A Stolen Life

 Title: A Stolen Life

Author: Jaycee Dugard

Genre: Memoir

Blurb:

Jaycee Dugard was eleven years old when she was abducted on her way to school. Her life was changed drastically and forever from that day forward. She was held captive in a secret backyard by a known sex-offender and his wife for eighteen years. Dugard had two children in captivity, and shares how scary and confusing a situation it really was.

My Review:

It is very easy to see the negative parts of life, but amazingly Dugard's memoir is full of hope.  Even when she was first taken, and trying to make sense of what was happening she had hope that her life would be normal again some day.  She continued to love her family, the animals she was allowed to care for, and eventually her children.  Dugard was conditioned to protect her abductors when the authorities were involved, and through her story I began to understand Stockholm Syndrome (not that anyone except those who went through these terrible situations, can truly understand). She has taken her experience, and used it positively to create safe environments for others that have been through traumatic experiences. I find her perseverance and continuous hope to be inspiring.  

It is fairly graphic, and the writing style is sometimes difficult (but remember to take into account she only was only formally educated up to a third grade level).

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐/5