Broken Child

by Marcia Cameron

This powerful tale takes readers on a harrowing, unforgettable journey into the nightmare of parental abuse and the darkness of mental illness. Written by a woman who endured horrendous abuse from her mother and became a split personality by the age of five, here is the story of her agonizing childhood, the conflicting personalties, and struggle back to sanity.

Genres: Abuse, Nonfiction, Psychology, Memoir, Mental Health, Biography, Crime

447 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 1995

Reviews

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was absolutely harrowing. I have an iron stomach and there were parts of this that I had a very difficult time getting through. That said, it is a story of profound hope that left me feeling very optimistic and blessed. It also gave me a much deeper understanding of the effects of childhood abuse. I HIGHLY suggest reading this one.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Be prepared to be disturbed by the things humans can manage to do to one another and still look at themselves in the mirror and sleep at night. Not a book for someone with a weak stomach, she goes into great detail about the horrific things that led to her developing a multiple personality disorder. Just when you start to think that she has finally gotten some luck, fate spits right back in her face.

[Rachelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book is actually very disterbing. But what i got out of it was that my life isnt this bad.Even though the story very closely borderlines what was going on in my life its high pintacles go a bit further than mine .. at times. Which is a comfort when its really hard to be worse than my torment. Very hard to top what ive been through and the strain on my heart. The ending is dissapointing though where she is happy in the ending ... and my pain burns on. I would write what it is i keep reffering to but everyone crys when i tell them so .. for me to know.

[Chelsea · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a true story of a lady diagnosed as a multiple personality disorder (known now as Dissociative Identity Disorder) due to severe physical, sexual, and psychological abuse from her mother. It is also a story of her healing process once she found a competent therapist/psychiatrist. I had a difficult time reading it but I am glad I finished it. This is one example of the power we all possess to heal from whatever we have gone through in life, no matter how horrible or painful.

[Tayib · Rating 5 out of 5]

Horrifying. A gift from the first love of my life, inscribed "Life sucks and then you pay $20 for it."

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Without a doubt, the most harrowing memoir on Disociative Identity Disorder EVER! She was abuse, rape mutiple times, tired to commit suicide, and after all that hell she's alive and recovering! Painful read but totally worth it!

[Kelly · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don't believe this story at all. I think it's exaggerated by a child/adult who wasn't acknowledged by her mom and resents the attention her brothers got. I'm only 15% thru the book and I already want to send it back to the store I got it at.

[Camilla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Diffult to read (emotionally) but amazing

[Karen Bullock · Rating 3 out of 5]

This harrowing tale of torture & abuse from as young as age 3, through her teenage years was gut wrenching and heart breaking. However, it triggered memories of having read almost identical torturous abuse inflicted upon another. A book, that was made famous in the mid 1970’s, which was mentioned in this book.
A strong mindset is needed to read this book.
Discussions in this story, past the foreword, of a certain doctor attempting to treat DID when he himself did not believe in multiple personalty syndrome was equally confusing.
Another doctor states that getting to the root of the problematic split/dissociation seems viable but at what cost.
Overall, this just left a bad taste, as to what was really true or not.

[Michelle Ross]

This book disturbs me to my core. The very woman who should have been loving and caring for her baby girl was the same woman who broke her, abused her and destroyed her life. I have cried for hours over this book, because I know what it is like to have a abusive parents, or have a parent look the other way in times of trauma. It makes me sick knowing how many knew what or something; was happening and looked the other way. Her life should not have become as hard as it did. This is a true story of survival. I wish nothing but good things for the rest of her life. I hope she lives out her final years in total happiness. That’s what’s she’s deserved after her beginning years were stolen.

[Deborah Fike · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very hard book to read. How a mother could do this to her child, I just don't understand. Well written. Thank goodness she was able to find a psychiatrist that could help her. And thank goodness she was willing to do the hard work to get better.

[Talissia Bates · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book many years ago but never finished it. A lot of the acts committed upon the child i found hard to stomach. Began to make me feel wrong for wanting to read it at all. :x

[pisciscastaña · Rating 5 out of 5]

Broken Child is definitely a book that I will always remember. I read bits and pieces about four years ago but picked up the book again about a week ago to read it in its entirety. Even after reading some of the graphic scenes four years ago, it still wasn't an easy read which I think is why this book doesn't have more 5 star ratings. There were some passages that were absolutely gut-wrenching and terrifying which go to prove the point that there really are some messed up things that happen in this world. People always say "life isn't always rainbows and sunshine" but don't realize that the worst things you could possibly imagine happening to a human can and probably have really happened. That's why I don't think a movie about this book has been created yet.

Anywho, as much as it was a hard read, it was one of the best books I've ever ready because of how Marcia didn't hold back on writing some of the most horrible moments she went through (and I don't even think she went through all the details and definitely not all the events) and truly gave the readers a glimpse of what going through life with dissociative identity disorder is like and the real-time development and discovery of who all the identities are and how they became to be. The readers get a patient perspective rather then a medical professional perspective which is very powerful and eye-opening. It's also very powerful to know how play-doh like a child's mind is and once you leave the play-doh out from it's container, lots of the things the child experienced or learned can stay with them a long time and how much energy it takes to try and change the mold of the already-hardened play-doh.

Marcia Cameron's identity is unknown and there wasn't another publication about her life. The book ended with her being around 52 years old finally enjoying life and I hope she was able to enjoy the rest of it as I believe she has sadly passed away. I can't imagine the pain she went through and it's not even my pain to imagine but I cannot believe how strong she was. She redefined the definition of strength and even sanity. Words can't describe the admiration I have for her and the psychiatrist that helped her, Dr. Ira Steinman. I'm glad that just by chance, he was willing to help her (for free basically) and reassured her anytime she needed it.

Marcia definitely experienced the depths of hell and the abandonment of many people around her, and she probably did live the rest of her life hurting at times, but this book gives immense insight that if you hold yourself accountable, you can overcome what you're going through.

[Nathalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first few pages have been hard to get through. I could not get myself interested in it and choose to ignore it for a good time. I read something else and picked it up again a few weeks later. Suddenly I found myself in this really interesting and shocking Biography. She isn´t holding back or sugar coating anything when she tells us about the abuse she had to endure. I don´t have a weak stomach but one time I even feared continuing reading because I was anxious about what would happen next. usualy only Films can do this to me.
It was interesting to read about the multiple personality disorder. she explains everything very well.
No matter how bad your childhood was, while reading this book there will be a moment you think to yourself, "thank god i have had it still so good".

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hard to put into words. However, let's try. For all those who didn't make it ,thank you Marcia for your memoir. Someone to tell the world that such depths of evil existed and still exists today . Such depraved behaviour that defies belief. When people talk of mental illness and being crazy what do they mean? Marcia apparently was mentally ill and crazy?! Yep but she was not born that way she became crazy because of years of pain and abuse. Thanks for being so shockingly candid. A well written memoir. Another scar on humanity.

[Cherianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read numerous child abuse survivor memoirs and I have an iron stomach. This one, however, was a difficult and emotionally draining one to read. The most horrific story of abuse I've ever read. I can't say it's a book that's hard to put down because I could only read so much and then I needed to put it down to take a mental break. With that said, I highly recommend it. It's an important story of human resilience, hope, and perseverance. An incredible story!

[Reba Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This horrific but compelling book is amazing . I own 128 copies and still purchasing them to give as gifts. It has changed so many lives and deserves notariaty. I am in contact with Marcia and Dr. Steinman and currently writing a movie script so look forward to this becoming a visiual tool for all those abused as hope there is life after abuse. I hope you all can apperciate my efforts and cherish it as I do.

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing! This book took me awhile to read, it was emotionally draining at times (in a good way). The fact that the author is still alive and functioning as well as she is, is a miracle. Very strong woman there and her doctor is just as amazing, so happy she finally found someone that could help her.

[Amanda Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very emotional story. The depravity of some people astonish me. This woman went through pure hell and survived. She is extremely brave to tell her story and is an inspiration to all. I highly recommend this book, especially if you are interested in psychology. This is a great account of what a person lives with, who suffers from DID (dissociative identity disorder).

[Ana · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's one of those books you'll never forget you read.
A story based on a woman who went through a lot and overcame her problems, little by little.
Disturbing yet overpowering.
A great book to read and a page turner.

[Kimber Burnett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Broken Child is a story of a child so badly abused that she learns to hide within herself. Abused by the one person who should love her and never hurt her, every hope of being saved is crushed. Very difficult to read. Makes you wonder how a person survives!

[Vicki Gooding · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story of a woman of courage and survival. Dissociation into alternate personalities as the result of brutal treatment of her mother. It was only when she began to mistreat her own family that the account began to emerge. She is still a work in progress to wholeness.

[Shonessi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was mind boggling to me! The abuse and torture this child felt almost daily made me feel extremely blessed!! If you want a book that will stay with you for a while, I DEFINITELY recommend this book!

[Aimee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible life story. Marcia writes this book as part of her therapy.

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book 15 years ago for a book report in high school. I have never forgotten this book nor do I think I ever will. This book has stuck with me and I will never forget it.

[Sarah Smart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommend this book. The author gives the reader an inside look of how she lived with multiple personalities.

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book literally had me in tears. I had to take breaks because I couldn't emotionally handle it at all at one time. It was a great book, though.

[Shannon V · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow.