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“THE ABORTION WHO REFUSED TO DIE”: A HORRIFIC ACCOUNT OF CHILDHOOD PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL, AND SEXUAL ABUSE
THE TRUE AND TRAUMATIC ACCOUNT OF MY SHOCKING CHILDHOOD PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL, AND SEXUAL ABUSE.
This is the true and traumatic account of a young girl who survived unspeakable and almost constant physical, emotional, and sexual abuse at the hands of those who should have loved her.
She survived this Hell on Earth from birth until finally escaping home at the age of 17.
Some of these accounts are heartrending, others are shockingly depraved, some on the other hand are both.
Other events though awful to experience at the time will now seem strangely hilarious to many readers.
"These memories demanded to be uncovered. I can no longer keep them secret. I cannot carry this horrible burden by myself any longer."
This is the true and traumatic account of a young girl who survived unspeakable and almost constant physical, emotional, and sexual abuse at the hands of those who should have loved her.
She survived this Hell on Earth from birth until finally escaping home at the age of 17.
Some of these accounts are heartrending, others are shockingly depraved, some on the other hand are both.
Other events though awful to experience at the time will now seem strangely hilarious to many readers.
"These memories demanded to be uncovered. I can no longer keep them secret. I cannot carry this horrible burden by myself any longer."
331 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 27, 2023
65 people are currently reading
104 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
November 30, 2025
I struggled terribly with this book...not because of what Terry Jo had been through or what she had written about here (I've honestly read much much worse like "A Child Called It" by Dave Pelzer) but because this book was awfully written and needed some serious editing...it was all over the place, jumping from here to there and back again and several parts of the book and stories were repeated over and over... it became tediously boring and I found myself having to skip several pages just to be able to get through it.
This could have been a terrific little book and read, had it been written better and edited correctly...but as it wasn't and I can't bring myself to give it anymore than 1 Star...even though Terry Jo suffered shockingly from her Mother's and Step Father's abuse.
SORRY 🥺😔☹️ ONLY 1 ⭐
This could have been a terrific little book and read, had it been written better and edited correctly...but as it wasn't and I can't bring myself to give it anymore than 1 Star...even though Terry Jo suffered shockingly from her Mother's and Step Father's abuse.
SORRY 🥺😔☹️ ONLY 1 ⭐
February 9, 2024
This is a difficult one to review but let’s give it a go. First, the title leaves you in no doubt about what you’re getting. This book can give the Dave Peltzer novels a run for their money. If you like graphic, harrowing accounts of the most awful abuse and neglect you can imagine—and then tenfold it, this one’s for you. It contains every trigger known to man, and won’t be to everybody’s taste. But underneath the filth, and shame, and feeling so, so sorry for those poor children, the story has a flow and a certain gentle charm.
This one isn’t a cosy mystery that’s for sure.
It tells the story of Terry Jo and her endless run of siblings and how they survived an awful childhood at the hands of their mother and stepfather. The mother tells her at every opportunity how much she hates her. But these poor kids weren’t just abused by the people who were supposed to love them. They were brow-beaten by the entire town.
Buses drove past their house and the people inside laughed and jeered calling them names and bullying them—entire busloads of people, and not all kids either! And when it wasn’t buses, it was carloads of people driving by, throwing things in the garden, heckling and bullying them. And when it wasn’t buses or cars—it was people on foot, in gangs in pairs and singly. Everybody in the world picked on these children when they passed the house.
They moved house and busloads still drove past their home with all the people jeering—it had more footfall than Disneyland.
See, now I’m one of those awful people—I’m bad and I know it. You tell me the most terrible story about an abused child and I say, “Aw, those poor kids,” But tell me about an abused animal and get out of my way because I’m coming through with murder in mind. The stepfather was a monster in every way imaginable, but when he hurt the animals …whoa, hold me down.
And then there is a tiny glimmer of hope, somebody gives the little girl some books. Yes, thank you, God.
The account is harrowing but the writing has a very simple charm to it. It doesn’t try to be big or clever—there is a lady, who was once that little girl and she has to get that story out of her—or die. Every day they hoped for better. And you can’t keep hoping forever with no result.
Imagine the worst life possible. Then tell yourself it isn’t true and it can’t be right. Then know that there are people in this world that do live those childhoods and they either survive it or they don’t. It’s a literary rough diamond with a message of hope. Does she end up with a good life and happy? Read it and find out.
An awful, compelling story that keeps making you turn the page to see what happens, and if some good comes to these poor kids.
I recommend this book.
I’m not religious, but if there is one, God bless Terry Jo.
This one isn’t a cosy mystery that’s for sure.
It tells the story of Terry Jo and her endless run of siblings and how they survived an awful childhood at the hands of their mother and stepfather. The mother tells her at every opportunity how much she hates her. But these poor kids weren’t just abused by the people who were supposed to love them. They were brow-beaten by the entire town.
Buses drove past their house and the people inside laughed and jeered calling them names and bullying them—entire busloads of people, and not all kids either! And when it wasn’t buses, it was carloads of people driving by, throwing things in the garden, heckling and bullying them. And when it wasn’t buses or cars—it was people on foot, in gangs in pairs and singly. Everybody in the world picked on these children when they passed the house.
They moved house and busloads still drove past their home with all the people jeering—it had more footfall than Disneyland.
See, now I’m one of those awful people—I’m bad and I know it. You tell me the most terrible story about an abused child and I say, “Aw, those poor kids,” But tell me about an abused animal and get out of my way because I’m coming through with murder in mind. The stepfather was a monster in every way imaginable, but when he hurt the animals …whoa, hold me down.
And then there is a tiny glimmer of hope, somebody gives the little girl some books. Yes, thank you, God.
The account is harrowing but the writing has a very simple charm to it. It doesn’t try to be big or clever—there is a lady, who was once that little girl and she has to get that story out of her—or die. Every day they hoped for better. And you can’t keep hoping forever with no result.
Imagine the worst life possible. Then tell yourself it isn’t true and it can’t be right. Then know that there are people in this world that do live those childhoods and they either survive it or they don’t. It’s a literary rough diamond with a message of hope. Does she end up with a good life and happy? Read it and find out.
An awful, compelling story that keeps making you turn the page to see what happens, and if some good comes to these poor kids.
I recommend this book.
I’m not religious, but if there is one, God bless Terry Jo.
June 5, 2024
Tough read!
August 8, 2023
A lot to take in
You have to remember when reading this that the author says this is a true story and that it happened to her. With that being my I am in shock. The author did a great job explaining not only the events but also the feelings that went with it.
I have so many questions.
How could not anyone step in to protect her and her siblings? What is wrong with people and how could they be so cruel? How did they survive?
As a mom my heart breaks that they had to endure any of that. Some parts of the book can be hard to read but I recommend that you do so, because only then can you really understand how bad things were and how much as a society we need to change and do more. Every child deserves to feel loved and cared for.
You have to remember when reading this that the author says this is a true story and that it happened to her. With that being my I am in shock. The author did a great job explaining not only the events but also the feelings that went with it.
I have so many questions.
How could not anyone step in to protect her and her siblings? What is wrong with people and how could they be so cruel? How did they survive?
As a mom my heart breaks that they had to endure any of that. Some parts of the book can be hard to read but I recommend that you do so, because only then can you really understand how bad things were and how much as a society we need to change and do more. Every child deserves to feel loved and cared for.
December 26, 2024
Horrible
Horribly written. A lot of spelling errors and punctuation errors. As someone who grew up in a similar situation, I was looking forward to reading of someone else who had gone thru something as well. Because it is nice to know that you are not alone. But, was disappointed in how terrible the writing was. Like it never even reached an editor before being published.
Horribly written. A lot of spelling errors and punctuation errors. As someone who grew up in a similar situation, I was looking forward to reading of someone else who had gone thru something as well. Because it is nice to know that you are not alone. But, was disappointed in how terrible the writing was. Like it never even reached an editor before being published.
May 11, 2024
Very Moving
This book tells the very tragic, very moving and very real story of the author’s devastating life. The trauma she went through even before she was born can be difficult to read so is not for the faint of heart. Right from the start when Terry is born she goes through some terrifying ordeals enacted by her despicable parents. What is more heartbreaking is that this is all true but what gets to me is that the teachers she grew up with and the medical staff she sees at one point don’t bother to report it despite the obvious signs of terrible neglect. Although I suppose it was a different time back then in the 70s and 80s when she grew up. I do highly recommend everyone reads this book but because warned it is very graphic and as I said before, not for the faint of heart.
This book tells the very tragic, very moving and very real story of the author’s devastating life. The trauma she went through even before she was born can be difficult to read so is not for the faint of heart. Right from the start when Terry is born she goes through some terrifying ordeals enacted by her despicable parents. What is more heartbreaking is that this is all true but what gets to me is that the teachers she grew up with and the medical staff she sees at one point don’t bother to report it despite the obvious signs of terrible neglect. Although I suppose it was a different time back then in the 70s and 80s when she grew up. I do highly recommend everyone reads this book but because warned it is very graphic and as I said before, not for the faint of heart.
December 8, 2023
Every page, a bleeding testimony of one innocent soul's strength and willpower to survive...
An exhilaratingly eviscerating read, one can almost feel the taste of vomit and blood, and the smell of pungent urine and feces smeared on filthy bedsheets and walls... inside a home built by godless savages. The book is a triumphant celebration of human life told from a survivor angel's point of view—whose beautiful spirit had remained beautifully intact despite all the physical, emotional, sexual, and mental tortures. The reading experience flows easily like Hemingway, but it contains Tarantino-esque cinematic treats.
An exhilaratingly eviscerating read, one can almost feel the taste of vomit and blood, and the smell of pungent urine and feces smeared on filthy bedsheets and walls... inside a home built by godless savages. The book is a triumphant celebration of human life told from a survivor angel's point of view—whose beautiful spirit had remained beautifully intact despite all the physical, emotional, sexual, and mental tortures. The reading experience flows easily like Hemingway, but it contains Tarantino-esque cinematic treats.
September 19, 2023
The parenting described in this book is criminal and should not have been allowed to continue. One wonders if she is exaggerating, but even if she is her mom and step-dad do not come out looking good. One also wonders how kids could get through that without killing them, running away or at the very least reporting it. Maybe they came to see it as "normal," which would be just as great a tragedy.
February 16, 2024
Crazy!
I am just amazed and horrified at how some human beings can act! I can't believe these parents didn't get put in jail! I wish they had! I wish she had gone into a bit more about how her siblings are doing now.
I am just amazed and horrified at how some human beings can act! I can't believe these parents didn't get put in jail! I wish they had! I wish she had gone into a bit more about how her siblings are doing now.
Read
August 1, 2024Rough title and story to match. Unbelievable the cruelty that went on and no one did anything about. She survived and is one strong person.
December 26, 2025
An extremely tough read because of the abuse but also because I don't think the book was even proof read
January 4, 2024
The story though sad, was good. The writer has a great imagination but needs to work on presentation.
June 17, 2023
I read this book when it was first released at the end of April and I cannot stop thinking about it. This book was one of the most shocking accounts of brutality and sexual abuse I've ever encountered.
Once I started reading Terry's story I simply could not put it down until I finished. What she went through broke my heart on so many levels but the fact that she made it through and managed to escape to create a happy adulthood with her childhood sweetheart and the love of her life made my heart swell.
Terry's book read like I was having a conversation with her where she was telling me her whole life story. I simply could not put her book down until I finished the last page.
The fact that this type of evil exists in the world sickens me. The fact that a child's parents would abuse and terrorize their own children like the hell this girl experienced blows my mind and fill me with fury that they were never arrested or punished for their crimes!
In spite of the horror it sounds like Terry Jo escaped the living nightmare she grew up in somehow managed to survive and even go on to thrive in adulthood. I can't help but salute her courage and perseverance though I have no doubt she is emotionally scarred from her ordeal. Truth be told I'm scarred from simply reading what she endured.
If you want to know about unspeakable evil and what it is like to survive it from the eyes of a child who lived it and survived I highly recommend you read this book!
Once I started reading Terry's story I simply could not put it down until I finished. What she went through broke my heart on so many levels but the fact that she made it through and managed to escape to create a happy adulthood with her childhood sweetheart and the love of her life made my heart swell.
Terry's book read like I was having a conversation with her where she was telling me her whole life story. I simply could not put her book down until I finished the last page.
The fact that this type of evil exists in the world sickens me. The fact that a child's parents would abuse and terrorize their own children like the hell this girl experienced blows my mind and fill me with fury that they were never arrested or punished for their crimes!
In spite of the horror it sounds like Terry Jo escaped the living nightmare she grew up in somehow managed to survive and even go on to thrive in adulthood. I can't help but salute her courage and perseverance though I have no doubt she is emotionally scarred from her ordeal. Truth be told I'm scarred from simply reading what she endured.
If you want to know about unspeakable evil and what it is like to survive it from the eyes of a child who lived it and survived I highly recommend you read this book!
Read
December 9, 2024I get you
I lived a childhood, teen years, and young adulthood that was not as bad as yours but was enough for me to develop serious mental problems which led to poor decisions...one of those was becoming a Born Again Christian and being abused and bullied by church members because I was poor and not the example of femininity that they wanted to see....when I was finally driven to attempt suicide, which I survived, I knew I would never return to Christianity.
I am now an out and proud member of the 2S LGBTQI and I do not put much time into thinking about the lies told to me and about me by Christians, the horrors and pain that the religion had caused and continues to cause in our broken world.
I really wish you had not mentioned your religious beliefs in this book because I think you are a fool for forgiving the evil done to you by your "parents;" I don't forgive mine and I remember dancing the day I found out my nasty bitch mother was dead and not
grieving for the death of my father and oldest sibling. Only one sibling do I miss
I hope you can get free of the bonds that hold you to such a violent and dangerous belief system.
Good luck in your life.
I lived a childhood, teen years, and young adulthood that was not as bad as yours but was enough for me to develop serious mental problems which led to poor decisions...one of those was becoming a Born Again Christian and being abused and bullied by church members because I was poor and not the example of femininity that they wanted to see....when I was finally driven to attempt suicide, which I survived, I knew I would never return to Christianity.
I am now an out and proud member of the 2S LGBTQI and I do not put much time into thinking about the lies told to me and about me by Christians, the horrors and pain that the religion had caused and continues to cause in our broken world.
I really wish you had not mentioned your religious beliefs in this book because I think you are a fool for forgiving the evil done to you by your "parents;" I don't forgive mine and I remember dancing the day I found out my nasty bitch mother was dead and not
grieving for the death of my father and oldest sibling. Only one sibling do I miss
I hope you can get free of the bonds that hold you to such a violent and dangerous belief system.
Good luck in your life.
February 14, 2025
This book will break your heart. As you turn each page you cannot help but wonder how such cruelty can heaped upon the heads of children.
I found this book very difficult to read as it contains some highly charged emotional and psychological situations.
The world in which this true story is set is far worse than any work of fiction. A tiny hand reaches through the pages and begs the reader to follow them through a living nightmare.
It is not light reading, but it also it not for those who like to revel in other's misery.
This book challenges the reader at every page. You are forced to confront the realisation that perhaps this may be happening in your town or on your street.
The evil become mundane. The untolerable become acceptable.
Although you may turn the final page and close the cover, this book will open randomly in your memory when you least expect it.
Not a book for the faint-hearted, but a ghastly portrait of the damage that humans can do to each other.
I found this book very difficult to read as it contains some highly charged emotional and psychological situations.
The world in which this true story is set is far worse than any work of fiction. A tiny hand reaches through the pages and begs the reader to follow them through a living nightmare.
It is not light reading, but it also it not for those who like to revel in other's misery.
This book challenges the reader at every page. You are forced to confront the realisation that perhaps this may be happening in your town or on your street.
The evil become mundane. The untolerable become acceptable.
Although you may turn the final page and close the cover, this book will open randomly in your memory when you least expect it.
Not a book for the faint-hearted, but a ghastly portrait of the damage that humans can do to each other.
December 25, 2023
Written Like a Therapeutic Journal
This book is the true personal story of the author's growing up in an abusive family. While it's brave and transparent to tell this story, it just isn't a good book. Writer Terry Jo rambles repetitively through first person recounting like it's a police report or a journal. Some of the stories are quite incredulous, and feel like they are told for shock value rather than truthful recounting. The writing comes across as if she sat and wrote the whole thing in one sitting, like stream-of-consciousness writing, then never read it again before self-publishing. If this is all accurate and true, it would make a compelling story. I hope the writer considers working with an editor to give it another try, because in this form, the book won't serve its full purpose.
This book is the true personal story of the author's growing up in an abusive family. While it's brave and transparent to tell this story, it just isn't a good book. Writer Terry Jo rambles repetitively through first person recounting like it's a police report or a journal. Some of the stories are quite incredulous, and feel like they are told for shock value rather than truthful recounting. The writing comes across as if she sat and wrote the whole thing in one sitting, like stream-of-consciousness writing, then never read it again before self-publishing. If this is all accurate and true, it would make a compelling story. I hope the writer considers working with an editor to give it another try, because in this form, the book won't serve its full purpose.
March 7, 2024
An unbelievable story of abuse and cruelty experienced by a young girl and her siblings. Yes, details were sometimes graphic, and I cringed when Terry Jo described various abusive experiences. After each reading, this story stayed with me constantly. I felt anger at the cruelty of her mother and stepfather, who deserved to be lynched. Yes, strong sentiment, but those poor children deserved better. In this day and age, I suspect someone would have intervened. What surprised me was that the neighbours and locals turned a blind eye to the atrocities instead of contacting the police. A powerful and emotional read, and I commend the author for being brave enough to tell her story. Thankfully, Terry Jo is now happily married with chidren of her own. I wish her a happy life.
September 20, 2025
I really don't know how many stars to give this, but I'm going to 5! As hard as it was to read, I couldn't get enough. my heart absolutely breaks for her and the other children! I don't even have the words to describe how terrible their parents were. They definitely needed help! I know that the town was terrified of her parents, but I don't get why someone didn't try to step in and help those kids! I'm curious if the older brother got his life straightened out or if he turned into his parents. I'm glad that Terry Jo found love and happiness! She sounds like an amazing human being that was delt a very shitty hand in life!
November 12, 2024
This is the true story of Terry Jo's horrific tale of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse throughout all her childhood. It is heartbreaking to read how parents can be so cruel to their own children. Unfortunately, during the time these events happened, people looked the other way when it came to child abuse and almost nobody ever reported it. Nowadays, it's almost the exact opposite. My only complaint is that the details do get repetitive at times. Otherwise, a good read.
September 12, 2024
wow, what a shocking and disturbing story!
I’m so glad that Terry Jo is still standing after the HORRIFIC sadistic abuse that she endured from her psycho mom, her disgusting step dad and the other sickos that were in her child. This story and Terry Jo will always stick with me!! I’m sending love and healing towards Terry Jo’s way!!!
I’m so glad that Terry Jo is still standing after the HORRIFIC sadistic abuse that she endured from her psycho mom, her disgusting step dad and the other sickos that were in her child. This story and Terry Jo will always stick with me!! I’m sending love and healing towards Terry Jo’s way!!!
September 27, 2024
Akeroro. F
A must read,
This story is tells us of how we can navigate through abuses emotionally and psychologyally . Terry takes us through a journey of hope and faith in God , even in our sufferings we should hope for victory and the bright light ahead. I read some parts of the book . I really enjoyed it .
A must read,
This story is tells us of how we can navigate through abuses emotionally and psychologyally . Terry takes us through a journey of hope and faith in God , even in our sufferings we should hope for victory and the bright light ahead. I read some parts of the book . I really enjoyed it .
September 21, 2024
repetitive writing.
It was a really good book. Just a lot of repetitive writing I felt like I was reading stuff three or four times over.
It was a really good book. Just a lot of repetitive writing I felt like I was reading stuff three or four times over.
June 2, 2024
I've known the author and her family ever since she was a little girl and based on what I've witnessed personally, or been told first hand by either her or her siblings, I have no doubt whatsoever that what she wrote is the truth.
That being said I was shocked, sickened, and even horrified by what she experienced. Once I started reading I simply couldn't put the book down until I finished the last page and the sun was coming up.
It has been several months since I read her book but her reminisces still reverberate in my mind and heart and trouble me greatly.
No child should ever experience that kind of abuse EVER!
Even worse, abusers like her parents should never be allowed to get off Scot free as they did.
Some things like the horrors this young girl experienced simply should not be allowed to exist.
If you haven't read this book I suggest you do, but be forewarned...
What you read will trouble you greatly and possibly keep you up at night with the knowledge that evil abounds and monsters really do exist.
That being said I was shocked, sickened, and even horrified by what she experienced. Once I started reading I simply couldn't put the book down until I finished the last page and the sun was coming up.
It has been several months since I read her book but her reminisces still reverberate in my mind and heart and trouble me greatly.
No child should ever experience that kind of abuse EVER!
Even worse, abusers like her parents should never be allowed to get off Scot free as they did.
Some things like the horrors this young girl experienced simply should not be allowed to exist.
If you haven't read this book I suggest you do, but be forewarned...
What you read will trouble you greatly and possibly keep you up at night with the knowledge that evil abounds and monsters really do exist.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews