No Way Home

by Sue Martin

Sue Martin was not three years old when she began life at her first children's a home that could at best be described as cold and regimented; at worst, torturous and terrifying. When her mother abandoned her to the protection of the home, Sue was soon to discover that behind the welcoming doors of this reputedly kind-hearted organization lay a world steeped in lies, cover-ups, victimization, and abuse. At its heart was Boagey, whose perverse bullying was targeted at Sue. Her attacks quickly progressed from the gratuitous punishment of an innocent child to sordid gratification of her sexual whims. Sue's story is one of institutional abuse— of physical, mental, and emotional torture of the most appalling kind— but it also a story full of joy, humor, and many victories— small and large— against her abusers. Utterly compelling and shockingly revelatory, No Way Home will astound, move, and inspire.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Abuse

288 pages, Paperback

First published August 23, 2007

Reviews

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A powerful story of resilience, but what a horrible childhood. Amazing that this girl turned out so well, no thanks to a cruel system and family.

[Shannon Gale · Rating 5 out of 5]

No Way Home by Sue Martin was a shocking book to read. It opened my eyes to what children went/go threw while living in childrens homes. This book brought me to tears on multiple occasions and made me cheer with joy at the small battles Sue won against her tormenters. I will never forget this book and will carry its story and message in my heart forever.

[Karen Osment · Rating 3 out of 5]

An insightful real life story about a childhood in Barnardo's children's homes. Shocking at times, inspirational at others, it makes you grateful to have grown up with food, comfort and a family. It's a shame the story stopped when she was 18 as I am intrigued as to what has happened to her since, but I hope it carried on in the final positive vein.

[Love · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did not find this one interesting at all. I felt obligated to keep picking it up to finish it. That's pretty much all I have to say about this one.

[Becca · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book wasn't doing it for me. It started off slow and never really took off.

[Amber-Leigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think to say I enjoyed this book would be a gross misrepresentation of what I felt while reading it - I don't enjoy reading about people suffering horrific abuse, because I'm not a monster. This book was, however, quite a page turner. So while I can't in good conscience say that it was 'good', what I can say is that it was compelling.

[Dayna Duchovney · Rating 4 out of 5]

This made a great read...but it was also sicking to read that such terrible things could happen in an apparent place if safety!!
This book has many gut wrenching moments but also several moments that you feel able to celebrate when the girl/ woman of the book gets 'one up' on her tormenters, or succeeds in other ways...a child and adult of great courage and emotional and physical strength!

[Georgina Ball · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was an eye-opening read. I’ve read several books about child abuse and cruelty, but never one about living in a Children’s Home which is why it’s eye-opening. The cruelty and brutality these children suffered was immense, the simplest of things which they were denied was astounding and the basic knowledge which they required was refused. Overall an interesting read which is very informative about life in the Homes. I wouldn’t say it’s a particularly emotive read, Sue does not make you feel sorry for her, instead you feel proud of what she achieved and how she coped in the Homes. It wasn’t the easiest book to read; sometimes I accidentally re-read sentences as forgot where I was due to the large blocks of text. I feel it could have been broken up more but other than that the writing style was easy to comprehend. The only let down in this book was the lack of closure, yes it’s a happy ending but I would have liked, even if just summarised briefly in an Epilogue, to know what happened to her, did she have a family? Did she continue sport? That sort of thing. Overall a good book, very eye-opening and informative, and I would definitely recommend it!

[Eva-Marie Nevarez · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't finish this- although it's the type of book that I usually read I just had no desire to pick it up once I put it down. I even waited well over a week thinking, hoping, that it may be a mood I was in. That wasn't the case. I think the author used far, far too many details for my taste. Maybe some people like that but with a story like this it's just overkill. It seemed like there were a certain number of pages expected and no less would be accepted.
I just don't have any desire to know that a friend of yours when you were three that you played with twice was partial to red nail polish. I don't need to know that the boy down the street from you, where you lived for two weeks had a bowl haircut. (These are not taken directly from the story.) These are the kind of details I can go without but that this book is full of so I'm going to have to pass on it.
Otherwise it seems like a very interesting story, from what I did manage to read, so I think anyone who reads this type of memoir that doesn't mind all the details might very well like it a lot.

[Mark Paulo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Story about struggles of a girl that took these circumstances to be strong enough to conquer the world. I love how Sue Martin told the readers on how she was bewildered to know the real meaning of FAMILY. Through the people around her who gave her the love that her biological family was not able to give to her.

[Carina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't read these books often, usually only when they are in a pile of books my mother gives me to read - if you find these tales of triumph over depravity interesting then this is one of the more well written ones.

[Amanda_DJ n' Zac · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing True Story!!

[Helena · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one! I can't say much more than that.

[Chloe Hinks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Took me a while to get into at first hence why I've only gave it 4 stars! BUT, it was brilliant in the middle & throughout!