Modern Slave: A shocking true crime story of survival and resilience in the face of child criminal exploitation and sexual abuse

by Gaia Cooper

Gaia was groomed, abused and enslaved – but then she fought back

Aged just 14 years old, Gaia Cooper was groomed, raped and held captive by a group of paedophiles. Before long, she was exploited and forced to take part in organised credit card fraud. Once she was in their grasp, Gaia found it impossible to escape this new adult world – a carousel of abuse, crime and drugs.

For more than four years, Gaia endured the horrific abuse before she was finally able to fight back, not only against the men who had stolen her childhood, but the authorities that had fed her directly into their hands.

310 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 23, 2024

Reviews

[Rachel Sellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book comes truly from the heart, so brave to write about her experiences to support others, my heart goes out to other women/men who have gone through this. Touched a cord from things that I saw when I was growing up. As a mum of 3 children (one 15 Yr old daughter) I admire this lade for being so strong... it may of taken her time to find her street but I truly believe that a women's street comes from the love of her children! Xx

[Jemma Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I knew without a doubt- that as soon as I climbed into the back seat of that car, my life would change forever. And I was right: it did”
This book has me hooked already, I love it.

I LOVED THIS BOOK.

I had lots of emotions while reading the book. Anger, hatred, shock, sadness, and empathy. Honestly, the book made me understand that someone else could be going through the same thing she did. Or who has gone through that.

5 stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

[D · Rating 1 out of 5]

Gaia Cooper manages to turn a lifetime of srupid decisions into a cautionary tale, yet somehow misses the lesson herself. Despite having a supportive stepfather for most of her life, Cooper dives headfirst into destructive relationships. While the mother was screwed up herself, I still think she needed a medal for taking back that disaster of a child over & over again & getting burned each time. It was if Cooper was grasping at straws to portray her in a bad light, to justify her poor life choices. Many people have WAY worse abuse & parents who truly harm them & don’t turn out half as bad as this girl does.

Her tedious explanation of all her degenerate behavior while young was exhausting. The way she told every story with zero accountability was ridiculous. Yes she was young, but to imply she was some “babe in the woods” was ridiculous. By the very nature of her actions she was street smart, but conveniently became back to being completely clueless when it suited her version of the story. She marries her abuser, has not one but two children with him, she even embracing a version of the Muslim faith that seems to undermine her own dignity. And it’s laughable she thought that it would make the men respect her. The icing on the cake was she receives £80,000 from the government, essentially being rewarded for her own poor choices. I’m not sure what more the state could have done. Every chance she had she blew. Aside from being locked in a juvenile detention center, nothing was going to stop her. I think she had mental illness before all of these destructive choices, and then goes back & tries to justify why it’s not her fault. Was she groomed & taken advantage of, yes. But at some point before being in her 30’s she should have figured out her choices have consequences. Meanwhile, she now tours schools to share her so-called wisdom, all while her own son repeats her mistakes right under her nose. The narrative leaves me both frustrated and incredulous.

[Corey Darkwater · Rating 4 out of 5]

Modern Slave is a tough book to read, not because it’s hard to follow, but because it’s so direct. This memoir doesn’t show abuse as one big moment. It shows how grooming happens step by step: attention that feels good at first, people who seem “safe,” then more control, more fear, and fewer real ways out.

I’ve seen some reviews say Gaia “chose” everything. I get why some people feel that way, because the book doesn’t hide her risky choices. She gets into cars, trusts the wrong people, and walks into situations you want her to avoid. But honestly, most of us did dumb things in our pre-teen and teen years. We took risks, wanted to fit in, wanted to feel older, and made choices we would never make now. But the memoir keeps making one thing crystal clear: bad choices
do not equal deserved outcomes. A teenager making reckless choices still does not consent to coercion, violence, trafficking, or rape. The adults had far more power, and the book shows how they used that power to harm her, while the people and systems that should have protected her failed again and again.

What I respected is that it doesn’t try to make her sound perfect. It’s messy, repeated, and sometimes frustrating, which is part of why it feels real. It shows how a child’s pain can get labeled as “bad behavior,” and how shame keeps people silent.

This book is heavy, and it can be triggering. But if you can handle difficult topics, Modern Slave is an important story about how abuse can hide in plain sight, and why blaming the child misses the point.

[Julie Haigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good read

This was a fast read.  I've read a few other books ghostwritten by Veronica Clark; they are usually very well done, well put together, and keep you reading.

In 2015, it looks like Gaia Cooper has made a new life, got kids, and put the past behind her. But one day police call, and it brings everything crashing back to her.  Hundreds of girls had been reported missing in the 1990s and 2000s, and Gaia had been one of them.  

The book then goes back to those times; when she's at school.  Her real dad had disappeared. Mum was a hippy.  They'd moved from London. 

Neglected and ill-treated by those who should have protected her, and coerced into crime by others. She was just 14 at the time of all these happenings in the book. A sad story of events after getting in with the wrong crowd.  It was so hard to get out of. So she just offended again and again.

Mostly well portrayed, and fast moving.  For me, it just went off a bit in the later stages, I kind of lost patience as, when it seemed she'd learnt her lesson, and would start again, she just got herself back in deeper.  

I was going to give this 4 stars, but the last section wasn't as good, hence my 3 star rating. I didn't like some of it, won't say what so as not to give away any spoilers.

[Jan Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now I don’t like rating books like this given that it’s someone’’s life but for the purpose of this I will. 4.5 rounded up. This is such a sad read. It comes from the heart and is raw, heartbreaking and inspiring. My heart breaks for Gaia and all those who go through this. Gaia is brave and inspirational, to not only overcome all she went through but to use that to help others is nothing short of remarkable. It is such an emotional rollercoaster, sadness, anger, horror, shock it has it all. If you like these kinds of books I highly recommend you read this. It is a well written, important story that needs to be heard.

[Helen Latto · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heartbreaking true life story. Praise to Gaia for sharing her story and raising awareness of how these guys get to young children and control them. Books like these should be read at schools in English lessons etc to make children aware of what goes on and what to look out for. Well done to Gaia for being strong and getting out of the situation she was in despite being failed by the authorities on multiple occasions.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an advanced digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[R Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gaia Cooper takes us on a journey that no child should ever have to endure. She is brave, resilient, and you wonder quite how a young girl can survive such a horrible childhood in which she is raped, abused and criminally exploited. But Gaia is not only strong, she’s remarkable. She not only manages to escape her abusers, now an adult, she uses the horrific abuse she suffered to try and help other young people. Both she and her book are remarkable.

[Rebecca Fowkes · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a heartbreaking book. I felt so sorry for what Gaia went through and how she was treated. I couldn't believe how Social Services just kept ignoring her and the police, couldn't believe how her Mum treated her as well.

Gaia is a strong person who has managed to escape from her abusers.

[Sallyann Carlisle · Rating 5 out of 5]

shocking

I cannot believe the abuse which happened when the police were well aware and did nothing , it’s beyond comprehension

[Fiona Turnbull · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read. But sad circumstances.

[kelly-anne robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow what a page turner and a horiffic childhood this author has suffered . Makes me mad that people thing is is ok .