Nowhere to Run

by Judy Westwater

How can you forget your past when it keeps coming back to haunt you? Judy Westwater, the Sunday Times bestselling author of Street Kid, was determined to turn her back on her cruel and violent childhood. She didn't stand a chance. All too soon hope turned to fear and she knew she'd have to run again. Judy was only 11 years old when she was forced to live on the streets. Beaten, half-starved and horrifically abused, she finally escaped to a life in the circus and fell in love with one of the circus hands. But the charming man who seemed so perfect had a dark and sinister side. If she wanted to survive she had to get away. Judy fled to South Africa, taking with her her two young children. But the streets of South Africa were just as cruel. One day a man took her five-year-old daughter and her violent past was replayed in front of her eyes. Judy's incredible story of courage and determination will inspire as it will amaze.

Genres: Nonfiction, Abuse

280 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent follow up book to her first book, I would read more from this author for sure.

Three stars.

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

Wow...I'm not sure I'm even going to be able to properly portray this book correctly. My head is still swimming.
(A side note real fast- with all the fake "memoirs" coming out I've decided to handle this a certain way. Unless I have some kind of proof that a book I'm reading, have read, or will read, if a fake, I'm taking it at face value. I have to. I love reading non-fiction far too much to stop so this is just what I have to do.)
This woman has to be one of the most courageous women in the entire world. While I was reading this book I kept thinking that no one could have made this stuff up. Just the relocating around the world is something me and a lot of others would be too scared to do. I couldn't pick up and move a state away on a whim, much less halfway across the world with four kids. She did this numerous times.
Westwater went through two bad marriages during the course of her life and finally, she finally finds happiness with a man and it's all taken away from her suddenly.
I'm getting ahead of myself here. The majority of the book is spent detailing before her last marriage. This is a woman who has been a stunt rider in a circus show, who has had to make soup out of almost nothing and make it last for days, who has pretty much done just about everything.
Her family was stalked in South Africa (where she grew up on the streets) after her very young child testified in court against the maintenance man for their building. The judge decided that because of the childs age her testimony couldn't be trusted and let them man go. Immediately Westwater was dealing with break-ins, dead animals, etc.
I can't say enough about this book. I'd recommend it to anyone who reads abuse memoirs, anyone who likes inspirational stories without the relgion factor, and damn near any plain old memoir lover.

[Jenni Boyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ll admit I had never heard of Judy Westwater. I picked up this book because the cover drew my attention. I then made the decision to do something I had never done before. To read a book purely by the cover without looking at the back cover blurb. I know this might sound strange but I wanted to read a book knowing very little about it.

I’ll be honest and say when I got about a quarter of the way through the book I found it depressing, but being a person who has to finish a book once I’ve started, I pushed forward. As I read through the pages I began to wonder if it was a true story, as it dawned on me the author’s words were raw, as if she was baring her soul.

So I decided to look at the back cover. ‘A gripping true story of tragedy and redemption.’

I'm not going to say much more about the book, as I feel it is a journey you should discover for yourself. I will say simply, Nowhere To Run is about the amazing strength and courage of a selfless woman.

[Reading_with_Jett · Rating 4 out of 5]

WOW! what a story. Judy's story was compelling from the very start. It was an inspiring story that had me gasping in fear, shocked, crying and laughing. It's safe to say that this book was a crazy roller coaster ride, where Judy goes through so much hardship but doesn't allow it to harden her, but shapes her into becoming a beautiful mother, wife & an inspiration. I knew this was going to be a confronting story but never expected this. A lot of things happen to Judy & I still can't stop thinking about the ending.

I absolutely loved this story.

[mois reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Judy

Judy is an inspiration to cope with what she had too she has come through the other side and is now helping young people like herself well worth 5 STARS.

[Cindy Vine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This autobiography by Judy Westwater was inspirational. She suffered the worst kind of abuse imaginable, struggled for a good part of her life but never gave up. She looked for the positives, made many plans and rose up out of the dung pile time and time again. It was fantastic that she eventually did get to experience love and yet even that was snatched from her. Despite her many trials and struggles, when Judy got some money she didn't think of herself or bettering her life, but immediately thought about what she could do with the money to help others. Judy Westwater is an amazing woman and her story is definitely worth reading.
It is interesting that she had a pattern of bad relationships in her life, and as I said in my book Fear, Phobias and Frozen Feet, the only way to break that cycle of bad relationships is to change you and find yourself first. That's exactly what Judy did.

[Louise Lam cheung · Rating 5 out of 5]

Half sad and half happy

[Angela Sandford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Street Kid Fights On, is the true story of Judy Westwater, it follows on from Street Kid ( which I’ve not read ) It briefly tells the horrific story of Judy, who was mentally and physically abused by her father, step mother, and mother in South Africa, but mainly focuses on her time as a teenager in the U.K. working in a circus and marrying a motorbike stuntman who also viciously assaulted her during their marriage.
Judy remarried a further time and all in all had four independent and confident children, before marrying John from Scotland. He died four years later and she then went on to set up a charity for children living on the streets in South Africa.

Judy is an incredibly brave lady, who has lived through some harrowing experiences, but always looks for the positives. A truly admiral person.

5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Yeshel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've read this when I was 3rd year highschool. This is the first book which really moved me in many ways possible. I could never imagine falling inlove to someone you thought was everything good but turns out in your wedding day to be a demon. Even in very dark circumstances, the heroine never gave up in her life.

[Rebecca Fowkes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading Street Kid Fights On, I had a few tears in my eyes towards the end of the book when we find out about John.

I was going to read Nowhere to Run by Judy Westwater next but it's the same book as Street Kid Fights On, don't know why.
Brilliant book though and so is the first one, Street Kid.

[Jane Long · Rating 4 out of 5]

Didn't realise when I started this that it was a true story. OMG what a woman! What she went through, put up with and suffered doesn't bear thinking about. But what she achieved in the end was amazing. Good on her.

[Sinead McElhone · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book takes you through the next stages of Judy’s life: men, children and education. I truly believed that after running off to the circus at the end of her first memoir, that her life would improve. A true inspiration!

[Hulda Rós · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holds your attention on every page, hard to put down, just like her first book.

[Maureen Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

exceptional foray into the wilds

[Mialuckyy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Won't reread

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read, wonderful courage from this lady,

[Shweta Grewal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome story, hard to believe its based on a real person. A living embodiment of love and selflessness. If anyone thinks their life is full of problems, please read this book. It'll change your definition of problems. Made me wonder how one human can take so much pain and not break.

[JoJo Kirkman · Rating 3 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Judy is an amazing woman. She has been through so much in her life, and she turned out a wonderful loving and caring person, and mother. I really felt for Judy, her childhood was full of abuse, then she had 2 disastrous relationships, 1 that was very abusive. And now she helps other people in need in South Africa.

One part of her story really stood out for me, and I felt so much respect for her. Judy was raped when she was a child. Then her own young child got raped at 5 years old (I think she was). She put her all and everything into being there for her kid, and getting justice. It was really heart-breaking to find out that after being put through court like an adult, and Jude being so brave, it was all for nothing. The guy was very obviously guilty, but the judge was not interested and let him off, no punishment at all! That made me so furious, and being a mother myself, I could only imagine what Judy was feeling/going through.

Another thing that touched me, and made me want to cry, is at the end of the book, she finally fell in love with and married a Scottish man. He seemed very caring and sweet. Judy's kids loved him too. It seemed like finally after everything, she was finally happy. It was so good to read, she deserved it. He ended up dying of cancer, and she was his full-time carer at home. It was so sad that she finally had something good and it was taken away from her. But she felt so blessed that she had those 4 years of marriage and happiness with him. Very touching.

This is a truly inspiring book, along with the first book of the duology - Street Kid - which is about what she went through in her childhood.

[Love · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had a hard time getting through the first few chapters.I was not sure I was going to stick it out. But I hung in there due to friend saying she had loved this one (Eva) and I got to say it was worth the struggle. The story covered so many years in such a short book. The thing that worries me about it being real sometimes is how much tradgedy can one person actually have? This poor woman abused as kid homeless ect, grows up gets abused again by her first husband. Then marries a guy who is still a child and won't take care of his children. Then if thats not bad enough she finally finds the right one and he dies?? But at least she ended her story on a very positive note! All I can say is it's a good thing she worked so hard to pull her life back up. She seems like a very giving person. The only thing I think of now is I should have read Street Kid first! I did not put two and two together until about halfway through...That tells you I raed to many of these type books.

[Jeminie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned, that life is all about challenges and if you want to solve it, used it with your bare hands.., i also learned not to give up so easily..keep fighting until you succeed, learned more about HIM before marrying him. cause u never knew if he's bad like roger and max. or good like john. T.T really did make me cry! especially when john died.. it's really horrifying... cried for 10 minutes at night. lol ((:
btw.. i LOVE this!

[aLyAhS · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book, great story line.
It amazing how you think your problems is the biggest in the world and you take your life for granted and then you read this book and its like wow, my problems are nothing compared to other people living in this world.
Never Give Up!
Would recommend this book to anyone as it shows you how much other people go through in life and to appreciate life more!

[Precious Mae · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most courageous woman one will ever know.
A very inspiring life shared by the author. I never knew that I will love reading this since I am not into autobiographies. But this was worth it.. inspiring and moving.

Worth the read.

[Bookworm86 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished this. It is the second part of Judy life, after Street Kid
Excellent read, she had so many ups and downs, mainly downs and yet so much strength to continue
Great book and nice to read on from her life after the first book x

[Merryll · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book very uplifting towards the end.
Great to read that Judy has been able to fulfil her lifelong dreams, despite a torrid first 30 years of life.

[Nicole Sandford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heartbreaking wish they can finally catch a break. A book for adults.

[Serap · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly heartwrenching! And Judy triumphed in the end!

[Daisy Pollitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not quite as good as street kid but still a heart wrenching story.