Abandoned: The true story of a little girl who didn’t belong

by Anya Peters

Separated from her real mother at birth, Anya grew up in terror of her drunken bullying uncle. Beaten, humiliated and sexually abused by him from the age of six, she thought her life couldn't get worse. But one day it did.


"I was used to Daddy screaming 'whore's child' at me, over and over again. But I couldn't get used to what he made me do."


Anya was too terrified to tell anybody about what her uncle did to her. But then he got careless and started abusing her in front of the other children. When her brothers started calling her a 'whore', Anya cracked and all her terrible secrets came pouring out.


Anya had always coped because there was one woman who loved her deeply, her 'Mummy'. But this time love was not enough. One morning 'Mummy' just left.


Determined to make a new life, Anya buried her feelings and tried to move on. But when she ended up homeless, living in her car, she knew she had to face her past if she was ever going to find happiness and security again.


Top 10 Sunday Times Bestseller, Abandoned is Anya's inspirational story of her fight to find love, acceptance and a place to belong.

Genres: Nonfiction, Abuse, Memoir, Autobiography, Biography, True Story, True Crime

352 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2007

Reviews

[Vibina Venugopal · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading this book I kept telling myself how lucky I was to be surrounded with all love and care of family..Being pampered with the warmth of mom and dad...To read horrible tales of fiction never bothers me for a very long time as I know that may not have happened to real people, but reading a memoir like this is a stressing affair as I have a habbit of immersing myself completely into a book, I get attached to the characters very easily and a book like this gets me into a saddening mode..Glad that I read it completely to make me see the good parts of book..Anya was brought up by her mother's elder sister, she called her 'mummy' and she believed that to be true but her 'daddy' figure was just the wrong person,..He was always drunk abusive and she was physically and mentally tormented at the age of six..All these were a part of family secrets under wrap sealed completely..She endured all this hoping that her mummy would always be there loving her all through...But her uncle started abusing her in front of other children and her supposedly siblings start calling her whore.. At the tender age of eleven she breaks up giving away all her agony into public... Uncle is arrested and taken away, predictably her mummy takes him back...Kathy (her biological mom) and her friend Brendan (who happens to be her father) she is put in a boarding school to get on with a new life..But Anya longs for her mummy, and gets back, her mummy abandons out of guilt and she has none now , with no job, hopeless relationship she has no where to go ending up living in a car...This is the part where my spirit started to sore when Anya decides to fight back , she does odd jobs in hospital, visiting library to get internet access for sending job applications, finally she stumbles upon the world of blogging naming her blog wanderingscribe....It takes ages to admit that she is homeless and put all these things into words yet she finds courage to go ahead..Luckily she finds solace and encouragements through unknown people..Being anonymous adds up her morale to pour in all her troubles...With the help Ian Urbina a journalist of The New york Times , her blog gets international attention...She then slides onto writing a book , Abandoned ..Isn't this an inspirational tale of a girl who faced all the tribulation to end up into a stable life again with hopes..She also hopes that her Mummy and Kathy might also find a place in her life, she also plans to open up herself to Brendan..Inspite of describing all her tormenting childhood she quickly points out that this book is not about cornering anyone but to find courage inspite of odds...
Anya's writing is flawless though bit repetitive as she describes her time living in a car , anyone can call me partial for not complaining about it.....I only wish that people think before taking any hasty decisions especially when it involves a child..

[Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a heartbreaking story! Sad, disturbing, heart-wrenching but sadly, this girl's life. She is a flash of light for alot of people.

From back cover:

"I was used to Daddy screaming "whore's child" at me, over and over again. But I couldn't get used to the shame I felt afterwards.

Little Anya grew up in terror of the man she knew as 'daddy' - her drunken, bullying uncle who sexually abused her from the age of six. The only person she could trust was the woman she called 'Mummy'.

When Anya's uncle got careless and he began abusing her in front of the other children, Anya cracked. All her terrible secrets came pouring out. Then one day the only woman who loved her - her 'Mummy' - left. After years of trying to overcome her childhood pain, Anya ended up homeless and living in her car on the streets of London.

ABANDONED is Anya's harrowing account of her ruined childhood and the inspirational story of how she painfully began to piece her life back together."

[Silversnow · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was unable to sleep for several nights after reading this heart wrenching book.
The fact that it was not a story at all but the reality of the author's life,compelled me to read Anya's blog (wanderingscribe is her username).

I was forced to think about little children who suffer like she did. They are just children and the worse part is that people who do such crimes, do not suffer even the 10% of what they made victims go through.
:(


Edit-
After reading such accounts you realize that the life is truly unfair.There are so many children that are abused on a daily basis and we cant't do anything.
Child abuse is a really sensitive issue and I feel it should be handled very carefully.
Its been 2 years since I read this book, but whenever I see the cover,I remember the story and instantly feel depressed.
I don't have the courage to read something like this again.

Anya is a remarkable woman.I am happy that she is doing well in life!

[IceJewel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I usually don’t prefer reading any non-fictions. But, the synopsis of this book just got me into reading this one!
I admit..! I almost skipped the first half of the book..!! ‘Anya peters’ was sexually abused by her uncle when she was only a child. The abuse scenes are so descriptive in this book that I just couldn’t get into reading them! Reading about what happened to her just made me cringe many a times! The second half of the book talks about her homelessness as an adult and how she tries to piece her life back together.Apart from this, the book is also about survival and courage! Its truly a wonder that a child survived through all this!
Its such a heartbreaking book, that I just don't know what more I should write about it.


‘Anya Peters‘ is an amazing writer and I truly hope she writes a fiction book in future!

[Kayla (kaylareads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s been a little while since I’ve picked up a childhood abuse genre and it’s my first review of this kind. How do you even review this?
Well I’ll start by saying what a strong lady anya is. It must take a lot to endure what she has and then to go on to document it in a book. I’ve read plenty of abuse books and whilst this isn’t the most graphic and shocking that I’ve read, her pain still cuts into you. It was well written and her sadness and wanting to belong grabs you from its pages. Anya is nothing but an inspiration. There’s nothing more I can say about this other than I wish her the happiest in life.

[Ashleigh Sapphire · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book because Anya Peters wrote the story in such a way that made me want to keep reading, and I could picture what was happening in my head. She used interesting words and phrases that were interesting and worked with the plot. I like the way the scenes have been described, because it makes the reader think, “I know what’s going to happen next,” but then something changes so that the story has taken a whole new perspective. I love the way the story draws out raw emotion from the reader; it made you cry when Anya did, made you laugh when she did. It is written in a way that makes you feel like she is sitting right next to you, whispering the words in your ear, telling you, in full and amazingly deep detail, exactly what happened in her life and her emotions through the struggles and good times.

This book is extremely heart wrenching, as just reading the first chapter I felt sorry for the children’s mother and Anya’s siblings, but mostly tears welled up in my eyes for Anya. She bears the grunt of her father’s anger and drinking issues, and is treated differently because she is the child of her mother’s sister. I empathise with her, as I know how it feels to feel like no one wants you around, feeling like you don’t belong, but only on a small scale. From this book I learned a lot how much I must appreciate life and never talk negative. How lucky I am and thank God every single day what a lovely upbringing I have had, and I now know what to treasure in life.

I am amazed at how she managed to wake up day after day, forcing herself not to die, to pull herself out of bed and carry on as best she could, disguising her problem. I was horrified at the level of abuse that her uncle forced upon her, when she was at such an early stage in her life, and disgusted by the way he talked about her, referring to her mother as a whore, and Anya as the ‘whore’s child’. What she went through broke down her trust and her confidence causing her to never have the ability to get close to anyone without fearing for her life.

"...This isn't a book about blame. Neither, aside from the abuse, is it about anyone doing anything wrong. It’s about people making mistakes and trying to make the best of the situation. It's about being human, about falling and picking yourself up again. "
I chose this quote by Anya Peters in the epilogue of the book because it shows that she doesn’t blame anyone for her troubled childhood, and that she knows that everyone makes some terrible mistakes in their life, and that the right thing to do is to forgive, but you have to try and accentuate your good parts. Not blaming anyone for what happened to her, in my opinion, shows extremely strong character and loyalty, which is amazing considering what horrid things she went through. I am not sure that I could have handled the situation as well as she did if I was in her situation. I have never been in a situation like this but I know what it feels like to have your world turned upside down.

[Amy Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

SPOILERS




Such a heartbreaking story that turns into something inspiring. I can’t believe her Mummy turned her back on her after her step dad sexual abused her! Even when she went back years later they still treated her like she was nothing! This book also shows that family can just be superficial. Anya’s real “dad” let her down because she was part of the affair & he wanted to save face & Katy cut of contact because she wanted to heal from the break up (Anya) never hears from her again! Which is disgusting. Eventually Anya ends up living in hotels in Brighton with what little money she has & what her father can send her with promise of some of his money he set up for when he dies this never shows up and he eventually stops sending her money all together! That’s when she lives in her car for several months in Brighton before moving to london camping out on streets before she finds a hospital she can get a shower in and into the canteen. Anya then feels she’s out stayed her welcome & moves on to a covered area has a few close calls (She has contacted charities but doesn’t want to give them her identity) after one day.

Anya discovers the word blog and makes one eventually after many months this picks up traction and she’s asked to eventually right this book, she gets a place of her own and seems content.

Overall I enjoyed this book Anya may have frustrated me occasionally but I still routed for her & glad she found a place in life & googled to find updates on her couldn’t find any but hope she is well.

[Brandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel like, with these types of books, especially if they’re written and explained so beautifully and in-depth like this one there is absolutely no reason it does not deserve 5 stars.
This was heart wrenching, this was eye opening on another level I haven’t even considered, and this was such a real *obviously* beautiful read.
I’m usually not a fan of non fiction writing, but this novel was written in such a beautiful way that it felt like a fiction story. Of course it isn’t, it’s an ever so real story of someone’s life. I have so much respect for them to have the feelings and open up about their past. God, I’m so thankful the title caught my eye and I decided to pick it up.
If you’re looking for a heart wrenchingly real story from start until finish, this is a book for you. I have read several biographies/ autobiographies and this is for sure my favourite for the way it’s told and the writing. It’s so beautiful, please pick this up.

[Lani Luatutu · Rating 4 out of 5]

So far, the book has dragged on a bit about how the threat of Anya being kicked out of home and how she was physically and sexually abused as a young child, has gone on a bit long. But it's a heart wrenching story and I think the way she describes the abuse is really an eye opener. My heart goes out to her, the poor thing must've been so desperate as a child, desperate to escape but desperate to be with her "mummy". Her story also makes me angry at how selfish adults can be and the choices that they make, when there is a child involved, how far they will go to risk their pride being affected. How their mistakes can cause a child a lifetime of suffering and pain. Although I am yet to finish, I'm finding it to be a very sad story but a good read.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are fiction books that we fall into and allow ourselves to dream are true - then there are non-fiction books that we really , really wish weren't true . Abandoned is one of those ;-(

How this child ever survived is beyond me . To overcome such ugliness and still be able to write ....
"...this isn't a book about blame . Neither , aside from the abuse , is it about anyone doing anything wrong .It's about people making mistakes and trying to make the best of the situation . It's about being human , about falling and picking yourself up again . "

So utterly amazing and such an inspiration !

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first half of Abandoned was…well, shocking and heartbreaking. I couldn’t believe how very cruel Anya’s uncle was being to her. And when the sexual abuse started, I had to put down the book several times to wipe away my tears. It was just too much. The last half of the story was just sad. It broke my heart that Anya would let her life slip out of control like that. I don’t agree that we should let the past impact on our future, especially since she had so many chances to live a successful life. Anyway, this is worth the read.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

An absolutely horrific tale about a little girl's life of abuse. Her aunt takes her in when her 'real' mum has her out of wedlock. But her partner subjects the little girl to horrific mental and physical abuse. He is arrested- but the mum takes him back.

A truly disturbing account of Anya's life- and her spell of homeless living around the country.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read alot of these kinds of books. People baring all of their difficult childhoods and how they became better people.

The one thing I enjoyed about Anya's style of writing was how at the beginning of the book I felt I was reading a child's story, and by the time I came to the end I felt I was reading a woman's story. You grow with her character as the story goes on.

[Selina]

I don't usually read these types of books but it was in the bookcase at work... it's much like any I've read before - I don't mean that to sound callous!

[Ceallaigh Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

It amazes me always how much one person can endure. The guilt of religion to force a woman to give up their child to then hide that child's existence is purely disgusting. The ability to overlook abuse happening in front of you until a line so dispicable is crossed to then turn your back on your family is revolting. The aftermath that a person may face after the abuse can be so life altering and yet social media be the answer to ones deepest wish, to belong.

[Jared C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read

[Sarah Jensen]

Anya Peters’ Abandoned is a harrowing yet uplifting memoir that chronicles her extraordinary journey from the depths of homelessness to the heights of love, acceptance, and personal empowerment. This powerful narrative not only sheds light on the often-ignored realities of homelessness but also delves into Anya's traumatic childhood, painting a comprehensive portrait of resilience against overwhelming odds.

At the heart of this memoir is Anya's gripping account of living in her car, a situation that many might find unimaginable. Yet, she approaches her experiences with an honesty that is both striking and deeply moving. Anya documents her life through an online diary, accessed via library and café internet, which serves as a vital outlet for her thoughts and emotions. This diary becomes a beacon of hope, allowing her to process her past and present while also connecting with an audience that grows steadily as her story unfolds.

Through her writing, Anya raises awareness about "hidden homelessness," a term that encapsulates the struggles of those who, like her, are often invisible to society. Her candid reflections reveal not just the physical challenges of living without stable housing, but also the emotional and psychological toll it takes. As readers, we are drawn into her world, feeling her pain, her longing for belonging, and her fight for acceptance. Her narrative acts as a powerful reminder that homelessness can happen to anyone and that it often hides beneath the surface of society.

Moreover, *Abandoned* does not shy away from discussing Anya's tumultuous childhood, which was marked by tremendous abuse. These experiences shaped her in profound ways, and Anya bravely confronts the shadows of her past in her writing. By weaving her childhood into her journey toward healing and self-discovery, she illustrates how deeply intertwined our past traumas can be with our present circumstances. Her resolve to break free from the cycles of abuse and neglect is a testament to her strength and determination.

What makes Anya's story particularly inspiring is her eventual emergence from homelessness. Her quest for love and acceptance is ultimately one of empowerment, as she learns to embrace her worth and reclaim her narrative. The transformation she undergoes resonates deeply, and her triumph serves as a beacon of hope for anyone struggling with their own battles.

In conclusion, Anya Peters’ Abandoned is an emotional and compelling memoir that not only chronicles her personal journey but also highlights the broader issues of homelessness and childhood trauma. Anya's ability to articulate her struggles and triumphs encourages readers to foster empathy and understanding for those in similar situations. This book is a must-read for anyone seeking inspiration, insight, and a deeper appreciation for the resilience of the human spirit. Anya’s voice is one of strength and courage, and her story will resonate long after the last page is turned.

[Patricia Naufal · Rating 4 out of 5]

abandoned is a very touching story about a girl, anya, who has lived with her aunt since birth. her mom was having an affair with a married man and got pregnant, she ended up having to give her child to her sister to take care of,since she didn't want people to know and reputation to be ruined, her sister which just had an illegitimate baby with a drunk man she claimed to love. this man would beat her and anya and started to sexually abuse her by the age of six, eventually she told her aunt, which she called her mummy,and her uncle got arrested, she went on to bording school, which her mom "kathy" and her mom's friend Brendan, payed for, during which, she found out that brendan was her father, she then decided that she didn't want to continue her education at the boarding school, and went back to live with her mummy who had gotten back together with anya's uncle, claiming that he had changed.after a while the anger started once again and anya left her old family. after a while her mother and father stopped loving each other and her mom hardly kept in touch, but her father kept sending her money. later on, she meets craig which she sees as a father figure, and becomes intimate wit, she later finds out that he is a 'nutjob' pretty much like her uncle and tries to get away from him unsuccesfully. in the end she manages to escape and somehow ends up living in her car. i would hate to spoil the end for people who want to read it, so i'll stop here. it's a true story by the way, and the writer is anya telling us about what she has been going through since birth. i really enjoyed this book and hope you will read it.

[Eva-Marie Nevarez · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an absolutely heartbreaking book. How Anya Peters overcame everything she was forced to go through I'll never know. I doubt I'd have been strong enough to deal with even a fraction.
Anya grew up with an uncle and aunt because her biological parents had an affair no one could ever find out about. Her aunt, who she called Mummy, was the only person- and I do mean the ONLY person- in her young life to show her any love. She dealt with every kind of abuse imaginable from her uncle and "brothers" and "sisters".
Peters finally was able to tell on her uncle when the abuse became sexual and he was arrested. Mummy took the uncle back eventually and Anya had already moved on by this time.
All of the abuse, coupled with not knowing who her father is for her entire childhood did an immense amount of damage. Peters had problem after problem after moving out of her Mummy's house after the sexual abuse. She was in abusive relationships, couldn't find work, was homeless, etc.
It takes a strong person to be able to honestly tell a life story like this and an even stronger one to live through it and overcome all the obstacles. Anya Peters is a woman to be admired

[Sabrina Rutter · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me a little time to get into Anya's memoir but after I read so far into it I was hooked.
After reading about her horrible childhood and then her time as a homeless person I would have liked more detail as to where she ended up and exactly how she ended up there. I beleive she will be writing a sequal to this memoir due to the abrupt ending in this book.
Overall it was a very good book and definantly pulls on the heart strings.

[Tyler]

this book is very touching it shows all the hurt and heartake that anya peters went through as a child. she gets abused by the uncle she thought loved her and a boyfriend she thought cared for her . she luckly got away from that lifesyle and now lives in a flat in blakcpool happily . this book showed me that i should be grateful for what i have

[Therese · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is disturbing on many levels, perhaps the biggest one being that the aunt allows the abuser to move back into the home with children still living there and the author asks to move back in as well. An absolute testament to the human spirit that people can survive this amount of abuse in all its varied forms and still become productive members of society.

[Carmen · Rating 5 out of 5]

From this book I learned a lot how much i must appreciate life and never talk negative. How lucky i am and thank God every single day what a lovely upbringing i had.Its a must to read this book.If in any way this book ends up reading it an abuser please stop and reflect how much these kids suffer, especially if you have kids of your own!!! Nobody would like their own kids to be abused.

[richwire · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really sad and awful the way this child was treated, primarily by her heinous uncle but really her entire family let her down. I found it a little difficult to keep track of all of the different people mentioned but maybe that's just me. I thought the last 1/3 of the book was a little repetitive and could have been edited a bit. Still an interesting read and one that I would recommend.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first half of the book was very hard to read, it made me feel sick in what some adults make children go through. By the end of the book i was pleased Anya was finally sorting her life out. I plan to visit her blog to see how she's getting on.

[Trupti Dorge · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about sexual abuse. And seriously, the abuse scenes are so descriptive and detailed that I felt myself cringe a number of times. Her story is very heartbreaking. Anya Peters is a really good writer though. I hope she tries her hand at writing fiction sometime.

[Jirinka (sony08) · Rating 4 out of 5]

8/10 - excellent book. I found that sometimes it slowed down a lot and repeated a lot of things, but can you actually critise misery memoir??? Anyway - inspiring story of a gilr abused by her uncle,not having any 'real'family, ending up homless and unloved and still making it!

[Don Ariff · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is a very depressing book - in a good way of course. Loved it although to me it doesn't give much of an impact to me. Although I have to to say that it was very well written but I just don't feel satisfied with the ending.

[Kelly Glenn]

I liked this book even though it was hard to read. The author had quite a life, very sad. I hope that she is doing well and it is unbelievable that people treat children this way. I only hope I am a resource for children who need help and need someone to listen to them.

[Chelsea Groves · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a okay book very disturbing though. I thought it dragged out the part of her sleeping in the car and dragged it out way to long. It got pretty shitty towards the end of the book . It wasn't the greatest . I dont think it would be a book i would pick up and read again .