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Wake Up Mummy
'I squeezed through the narrow gap and out into the hallway and I stood for a moment, unable to decide where to go. Should I make a dash for the kitchen, where my mother would be swigging from a bottle? Or should I run upstairs and try to find somewhere to hide? It was a choice I didn't really need to make, because there was no escape'
Anna Lowe grows up on the doorsteps of pubs, waiting for her mum to come out. Having to give up her bedroom to her mother's drunken friends. And regularly calling out the ambulance, after finding her mother unconscious and covered in vomit.
But it is when they move in with her mother's boyfriend Carl that things take the ugliest turn. Not only is he violent with her mother, but he also sexually abuses Anna from the age of six - destroying any semblance of normal childhood she had left.
Wake Up, Mummy is the heartbreaking true story of a little girl who eventually found the courage to break free from the past.
Anna Lowe grows up on the doorsteps of pubs, waiting for her mum to come out. Having to give up her bedroom to her mother's drunken friends. And regularly calling out the ambulance, after finding her mother unconscious and covered in vomit.
But it is when they move in with her mother's boyfriend Carl that things take the ugliest turn. Not only is he violent with her mother, but he also sexually abuses Anna from the age of six - destroying any semblance of normal childhood she had left.
Wake Up, Mummy is the heartbreaking true story of a little girl who eventually found the courage to break free from the past.
Hardcover
First published March 1, 2011
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312 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
June 25, 2017
You would think that after reading so many of these types of books I would be fed up with the familiar narrative each time, but actually I'm not. I find each book completely different and the narrative independent. Very sad story, but there is always light at the end of the tunnel.
June 20, 2018
Anna and Chris
Reading this book I cant imagine how these children suffered how they were abused and neglected but they have fought there demons and and won my heart breaks for them especially Anna the abuse she suffered from Carl but they came through it 5 stars.
Reading this book I cant imagine how these children suffered how they were abused and neglected but they have fought there demons and and won my heart breaks for them especially Anna the abuse she suffered from Carl but they came through it 5 stars.
April 9, 2013
I feel a little bad rating this so lowly when it's based on a true story. A true story which is devastating and difficult to imagine. It makes me remember how lucky I've been.
I think it's wonderful that Anna Lowe wrote down her story and has shared it with people, but it was so poorly written. It would have been much more powerful if it hadn't been for that. The most annoying thing was the constant repetition, like "Despite everything, I loved my mother." I'm sure those words were written at least 30 times either exactly like that or close enough too. There were a few other things like this. She seemed to forget she'd already written down that something had happened, because it would be mentioned again like the reader had no knowledge of it.
Although Anna says at the end of the book that she didn't write much about her brother because it feels wrong to try to tell his story for him, I still would have liked to know more about his role in her life. What things did he say to her about their mother? What things did they talk about at all? This seems like an important part in Anna getting to the end of her story and showing how she's grown, and she always wrote how he was there for her and is her best friend, but there isn't any evidence of that.
So, although devastating and eye opening in some ways, this hasn't had the effect on me it could have.
I think it's wonderful that Anna Lowe wrote down her story and has shared it with people, but it was so poorly written. It would have been much more powerful if it hadn't been for that. The most annoying thing was the constant repetition, like "Despite everything, I loved my mother." I'm sure those words were written at least 30 times either exactly like that or close enough too. There were a few other things like this. She seemed to forget she'd already written down that something had happened, because it would be mentioned again like the reader had no knowledge of it.
Although Anna says at the end of the book that she didn't write much about her brother because it feels wrong to try to tell his story for him, I still would have liked to know more about his role in her life. What things did he say to her about their mother? What things did they talk about at all? This seems like an important part in Anna getting to the end of her story and showing how she's grown, and she always wrote how he was there for her and is her best friend, but there isn't any evidence of that.
So, although devastating and eye opening in some ways, this hasn't had the effect on me it could have.
January 7, 2012
Heartbreaking, disturbing story about a girl raised by a useless, piece of trash, alcoholic mother. Although, I blame. Anne's mother's parents for how Anne's mother turned out (by resenting her for her brother's death and thus not loving her as they did their other children) illt doesn't give her cause to be the horrible mother she was to Anne...not to that extent.
Imagine a women with two children loving alcohol more than her children, running off at any moment to drink at the pub, and sleep with any man that'd have her. Then imagine her taking her kids from their grandparents who love them and took care of them in order to move in with a 50 year old pedophile and even after witnessing a few events, chooses to ignore it. Abused and degraded by both her mother and father, Anne was still able to find her way out of the darkness when she had her own child.
This was a horrible story...not in it being a book, but in the author's experiences especially with her parents and her mother's pedophile ex boyfriend. I don't know how she could ever forgive or love her mother after a lifetime of misery and humiliation but I'm glad she made something good out of the life she started with.
Imagine a women with two children loving alcohol more than her children, running off at any moment to drink at the pub, and sleep with any man that'd have her. Then imagine her taking her kids from their grandparents who love them and took care of them in order to move in with a 50 year old pedophile and even after witnessing a few events, chooses to ignore it. Abused and degraded by both her mother and father, Anne was still able to find her way out of the darkness when she had her own child.
This was a horrible story...not in it being a book, but in the author's experiences especially with her parents and her mother's pedophile ex boyfriend. I don't know how she could ever forgive or love her mother after a lifetime of misery and humiliation but I'm glad she made something good out of the life she started with.
March 23, 2014
Very, very sad story. How Anna managed to survive is a miracle in itself!! The book is full of contradictions though, she really runs her mother down & then in the next breath says how much she loves her! And if her Aunties & Uncles cared about her as much as she says they do, surely they would have stepped in & did something to help. I can understand her pain though & I do understand that 40 + years ago child abuse was something that was not discussed. She was a very brave woman to put it all down on paper.
May 8, 2012
As I read this book it struck me just how similar my own childhood had been. There were some very similar incidents and whilst I cried during and after reading it... the book has had such an impact that a few weeks after completing it I am still thinking about things which happened...
... I have since started outline my own experience which is cathartic and though provoking not solely a thought reminder.
... I have since started outline my own experience which is cathartic and though provoking not solely a thought reminder.
June 10, 2012
this is a very sad sorry of a little girl that grew up with a mum that was drunk all the time, Abused by mum boyfriend and her dad did not want her, the love she had for her grandparents and her mum family, Anna had a very hard childhood with her mum but Anna kept the house clean and did the washing, she was told not to tell what mum and the boyfriend was doing and she got a bad name where she lived, it is a must read and it is Anna 1st book
September 8, 2014
The book was very inspiring in that she came through such a terrible ordeal.
I can't say I *enjoyed* this book as its the wrong word to choose, it showed an insight to this type of problem and abuse, gives hope that a person can survive it, it also brings out the fact of how to spot this type of thing if you are a teacher, social worker etc.
The only bad thing I can say is, its poorly written and hard going at times to get the full picture
I can't say I *enjoyed* this book as its the wrong word to choose, it showed an insight to this type of problem and abuse, gives hope that a person can survive it, it also brings out the fact of how to spot this type of thing if you are a teacher, social worker etc.
The only bad thing I can say is, its poorly written and hard going at times to get the full picture
April 2, 2014
A truly heart breaking story that is also inspirational to anyone else finding themselves in a similar situation. It kept me hooked as I wanted to find out if Anna did manage to turn her life around and better herself. As far as the way it was written goes I have read better but also read worse. If she were to go on to write anything else I would probably read it.
February 25, 2018
How very sad, but I'm so glad that you survived that awful journey,and I hope you have assured all the abused children out there that suffered as you did that there is a life and an happy one at that
Well written,but very sad,I was bought to tears on many a chapter,but so happy that you are happy,and an amazing family
Well written,but very sad,I was bought to tears on many a chapter,but so happy that you are happy,and an amazing family
February 2, 2018
I can see that Anna Lowe had a terrible childhood but, rather than making me empathise with what was obviously a painful and horrific experience, the terrible writing and wonky chronology just left me frustrated.
September 4, 2018
Brilliant book
This story is close to home for me. It is very sad that children are too afraid to talk to adults. This is a great story well put together. Well worth a read . Thank you for sharing with us xring
This story is close to home for me. It is very sad that children are too afraid to talk to adults. This is a great story well put together. Well worth a read . Thank you for sharing with us xring
December 16, 2011
i think its a sad at times reading but thruthful more abused people need to speak out i say congrats to the author and from 1 abused person 2 another i admire the bravory
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February 18, 2013A hearbreaking story of Anna who suffered terribly but who was so strong and courageous
September 27, 2013
I can't believe that I read this muchless that I sort of enjoyed it. These child abuse books are the worst.
November 21, 2013
Not a bad story but poorly written and a lot of things said multiple times
September 24, 2017
Sad and Inspiring!
I have to wonder how you got through this abuse. Your grandmother loved you dearly. She would be so proud!
I have to wonder how you got through this abuse. Your grandmother loved you dearly. She would be so proud!
November 2, 2017
Brilliant
This book shows the courage a women had to fight for a better life. Really enjoyed reading of how she took control to make her children life a better one
This book shows the courage a women had to fight for a better life. Really enjoyed reading of how she took control to make her children life a better one
December 16, 2017
such a heartbreaking story, i read this from beginning to end and loved it
September 27, 2024
A heart breaking read Anna and her brother. Chris went through an awful lot and no child should have to go through what Anna and her brother did
Anna's mum is an alcoholic who was constantly getting drunk and brimg people home with her.when Anna's mum said they were moving in with her boyfriend Carl things took a nasty turn.Carl was sexually abusing Anna and physically abusing her too .He also is an alcoholic who then stumbled up to the bedroom and started abusing Anna.her mum moved on from one man to another.this book has broken my heart for what they went through.nade me cry realising how awful Anna's child hood was
Anna's mum is an alcoholic who was constantly getting drunk and brimg people home with her.when Anna's mum said they were moving in with her boyfriend Carl things took a nasty turn.Carl was sexually abusing Anna and physically abusing her too .He also is an alcoholic who then stumbled up to the bedroom and started abusing Anna.her mum moved on from one man to another.this book has broken my heart for what they went through.nade me cry realising how awful Anna's child hood was
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 6, 2025
I honestly couldn't even finish this book... I do feel for Anna's childhood trauma, and she gets her point across well. But I felt a constant deja vu, thinking to myself "I swear I've just read that" but in fact, Anna had simply repeated herself. The general story arc was great but I feel it was just poorly written.
October 8, 2019
Amazing
This book is so hard to read but so much inspiration too. Readding of someone who has gone through unimaginable things all her childhood to coming out to be a successful lady and mother
This book is so hard to read but so much inspiration too. Readding of someone who has gone through unimaginable things all her childhood to coming out to be a successful lady and mother
January 17, 2025
It's heartbreaking what Anna went through and her brother Chris. I felt so sorry for them, they didn't really have a childhood especially Anna with being abused by her mum's boyfriend Carl.
I'm glad that Anna came out fighting and has managed to turn her life around.
I'm glad that Anna came out fighting and has managed to turn her life around.
January 6, 2020
Most heartbreaking story I have ever read. Would highly recommend if you enjoy true life stories
March 12, 2021
What an incredible lady, to go through so much from such a young age, take on so much responsibility and then achieve so much to be proud of ❤️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 24, 2022
Important story and an incredible moral- creating a good life for yourself and your children despite trauma. I did, however, find the writing style a little monotonous.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews