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The Little Princess: The shocking true story of a little girl imprisoned in her own home
Six-year-old Darby arrives on Casey’s doorstep terrified and hysterical. As Casey tries to soothe the little girl she realises that this is likely to be one of the most difficult placements she had ever had to deal with…
Casey is shocked to answer the door on a Sunday afternoon, the week before Christmas, to find John Fulshaw on her doorstep – unannounced and looking very serious. John explains why’s he’s come, and the Watsons sit and listen, shocked and sickened, as he describes the most recent child to appear under his radar.
Six year old Darby Sykes has been taken into care just a couple of hours back, as a result of a known paedophile getting in touch with the local police, having been so sickened by something he’s seen online. Even in his murky world, this was depravity above and beyond – he recognised the little girl as being one who lived on his estate.
Swift action has been taken – Darby has been removed from her home, and John believes that Casey and Mike are the best people to support this small terrified child while a long term plan of action is decided.
Casey is shocked to answer the door on a Sunday afternoon, the week before Christmas, to find John Fulshaw on her doorstep – unannounced and looking very serious. John explains why’s he’s come, and the Watsons sit and listen, shocked and sickened, as he describes the most recent child to appear under his radar.
Six year old Darby Sykes has been taken into care just a couple of hours back, as a result of a known paedophile getting in touch with the local police, having been so sickened by something he’s seen online. Even in his murky world, this was depravity above and beyond – he recognised the little girl as being one who lived on his estate.
Swift action has been taken – Darby has been removed from her home, and John believes that Casey and Mike are the best people to support this small terrified child while a long term plan of action is decided.
78 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 25, 2016
446 people are currently reading
846 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
April 17, 2019
Well written, but too short
Since she only stayed for a short time, maybe there wasn't much more to say, but the story felt very superficial and incomplete. Even a description of her first visit with the next family would have helped.
Since she only stayed for a short time, maybe there wasn't much more to say, but the story felt very superficial and incomplete. Even a description of her first visit with the next family would have helped.
July 22, 2021
To short and to incomplete, felt like there was so much missing and not much of a story.
September 6, 2023
Heel heftig dat dit biografische fictie is.
January 18, 2019
Horrific things done to a small child is tough to read.. Thank goodness for a chance at a new life.
June 10, 2019
Darby
This book had me feeling ashamed that a child of 6 had to go through all this abuse from her parents and other sickos at least with Casey she had a look at normal childhood and had the greatest gift of adoption with her forever family .
This book had me feeling ashamed that a child of 6 had to go through all this abuse from her parents and other sickos at least with Casey she had a look at normal childhood and had the greatest gift of adoption with her forever family .
February 3, 2017
Casey Watson is a writer like Cathy Glass, she writes about children in terrible situations at home and Casey is the foster carer who helps look after the children until they get adopted or go back home.
This story is about a little girl called Darby who is put into fostering due to some terrible things going on at home (I won't spoil it) and how the little girl deals with these issues. It sometimes can be quite disturbing but unfortunately, this is sometimes now the case with children and for me who works with children it's interesting to see how adults help the child deal with the issues.
It is a nice short, quick story which is easy to read.
It's not for everyone.
This story is about a little girl called Darby who is put into fostering due to some terrible things going on at home (I won't spoil it) and how the little girl deals with these issues. It sometimes can be quite disturbing but unfortunately, this is sometimes now the case with children and for me who works with children it's interesting to see how adults help the child deal with the issues.
It is a nice short, quick story which is easy to read.
It's not for everyone.
August 25, 2016
Shocking story.
August 16, 2018
This short story is set in the UK as the author lives there. The story is based on a case she had in the Child Protective Service. Casey and her husband are foster parents and it is Christmas so they are asked to take in a child who's were parents just arrested. The little girl was found by a report of a man who recognised her in a child porno he had been watching. The little girl is only six years old and her parents had groomed her to act in pronos and pose for pictures. The family takes her in so she has a place to stay. The Watson family is of a good size so Casey calls her daughter and asks her to bring over her young children so the girl will more involved as she wants her parents. The story continues with the efforts tg bring the child into a family situation. I found it quite interesting as it showed the different approach that the UK has with abused and abandoned children.
February 27, 2018
I love Casey Watson books. Though often sad they always have a positive element to them and it's nice to know that there are children out there, who have been through horrific circumstances circumstances but have found the love, support and people to help get them through and over the bad times.
