof, oddly unemotional listing of one atrocity after the other..."he did this to me, he did this to mum, he would make me do this, he would then call me a ...." The last third or fourth of the book seemed to combine events with her feelings and reactions to the events more; I was able to begin to sense that she was a real person and then I could begin to feel more touched by her experiences.
I suppose Jane's nickname "Silly Git" for the stepfather was changed for this book like the other names, but it made me ill every time I read it: "Silly" seemed inappropriate..more an endearment and too "cutesy" for a man as evil as he.
Hopefully this monster is never able to hurt another child or woman; and shame on that bunch that supported him.


Read more The Little Prisoner: A Memoir

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They Cage the Animals at Night (Signet)
Sickened: The True Story of a Lost Childhood