The Step Child
The true story of Donna Ford, who between the ages of five and eleven was abused by her stepmother Helen. Labelled 'the bastard', the 'little witch' and 'the evil one'; beaten, isolated and afraid to even look at her own reflection, this beautiful little child was told she was lucky to be the victim of abuse - abuse which began as physical and mental, but progressed to the most appalling sexual attacks.
Despite an horrendous early life, Donna is now a successful artist and mother of three with an enormous enthusiasm and an optimism which completely belies her experiences.
In 2003, Donna watched as her stepmother was found guilty of 'procuring a minor' for sexual abuse and sentenced to two years in prison.
Beautifully written and savagely honest, The Step Child is Donna's story. It is an inspiring tribute to the resilience of the human spirit.
5 Star Reviews ★★★★★
Absolutely amazing woman to come out at the end as possibly one of the strongest woman ever, you have so much fight and courage in you. As for your step mum, she was supposed to be the person who guided and nurtured you, yet she chose this horrible evil path. Thank you for sharing your story with us all. It's definitely made me open my eyes and look more at people around us.
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This is a brave and honest account of what a poor little girl had to go through. It’s hard to believe that children could be treated so brutally and cruelly. I think that the author, Donna Ford, is amazing and should be really proud of herself. She came through a dreadfully tough time and was brave enough to write about it in this compelling story. Good for her.
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I received this book yesterday and finished it the same day. I found it compelling reading and extremely touching. The descriptive details of the people made me feel as though I actually knew them. For anyone who has suffered from child abuse I would recommend this book as it shows you that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. You can see how a small girl who has struggled to survive came through in the end and made a successful life for herself.