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Naked
'I'm not taking my clothes off.'
My words bounced off the walls of the empty changing room.
I was ten years old. I folded my arms tightly across my chest. I'd seen them outside. Naked
Mum tried a smile. 'Nobody minds here.'
But I minded. I'd never seen strangers naked before.
With a volatile father and an alcoholic mother, ten-year-old Jo was a desperately unhappy child.
Miserable at home and friendless at school, she didn't think life could get worse. But it did. Her father became obsessed with going to nudist camps, and they soon became a dreaded weekly fixture. Forced to show her bare body in front of total strangers, Jo suffered at the hands of men who were at the camps to prey on young, naked girls.
Men who were there to befriend, groom and sexually abuse.
Living in fear of her shameful family secret being exposed, Jo coped by rebelling both at home and at school. But it took the violent rape of a young camper for Jo to finally find the courage to disobey her powerful and controlling father - and break free.
My words bounced off the walls of the empty changing room.
I was ten years old. I folded my arms tightly across my chest. I'd seen them outside. Naked
Mum tried a smile. 'Nobody minds here.'
But I minded. I'd never seen strangers naked before.
With a volatile father and an alcoholic mother, ten-year-old Jo was a desperately unhappy child.
Miserable at home and friendless at school, she didn't think life could get worse. But it did. Her father became obsessed with going to nudist camps, and they soon became a dreaded weekly fixture. Forced to show her bare body in front of total strangers, Jo suffered at the hands of men who were at the camps to prey on young, naked girls.
Men who were there to befriend, groom and sexually abuse.
Living in fear of her shameful family secret being exposed, Jo coped by rebelling both at home and at school. But it took the violent rape of a young camper for Jo to finally find the courage to disobey her powerful and controlling father - and break free.
416 pages, Paperback
First published August 7, 2008
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105 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
August 11, 2023
This book is very sad and hard hitting but very well written.
Follows the story of a little girl brought up in a family of nudists who ignore and neglect the abuse she experiences!
This was a learning experience for me to find out that people actually live like that it’s terrifying.
Follows the story of a little girl brought up in a family of nudists who ignore and neglect the abuse she experiences!
This was a learning experience for me to find out that people actually live like that it’s terrifying.
November 8, 2017
Obviously I could never begin to fathom what this was like for the author, but it is so well written I felt like I was following her through her ordeals
June 12, 2019
i like the book.
December 5, 2023
Honestly this book raises awareness on internalized rage, and confusion, I'm so glad that my friend gave me this book, because I did relate to her, evennif it was just um pouco
February 1, 2026
Dreadful. The writing was poor and repetitive. Multiple spelling errors, and mis numbered chapters.
September 4, 2010
Imagine having a mostly normal life and then all of a sudden at the age of ten when your body is getting ready to go through the changes towards becoming an adult your forced to remove your clothes by the very parents who taught you to keep your skirt down.
Going through puberty is hard enough without having to share it with the world. Growing breasts, getting hair down below, and having your period are very emberassing things to deal with privately. Poor Jo didn't get the luxury of learning to accept these changes on her own like most of us do. I mean imagine some creepy guy knowing when your on your period as a child and commenting to you on it. I would have died from the shame of it!
Jo Hill has a wonderful way of expressing herself. I was pulled right into all of her emotions. I was so glad when she finally got angry! I really worried that her childhood was going to ruin her chances of becoming a successful adult, so I was relieved when she decided to take charge of her education.
I teach my children to be comfortable with their bodies, but there is a line that I believe should never be crossed! I never want to see my sons naked body while he is developing. I wouldn't want my daughter to be walking around in front of men, even the men in our home with no clothes on. It would make me feel sick inside if my family got naked together with a bunch of strangers!
Going through puberty is hard enough without having to share it with the world. Growing breasts, getting hair down below, and having your period are very emberassing things to deal with privately. Poor Jo didn't get the luxury of learning to accept these changes on her own like most of us do. I mean imagine some creepy guy knowing when your on your period as a child and commenting to you on it. I would have died from the shame of it!
Jo Hill has a wonderful way of expressing herself. I was pulled right into all of her emotions. I was so glad when she finally got angry! I really worried that her childhood was going to ruin her chances of becoming a successful adult, so I was relieved when she decided to take charge of her education.
I teach my children to be comfortable with their bodies, but there is a line that I believe should never be crossed! I never want to see my sons naked body while he is developing. I wouldn't want my daughter to be walking around in front of men, even the men in our home with no clothes on. It would make me feel sick inside if my family got naked together with a bunch of strangers!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 3, 2010
I think this was a very tough read for me..As I read it I felt violated for the writer. She was so abused in so many ways. Drunk mother who just went aong with whatever the father wanted , even if it put her child at risk. So then she drinks to cover up her own pain. Meanwhile her child is dying inside of shame and hurt. On another note....why would such places as these nudist places allow children to attend?? Who in their right mind brings their child to such a place?? Making them prey for sick minds..The last chapter really got me. How she said the childhood makes her scared to this day of men and being naked. Imagine that you as a parent could have this negative effect on your child until the end of their life...Sad! Really more of a RANT then a review..sorry :(
Loved her writing style made the book go so smooth..Never had to question what she was meaning or talking about.
Loved her writing style made the book go so smooth..Never had to question what she was meaning or talking about.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 31, 2016
I enjoyed this book but kind of found it a bit disappointing, I understand that Jo didn't know any better growing up and that she was scared but I was hoping that somewhere in the book she finally tells someone of her ordeal and what she went through growing up. Maybe if she told her mother, or talked to her about those issues then the situation with her mother may have been different.
I'm glad that she finally found happiness after everything that happened though.
I'm glad that she finally found happiness after everything that happened though.
May 2, 2011
i have a hard time trying to read book due to my dyslexcia, but i was unable to but this book down, even though it was a difficult topic - it was very interested and would recommend it to anyone who likes these kinds of books
November 3, 2008
Strange story of a family that like naturism, but the little girl did not and was abused at every turn by the seem of it.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews