I forgot to add that I am able to give 1 Kindle copy away! Just leave a comment below with your email and I will choose 1 winner next Friday!
Retarded Girl Raised in Dog Pen:
Authorities Say Girl Witness to Murder
Psychological Mystery
Published by Sartoris Literary Group (March 13, 2014)
Print Length: 250 pages
File Size: 574 KB
ASIN: B00J0GU4EW
Baby is every adoptive parent’s nightmare—blind, paralyzed from the waist down, unable to speak, and diagnosed with developmental and intellectual disabilities. For the first 10 years of her life she is raised outside in a dog pen by a cruel adoptive father, a Mississippi deputy sheriff who values his bird dogs more than his daughter.
Retarded Girl Raised in Dog Pen is the story of Baby’s placement in a Mississippi mental institution for individuals with profound retardation after the brutal murder of her father and the arrest of her mother, and her desperate attempt to escape the institution.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
I have to start this review by saying I absolutely hate the title of this book!! After reading it I came up with several alternatives but the one I like best is Baby’s Story. The synopsis posted with the book on Amazon and GoodReads is too long and gives away too much of the mystery. I feel the synopsis should spark a reader’s interest to read the book, not give away most of the story. That being said, it was the synopsis that actually made me say yes to this review request. When I first read the title the request was headed for the trash. But I think what I included above is really all that is needed.
Baby was born without eyes or vocal cords and her treatment by her father just made me sick. Her mother did try to help her but her husband was abusive of her as well. The thing that I couldn’t believe was that the father was a Deputy Sheriff and no one even questioned him about the daughter that was never seen, or in school, or that no one ever stopped by their house and noticed the girl.
Putting that aside I continued reading. My daughter works for a state run center that works with the developmentally, physically and emotionally challenged. I wanted to see if this part of the story rang true with stories she shares about her clients. For the most part it did. Baby was an extraordinary client and turned out to be totally different from what was expected by her caregivers. I have loaned my copy to my daughter to get her thoughts.
This was story that had me crying and I figured out the mystery part quite quickly, but it was well written and paced well too. I can’t say I enjoyed the book because of the horrific theme but it is a story that will stick with me for awhile. I think people need to look past the title and get to the story. I hold out hope the author will decide to change it because then I think this story would be read by a larger audience.
About the Author
Lauren Leigh is a mental health professional who has devoted her life to working with individuals with intellectual disabilities. This is her first novel.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Interesting. I agree about the title. I might take a look at this, even though it’s not my kind of book. Thanks!
I have been waiting for your review ever since you mentioned this book…I will put it on my t-b-r list.
Thanks
Sounds like a good book to read.
I would have a hard time reading the book. When I was freelancing, something similar happened in our region. I interviewed the detective who finally helped get the girl out of her horribly abusive home. The parents were a pastor and his wife. Like you said of the Deputy Sheriff, no one questioned why this child never went to school. She had physical problems (at least, not until she was adopted by these monsters), but the stories the detective told were chilling. I think the last I heard, the girl had become or was studying to become a nurse. She wanted to help people. Isn’t that an incredible message of perseverance and hope?
Gayle, that is a great message. I felt so bad for this little girl.
Excellent review Lori. I did want to read this one but declined a review book because I just couldn’t get past the title. Emotionally harrowing but I’m glad it rang true.