I much prefer Casey's style of writing to Cathy glass. That woman does my head in with her prim and proper, hoity toity, star citizen, goody goody overbearing attitude. Casey is far more approachable and relatable. You can tell that she has the right balance in life in general. Even though I bet she feels like she rarely has!
She portrays the right amount of relexaed yet caring and structured persona these kids need at their most vulnerable times.
I think I would have been happy if I had been placed with Casey as a child.
I much prefer Casey's style of writing to Cathy glass. That woman does my head in with her prim and proper, hoity toity, star citizen, goody goody overbearing attitude. Casey is far more approachable and relatable. You can tell that she has the right balance in life in general. Even though I bet she feels like she rarely has!
She portrays the right amount of relexaed yet caring and structured persona these kids need at their most vulnerable times.
I think I would have been happy if I had been placed with Casey as a child.
May 28, 2020
I am in awe of foster carers and all they do for children, especially when the children are often abused physically and/or mentally. The most known stories are written by Cathy Glass, and I have read all of her books, however this short story by Casey Watson caught my eye.
It is a short story, one which was quick and easy to read, which reflected the time that the child was with the foster carer. Saying that, it took nothing away about the importance of this story being told. In the book, Casey often refers to not being able to un-know the horror, and as a reader, I absolutely wish I could un-know the vague details from this book.
All in all, a very poignant book, one which took around 4 hours to read and one that was eloquently written. I really recommend this book, but if you are an emotional reader, please be careful.
Take care everyone,
Steph 💚
It is a short story, one which was quick and easy to read, which reflected the time that the child was with the foster carer. Saying that, it took nothing away about the importance of this story being told. In the book, Casey often refers to not being able to un-know the horror, and as a reader, I absolutely wish I could un-know the vague details from this book.
All in all, a very poignant book, one which took around 4 hours to read and one that was eloquently written. I really recommend this book, but if you are an emotional reader, please be careful.
Take care everyone,
Steph 💚
July 8, 2020
Short but not sweet. As the extended Watson family prepare for Christmas a little girl with nowhere to go joins them. Casey and Mike welcome her warmly, only to slowly realize the depth of the sexual exploitation that the child has experience.
When the placement becomes a strain on the family, the child is just as quickly sent to a longer term placement. I felt as though there were several chapters missing. There was a short epilogue but I wanted to know how Darby fared. I guess I wanted to read that everything turned out well in the end for her. Poor little mite certainly didn't start off that way.
When the placement becomes a strain on the family, the child is just as quickly sent to a longer term placement. I felt as though there were several chapters missing. There was a short epilogue but I wanted to know how Darby fared. I guess I wanted to read that everything turned out well in the end for her. Poor little mite certainly didn't start off that way.
May 28, 2017
Very Moving
This is a very powerful testimony that resonated deeply with me. Darby was an extremely troubled child, who made your heart break for her and everything she had been through. The turmoil and angst of looking after Darby vs. Not at the detriment of your own family was one that you couldn't not understand and empathise with, as was the decision to shield them from as much of the ugliness in that 6 year old's background as possible. My only irritation was the Christmas diatribe, where Watson practically compared kids who grow up without Christmas to the abused.
This is a very powerful testimony that resonated deeply with me. Darby was an extremely troubled child, who made your heart break for her and everything she had been through. The turmoil and angst of looking after Darby vs. Not at the detriment of your own family was one that you couldn't not understand and empathise with, as was the decision to shield them from as much of the ugliness in that 6 year old's background as possible. My only irritation was the Christmas diatribe, where Watson practically compared kids who grow up without Christmas to the abused.
April 27, 2021
This book shows the emotional and mental stress of foster parents. The worries of being strong enough to deal with the heart wrenching realities of children of all ages. The world is full of cruel and sick people who don't deserve to have the blessing of a child. It's incredibly sad that an innocent child must suffer such horrific realities to the point of believing it is normal; however, as they grow older, the truth of all they have endured will send them into another dark ugly nightmare that they must once again fight to find the light.
March 30, 2019
A very sad shocking story of abuse that has happened to many young children. Fortunately this child was found and the story has a happy ending. Hopefully the child is young enough that she will be able to overcome her past abuse. I thought the story was too short. I would have liked for it to have been longer and more detailed. I didn't feel like the reader learned as much about the child or how she was around her new family.
March 10, 2021
Absolutely heartbreaking. I read this book for research not realizing it was about sexual abuse and is just disgusting what a child should have to go through and how warped it makes them. The author did not give much of an epilogue so we can only hope for the best but it just breaks one's heart to realize that there are so many children in this situation and how much worse now that covid is going on and there's literally no escape.
September 28, 2019
Great
What a god read I couldn't put it down was really into this story couldn't believe how things looked this really does happen so glad it had an happy ending will definitely read more from this writer cried all the way through would definitely recommend people to read this book
What a god read I couldn't put it down was really into this story couldn't believe how things looked this really does happen so glad it had an happy ending will definitely read more from this writer cried all the way through would definitely recommend people to read this book
January 1, 2021
This book was well written and displayed an extremely disturbing story line however this is what gripped me so much to it. Casey Watson portrayed the abuse she suffered in a powerful way. The reason for 4 stars is because the book felt too short. I was hoping for it to carry on however she was only there for a short time so couldn’t expect anything more I suppose! Either way still a great read.
May 2, 2018
Shocking story. What has the world become. A frightening tale of one so young.
unbelievable that someone so young can become a target for so many paedophiles, frightening story. Hopefully she will forget with time.
unbelievable that someone so young can become a target for so many paedophiles, frightening story. Hopefully she will forget with time.
May 4, 2018
What a truly horrific backstory this little girl had! Although she was only with Casey a few weeks, I’m sure she will forever be remembered by them. The family tries, and succeeds, to give her a happy Christmas until she moves to an adoptive placement.
July 10, 2018
Really good tearful read
Really enjoyed this book. Really emotional and it hit home that things like this do happen and thankfully there are kind living people out there willing to give the child the love they deserve
Really enjoyed this book. Really emotional and it hit home that things like this do happen and thankfully there are kind living people out there willing to give the child the love they deserve
August 8, 2019
It’s a short story of meeting a troubled girl I hate to call it a book
This really isn’t a book it’s more of just a short story of meeting a troubled girl and find me out a little bit about her past and that’s it.
This really isn’t a book it’s more of just a short story of meeting a troubled girl and find me out a little bit about her past and that’s it.
November 6, 2020
We need to know!
Apart from the content, it's a quick & gripping read. I will read more of her work! Normal family life with love and distraction, can turn abused children's lives around!
Apart from the content, it's a quick & gripping read. I will read more of her work! Normal family life with love and distraction, can turn abused children's lives around!
May 12, 2021
Heartbreaking
It's a really sad book that keeps you hooked till the end.
If your like me and cry at the smallest of things, then I would recommend you have a box of tissues next to you.
It's a really sad book that keeps you hooked till the end.
If your like me and cry at the smallest of things, then I would recommend you have a box of tissues next to you.
October 24, 2022
heartbreaking
Wow, this is truly a heartbreaking story about a little 6 year old girl called Darby who has been abused in the most horrific way by the people who are supposed to love and protect her.
Wow, this is truly a heartbreaking story about a little 6 year old girl called Darby who has been abused in the most horrific way by the people who are supposed to love and protect her.
December 8, 2017
Great
Great read made me cry but a happy ending thank god just glad there's good people about still worth reading
Great read made me cry but a happy ending thank god just glad there's good people about still worth reading
December 30, 2017
Gutted it was only a short story! It was still a good if not harrowing little read though.
January 2, 2019
Great short read.
Reading this book and knowing it was a true story made it quite difficult to read but it was beautifully written.
Reading this book and knowing it was a true story made it quite difficult to read but it was beautifully written.
July 3, 2019
Good read
The story was well written. I only wish I knew what happen in her future. What a great family that helped her when she was so confused
The story was well written. I only wish I knew what happen in her future. What a great family that helped her when she was so confused
September 28, 2019
Brilliant
I was hooked straight away. Couldn't stop reading until the end. Thank God for foster carers, Trying to keep children safe.
I was hooked straight away. Couldn't stop reading until the end. Thank God for foster carers, Trying to keep children safe.
January 19, 2020
3 stars
This was my first Casey Watson book and it was a short but sweet introduction.
It was well written. I'll definitely read more by this author in the future.
This was my first Casey Watson book and it was a short but sweet introduction.
It was well written. I'll definitely read more by this author in the future.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews