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Silent Child
Unlike people with carefree previous lives, I packed away my past. There are some memories labelled 'Look at', and others 'Leave well alone'...
Emily Smith was held in a prison of fear for ten years. When she was four, her father left and a new man was brought into her life. He loved her, he kept telling her so, but the emotional and physical abuse she suffered at his hands were a daily nightmare. Until one day, after he crept into her bedroom, her life became unbearable.
Emily found she was different in another way as her autism became more noticeable and punishments for her 'abnormal' behaviour more severe. Astonishingly, she managed to escape her home of hell, where she was abused right in front of her mother. Emily determinedly gained a university place and emerged triumphant with a new life and family in Ireland, desperate to treat her daughter, so similar to her, to a different life.
Heartbreakingly true, Silent Child is a testament to Emily's strength as she sheds light on rampant abuse still happening today. Powerful and shocking, sharing her story means she finally has a voice to say: enough.
Emily Smith was held in a prison of fear for ten years. When she was four, her father left and a new man was brought into her life. He loved her, he kept telling her so, but the emotional and physical abuse she suffered at his hands were a daily nightmare. Until one day, after he crept into her bedroom, her life became unbearable.
Emily found she was different in another way as her autism became more noticeable and punishments for her 'abnormal' behaviour more severe. Astonishingly, she managed to escape her home of hell, where she was abused right in front of her mother. Emily determinedly gained a university place and emerged triumphant with a new life and family in Ireland, desperate to treat her daughter, so similar to her, to a different life.
Heartbreakingly true, Silent Child is a testament to Emily's strength as she sheds light on rampant abuse still happening today. Powerful and shocking, sharing her story means she finally has a voice to say: enough.
262 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 6, 2020
115 people are currently reading
286 people want to read
About the author
Toni Maguire
43 books546 followers“Don’t tell Mummy”, my memoir of my own childhood abuse, became a UK best seller in 2007. Writing about my experiences was hard emotionally, but in retrospect it has helped me deal with my past and realize that there is no shame in being the victim. It is never the child’s fault, whatever the abuser makes them believe at the time. How can it be? I then wrote a sequel, “When Daddy Comes Home”, which deals with the mental trauma of having a father jailed for incest, return to a home where my mother welcomed him back as if nothing had happened and turned her back on me.
My success with my two autobiographies encouraged others who had kept their childhood secrets hidden to approach me and five books depicting their stories followed: Helpless, Nobody Came, Don’t You Love Your Daddy? Can’t Anyone Help Me? All very different, but with one thing in common; the victims all thought they were somehow to blame.
I hope that my books have helped expose and lift the social taboos of acknowledging physical and emotional abuse together mental illness. Whereas children are victims, adults need to be survivors. I not only used my own name in my books, but placed my photograph there as well, making my point that no shame should be attached to having been a victim.
To date I have published over 1.5 million books worldwide. In October last year France published Madeline’s story, “They Stole my Innocence,” which will be available in the UK in August. Before I wrote it, I had started writing my first novel; a mixture of fact and fiction which happily I have now finished, titled “Pretty Maids all in a Row” Set against the capricious, unequal and often cruel landscape of London’s Victorian era, it is the story of Agnes a fisherman’s daughter and Emily a heiress. One travels to London in search for her sister, the other is kidnapped, simply because she is was so beautiful. Both girls are taken to Mary Jefferies, the notorious brothel keeper whose clients were some of the most powerful men in England. Her sponsor was King Leopold, the cousin of Queen Victoria. Against this background the passionate men and women known as the Reformers were striving to get the age of consent. This is a major departure in the style of my writing and I think my previous fan-base and totally new readers of my work will find it enthralling.
My success with my two autobiographies encouraged others who had kept their childhood secrets hidden to approach me and five books depicting their stories followed: Helpless, Nobody Came, Don’t You Love Your Daddy? Can’t Anyone Help Me? All very different, but with one thing in common; the victims all thought they were somehow to blame.
I hope that my books have helped expose and lift the social taboos of acknowledging physical and emotional abuse together mental illness. Whereas children are victims, adults need to be survivors. I not only used my own name in my books, but placed my photograph there as well, making my point that no shame should be attached to having been a victim.
