Broken: The Most Shocking True Story of Abuse Ever Told

I found this story terribly disturbing. I also found I could not stop reading it until I had read the whole book in one session. As a man who finds this behavior appalling, I find myself wanting to apologize to and help anyone who was abused by a man. Anyone who treats a child(or an adult) in the way written in this book should be eliminated immediately - there is absolutely no place on this earth where this behavior is acceptable. I am a 54 year old male and I found myself with tears in my eyes often while reading this horrible story. It made me very upset and very sad. To think that this could happen to such an extent(or at all) is just incredible, and really terrible. I think that everyone should read this book - first, to put into perspective ones own life and second, to remind us that all of our actions have consequences. What I mean is this: I was not abused during my upbringing, and I have never abused anyone either. But what came to my mind is that I have certainly over looked events that I should have investigated or reported. None of these events were anything horrible as Shy went through, but they were events that may have had an adverse effect on someone. And I did nothing. I am sad and ashamed of myself now. I know I am a bit off topic here, this book was about child abuse, but I just wanted to say that reading this book has changed the way I look at events that happen in my every day life. I hope I will never again ignore any sign of a problem.

I really give so much credit for how strong this author is. I can't even imagine how hard it must be to put your life story out there when it was so traumatic. From the first page of this book, I wanted to stop reading because it made me feel so sad for Shy Keenan. I continued to read, because I had to know how it all turned out!! This is a heart wrenching story of a young child who really was neglected by almost every adult that was in her life. This is a story that will open your eyes about what kind of monsters are out there and how society sometimes doesn't open there eyes to the truth! Thank you for sharing your story Shy Keenan. God Bless you!

I knew when I ordered Broken that it was going to be intense and heartbreaking, but as I read it I couldn't believe that this girl was able to live through this. She endures one abuse after another and her only shining moment was a couple of weeks with a circus. The fact that she was able to survive her childhood and write about it is amazing. I definately would recommend this book for the feelings it stirs inside. Not only should it show people how they can survive the worst of their lives and come through it but also that children that are being abused need our help.

"Broken" by Karen "Shy" Keenan is an incredible read. What sets this memoir apart from others of this type of genre is the attention to the stages of recovery one goes through when recovering from abuse. Anyone who has experienced incest/sexual abuse as a child can relate to Keenan's story of surviving long past the actual abuse. Hers is a story of courage and of perseverance; and Keenan handles the telling of her story with the same strength she used to survive her childhood. One cannot help but feel empowered after reading how Keenan pulled through the hell of her childhood. Most memoirs are written to encourage, to teach and to inspire others who may be struggling with like situations, "Broken" does all of these. Keenan asks for no pity, sympathy or praise for overcoming her ordeal, but merely for readers, government agencies and all others to listen to and to protect children from predators of all kinds.

Truly horrifying. It's shocking to realize that this IS NOT FICTION. This woman's journey is heartbreaking, and the fact that she was able to turn it into a project to help other victims speaks to her strength.

Horrible to understand the reality that this evil exist in our world. The consolation is knowing in the final results not only that these people go to jail but they will rot in hell. As difficult as this was to read, I applaud her courage to tell this story. How tremendously brave she is.

This book is a devastating first-person account of child abuse. No, not just abuse but almost the obliteration of a child by the people who should be protecting her the most - her parents - a mother and stepfather. And the system that should have helped protect her - from teachers to neighbors to relatives to police to Child Services - all helped the parents by turning a blind eye and sometimes worse. This woman - and her sister - went through some of the most horrific physical, emotional and sexual abuse I have ever heard or read about and survived. Shy Keenan, the author, went on to help expose and convict her abusers and is now a Chief Advocate, fighting for other children. This book is brutally graphic, gutwrenching. I cried, I cursed, I applauded. I thanked God that there were two couples that gave Keenan enough hope in her bleak world to persevere. NO child should EVER have to endure what Keenan did. I know.

I hope Shy Keenan prevails in everything she undertakes. She is a remarkable human being! What she had to endure was so cruel it is hard to believe these things could actually happen to a child and no one came to her rescue. She had to rescue herself. I think she is an unusually strong woman who never gave up, thank the Lord, until she was finally believed and her persecutors were caught.

Shy Keenan's autobiography is incredibly moving, raw and a powerful read. It covers her childhood, growing up with a neglectful immature mother and a step-father who systematically sexually abused her from the age of four. Keenan details her abuse at the hands of Stan and at the hands of his paedophile friends. She escaped into the care system, only to be abused there and ended up on the streets of London. Every time Shy voiced what was happening to her, she was ignored or demonized as a 'problem child'. Eventually she was able to get justice via the BBC Newsnight programme in 2000. She bravely confronted Stan as an adult and he finally got the prison sentence he deserved, for abusing many children. The book made me reflect on how we need to give survivors of abuse a voice. Too often we, as a society, do not hear their words or have preconceived ideas about victims or abuse. As I was reading, I was wishing that just one professional had taken the time to see the pain Shy was going through and to act. Shy Keenan has established herself as a campaigner and advocate for those abused by paedophiles. She is one of those women that I have a huge amount of admiration and respect for. She is a fighter for justice and to support those who have also gone through similar experiences to her. She amazes me. A very courageous woman.

The sadest story I have ever read! It is unbelievable the strength that Shy has. She is an inspiration beyond belief! Her story has made me decide that as a society we have to do something to protect our children from the horrors of pedophiles. I have always felt strongly about doing something to stop violations against children, but Shy has made me realize we have to! The internet is amazing, but it only allows a forum for these monsters to abuse innocent children!

It was a terrible story to read about Shy what she had to go through with that man and others. live in Brisbane and so does Shy I would really try to meet her I felt really sorry for her.

Perfect condition!

Amazing how this woman is still standing I will never know!!! Heart rendering and horrific this had me from disgust to anger to tears! Shy still managed to make me want to read more as this was so well written. This is a book that should not have needed to be written the way this lady has been let down in life makes my soul ache! This is a must read but be warned it is hard to read what this poor courageous lady had to go through!