Unloved: The True Story of a Stolen Childhood

by Peter Roche

This story begins and ends with a photograph taken when I was two years old. Finding it was like discovering that I really did exist after all . It was as if someone was saying ‘No, it wasn’t all in your imagination, that childhood really did happen, and it happened to you.’ Brought up in South London by violent and abusive parents, the Roche children knew only cruelty, neglect, starvation and squalor. As one of ten and regularly beaten, Peter searched dustbins for food and slept rough when he couldn't face going home. It was survival at all costs, every child for itself. Expelled from school at the age of 14, Peter’s life of petty crime landed him in borstal – and exposed him to yet more sickening abuse. Then, years later, a chance meeting with a social worker led to his discovery of a photograph - a portrait, taken by Lord Snowdon, of a toddler dressed in rags. It was an image that had shocked the world. The boy in the picture was Peter. Unloved is a harrowing account of a shattered childhood, told by a man who has finally found the courage to speak out. This is his story.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Biography

352 pages, Paperback

First published August 23, 2007

Reviews

[Fiona MacDonald · Rating 3 out of 5]

Painful and utterly heartbreaking to hear this sad story of Peter Roche, the two year old boy who's photograph taken by Lord Snowdon became one of the most iconic prints of the 21st century. His life, surviving as one of nine children to abusive, neglectful parents was one of hunger, sadness and loneliness. His story moved me to tears and I am so proud of how he turned his life around and created a safe and loving environment for his own children.

[Eryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sad story that makes a few good points about the awareness and willingness of others to intervene in the life of a suffering child.

[Miriam · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really good book about a horrible childhood. The book isn't too detailed when it describes what went on, which I was grateful for, and is written very matter-of-factly. It did annoy me a few times that the author repeated himself. Basically ever time he refered to one of his brothers he wrote that "he was out to lunch" meaning he wasn't all there, not right in the head kind of thing. But I would recommend the book for sure.

[Hannah Polley · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was heartbreaking to read of such an awful childhood and know it was a true story. I know that I am very lucky in that I could not even imagine living a life like that.

Peter Roche was one of many children born to very poor and very violent parents. Beaten on a daily basis, there was often no food for Peter and he had to fend for himself from a very young age.

It was good to read at the end that he managed to turn his life around.

[Donna Simon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was Britain’s Poster Child how they got way with what they did to him god knows. A very good read would recommend to anyone

[Gemma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartbreaking true story of child abuse and how this amazing young man made a life for himself when everything seemed to be against him. Would recommend

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the child that was photographed for the N.S.P.C.C. poster yet he was never helped. Such a good book that everyone should read.

[Eva-Marie Nevarez · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is probably the weirdest "review" I've ever left but I didn't finish this book- and still liked it. How can that be one would ask? I don't know. I just didn't feel like finishing it. That's hard to swallow because I'm only freshly at the point where I'll stop reading something I don't like. Never something I do like. Until now.
Maybe it's too long. Too drawn out in a way. The story of Peter's childhood is horrible. I'm baffled at "parents" like his. I mean, seriously, how about NOT having kids folks? How about giving them away? Damn, SELL them before you abuse them in this manner. If it were me, I'd have rather been sold to a halfway decent family. Kick the kid out. That's what happens anyway and at leat then they don't have the extra parental beatings thrown in for good measure.

[Amy Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is truly one of the saddest stories of an abused and neglected child I have ever read. This little boy wanted nothing more than for his parents to care and take care of him but they were unable and unwilling to do so. Adding to the heartbreak is that child protection services in England used the boy's utterly pathetic picture to raise awareness of the problem of child neglect while doing way too little to help him or his family. This isn't a particularly lyrical book, the words don't soar as in, say, Angela's Ashes, but the story is compelling enough to make up for that.

[Samantha Pattison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recommended read although shocking to think that the parents got away with the amount of abuse inflicted on those poor children . I'd like to be able to say 'at least times have changed' but every other day you read something in the news ! Amazing that the teachers didn't intervene either but then again things were so much different in 1965 ...... to even imagine a 3 or 4 year old child wandering around the streets alone or travelling on a bus ...... The image of the corned beef tin will remain for a long time though. Hope Peter is in a happier place now with a loving family.

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Here is another reason to appreciate my childhood and the simple things in life. No child deserves to be bashed daily, living in constant hunger & fear of his parents. A harrowing account of a stolen childhood living a life so brutal from such a young age with many scars inside and out but with a determination to break this cycle.

[Dawn Stephens · Rating 3 out of 5]

Peter had a very tough and abusive childhood and that he managed to survive it is a testament to his strength of character, and it was a touching book, but I did not find his writing easy to read. However I wanted to read through the whole book from start to finish to get a complete picture.
I feel that it must have been very tough for him to write so I admire him immensely for writing it.

[Rita (housefullofbooks) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5.
There is not much I can say now, mostly because it is not quite easy to rate non fiction books. I cried a lot. I wish some parts weren’t confusing. I had to remind myself quite a lot that this story is true, that this happened. But most of all, in the end I could feel the hope, the little glimpes of happiness in the author’s life. And I hope that is still true.

[Monica · Rating 1 out of 5]

i thought the saddest part was the social worker that was not allowed to help them...i mean isn't that what they are there for?? wtf

but it was not written in a fluid order...made it difficult to finish- so i didn't- hehe

[Maria Daines · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story touched me deeply and I can still feel the sadness of turning pages on a life so desperately ruined at every milestone. The author is remarkable for his courage and determination to survive.

[Glenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a book that stayed with me for a long time. I wanted to find this little boy and take him home with me. Some people are truly just meant not to have children and his parents were those people. The neglect, torture and suffering he went through are truly horrific. My heart ached for him.

[Rona · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heartbreaking, but enthralling read. Very hard to put down.

[Sarah wright · Rating 1 out of 5]

Got 100 pages in but everytime i picked up the book i kept falling asleep, just didn't keep my attention.

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

such a sad heart touching story. read it from cover to cover without putting it down

[Katrina Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was heartbreaking to read. I'm glad Peter turned his life around in the end. ❤

[Kimberley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartbreaking story about a young boy and his fight to survive

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's not possible to review that book. It's shocking.

[Veronica Nhamoinesu]

An emotional story...I cried to the end but could not stop reading.

[Julia Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

very eye-opening book about the horrors that some children have to live through. Shocking but compulsive reading.

[Jude Keisy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Its so sad en touching.....i rilli feel bad f peterz lyf b4 ....

[Connie]

This is the messiest book I've ever read. The events are in no particular order just sort of thrown together. Which I a shame really. Having said that it was a relatively good book and I'd probably recommend it to people.

[Arlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heartrending