To date I have published over 1.5 million books worldwide. In October last year France published Madeline’s story, “They Stole my Innocence,” which will be available in the UK in August. Before I wrote it, I had started writing my first novel; a mixture of fact and fiction which happily I have now finished, titled “Pretty Maids all in a Row” Set against the capricious, unequal and often cruel landscape of London’s Victorian era, it is the story of Agnes a fisherman’s daughter and Emily a heiress. One travels to London in search for her sister, the other is kidnapped, simply because she is was so beautiful. Both girls are taken to Mary Jefferies, the notorious brothel keeper whose clients were some of the most powerful men in England. Her sponsor was King Leopold, the cousin of Queen Victoria. Against this background the passionate men and women known as the Reformers were striving to get the age of consent. This is a major departure in the style of my writing and I think my previous fan-base and totally new readers of my work will find it enthralling.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
October 2, 2021
Overall a good book, its told very well and you really get angry at what happened to the poor girl.
I only wish I knew what happened to that monster! Why didn't she go to the police? Is he rotting where he should be? Did she ever make up with Ben and the family? Are her brothers ok? I've alot of unanswered questions.
I only wish I knew what happened to that monster! Why didn't she go to the police? Is he rotting where he should be? Did she ever make up with Ben and the family? Are her brothers ok? I've alot of unanswered questions.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 7, 2022
I don't want to say I enjoyed this book as it feels wrong to enjoy a book about abuse. It was a very interesting read filled with all sorts of emotions. The writing style is different to most books I have read like this which made a nice change. I really felt like I understood the lady in the book and I wish I could reach in and rescue her from everything she went through. I thought the italic writing throughout the book confirming that this was not her fault but her abusers was not only powerful (as you can see her strength) but also important for anyone who is or has suffered abuse. My only criticism as that I want to know how everyone is now. Did she reconnect with her Aunts? Are the little brothers OK? Did the abusers get prosecuted?
October 5, 2022
Great reading
I enjoyed the way it talked though the trauma so that you could almost feel what she was going through. It saddened me deeply that this still goes on today, but maybe because of her bravery, just maybe others in the same predicament will be brave enough to get away from their abuser
I enjoyed the way it talked though the trauma so that you could almost feel what she was going through. It saddened me deeply that this still goes on today, but maybe because of her bravery, just maybe others in the same predicament will be brave enough to get away from their abuser
September 7, 2025
Omg such as good book I could not put it down
August 7, 2022
3.5 rounded up.
You don’t really get a solid ending with this book, in my opinion.
You don’t really get a solid ending with this book, in my opinion.
April 30, 2023
I have no idea how, but I thought it was a story about a non-verbal autistic child. I have a feeling I bought the wrong book 🤦🏽♀️
So it’s a true story of Emily alternating from past and present: past being of an autistic child being abused by her stepfather and present being of an autistic mother with two daughters, one being autistic.
It’s a heartbreaking story. So many times Emily had the opportunity to say something but didn’t. So many times others felt something wasn’t right but didn’t seem to push the issue. The abuse continued for years.
While there is an epilogue, it’s only about Emily. We don’t find out what happened to anyone else so it feels like an unfinished story.
So it’s a true story of Emily alternating from past and present: past being of an autistic child being abused by her stepfather and present being of an autistic mother with two daughters, one being autistic.
It’s a heartbreaking story. So many times Emily had the opportunity to say something but didn’t. So many times others felt something wasn’t right but didn’t seem to push the issue. The abuse continued for years.
While there is an epilogue, it’s only about Emily. We don’t find out what happened to anyone else so it feels like an unfinished story.
June 19, 2023
Harrowing
****Spoiler alert***
This book had me wanting to rush to the end to see how Emily escaped. I had hoped there would be details of what happened to the file stepfather, but felt saddened annoyed that it wasn't . The dreadful hold he had in Emily is terrifying. That she couldn't tell anyone ever is testament to the man's evil. He should be fitting in bell with any luck. I truly hope Emily will find her way back to her aunts and cousins.
****Spoiler alert***
This book had me wanting to rush to the end to see how Emily escaped. I had hoped there would be details of what happened to the file stepfather, but felt saddened annoyed that it wasn't . The dreadful hold he had in Emily is terrifying. That she couldn't tell anyone ever is testament to the man's evil. He should be fitting in bell with any luck. I truly hope Emily will find her way back to her aunts and cousins.
May 16, 2023
SPOILERS
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I'm at the painting and shower scene and I'm sorry, I just can't believe the mother is basically like "go on get!" to her 6 year old to get in the shower with a grown man. And that the grownups laughed as they recounted all the horrifying abuse. It's very far fetched. I know some mother's turn a blind eye, but this is too much! Ok, I'm off to finish the book now
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I'm at the painting and shower scene and I'm sorry, I just can't believe the mother is basically like "go on get!" to her 6 year old to get in the shower with a grown man. And that the grownups laughed as they recounted all the horrifying abuse. It's very far fetched. I know some mother's turn a blind eye, but this is too much! Ok, I'm off to finish the book now
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 3, 2023
Very sad and Emily is far braver than I could ever have been but it lost a star because I wasn't a fan of the writing style - she kept mentioning something and then would take us back so we could catch up to what she'd already told us and sometimes this took chapters for example knowing Carl had another key to her diary. I found it confusing in places. Sad read, unlikely to read it again.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 30, 2023
Amazing read very emotive
Loved this book even though it was hard to read due to personal reasons, but overall a book I couldn't put down. It's heart wrenching but inspiring at the same time.
Loved this book even though it was hard to read due to personal reasons, but overall a book I couldn't put down. It's heart wrenching but inspiring at the same time.
October 28, 2024
I read this book as I’m writing my own memoir. It’s terribly sad. I want to know if Emily’s mother is still alive and with him. Did she ever see her baby brothers again ?
Writing in French is genius.
Writing in French is genius.
October 18, 2020
Really well written but emotionally difficult to finish.
April 24, 2021
Great book, well written true story.
December 17, 2021
Sharon wants
Read
December 19, 2021Very pleased with the books I read on Goodreads always enjoy them
January 15, 2022
I didn’t enjoy this as much as her usually books still a good read very sad
February 27, 2022
Moving heartbreaking read
A beautifully written book about a truly inspirational woman ,who is a true survivor and deserves every happiness in life
A beautifully written book about a truly inspirational woman ,who is a true survivor and deserves every happiness in life
April 13, 2022
Each turn of the page I found myself wanting to fight for Emily, this desire kept me turning and turning those pages. Such an emotional story.
October 5, 2022
Such a sad story. Lots of trigger warnings and so upsetting. It wasn’t bad but it also wasn’t my cup of tea.
January 26, 2023
brilliant
Finished this book in 4 day. Brilliant,this lady is a true hero and survivor! Best book I read in a long time.
Finished this book in 4 day. Brilliant,this lady is a true hero and survivor! Best book I read in a long time.
March 12, 2023
Lovely book
Loved it all. Very moving. Very well written and once you start you cant stop reading. Look forward to reading a few more from this author
Loved it all. Very moving. Very well written and once you start you cant stop reading. Look forward to reading a few more from this author
April 25, 2023
a story of courage and determination
This story though horrific was well written and showed the way a young girl lived through constant abuse and eventually got her freedom.
This story though horrific was well written and showed the way a young girl lived through constant abuse and eventually got her freedom.
June 28, 2023
silent child
Wow what can I say! Couldnt put this book down, total respect to the author must have been difficult. However i hope it was cathartic too.
Wow what can I say! Couldnt put this book down, total respect to the author must have been difficult. However i hope it was cathartic too.
June 29, 2023
Love it
I loved reading silent child and would definitely recommend it to everyone .
Five star review from me,a truly brilliant book!!!
I loved reading silent child and would definitely recommend it to everyone .
Five star review from me,a truly brilliant book!!!
July 7, 2023
Heartbreaking
An easy read but it's so sad that any child would suffer like that. A home is where you should feel safe and loved.
An easy read but it's so sad that any child would suffer like that. A home is where you should feel safe and loved.
July 17, 2023
Incredibly powerful book on Emily’s survival though every type of abuse from her stepfather & mother. I’d have liked to have known if the stepfather went to prison for what he did.
August 25, 2023
This was another book that was hard to listen to. I cried many tears however just like another beautiful phoenix, she rose from those ashes. Proud of you love you deserve a wonderful life!
March 27, 2024
It is a devastating story that makes you feel so much. I don’t love the redaction and grammar but the story really got into me. Story 5/5. Writing 3/5.
August 21, 2022
Audiobook
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews