Enslaved

by Emily Vaughn

THE SUNDAY TIMES TOP TEN BESTSELLER A heartbreaking memoir from a girl who escaped county line trafficking only to become prey to other abusers… Emily has always felt like an outsider, so when a family friend takes her under his wing she is delighted. But soon it becomes clear that his motives are not all they seem. At the age of 11, Emily is groomed into being a ‘county lines’ drug trafficker. It is the beginning of a vicious cycle that sees her become prey to one abuser after another, involving a huge child-sex-trafficking gang. The scale of the abuse – at the hands of hundreds of men – is sickening, and at times it feels like there will never be an escape. But then, in the darkest of moments, a ray of light shines … This is the moving true story of how one girl overcame her traumatic past and learned to love for the very first time. Emily Vaughn's book 'Enslaved' was a Sunday Times bestseller w/c 18-01-2021.

Genres: Biography, Audiobook

320 pages, Paperback

Published May 4, 2021

Reviews

[Erica⭐ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emily shares her story of her abuse and exploitation at the hands of many adults who treated her as little more than a commodity. You will learn so much from this read, Emily’s heartbreaking story shows how Child Sexual and Criminal Exploitation can happen to anyone’s child. An amazing lady who has come out the other side but not without the scares left by her horrific abuse, it’s a story of resilience, survival, of a child who experienced things no child should.

[Kelly (purplebookstand) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read a few books like this and they never fail to astound me as to how disgusting some humans can be, but also how resilient and strong others are. It goes without saying this book will have trigger warnings.
Emily’s memoir is both shocking and inspiring. At eleven years old, she should have been innocent, playing with friends and doing her homework. Instead she was groomed and trafficked; became dependent on drugs and abused by a torrent of ‘men’ day after day. Her story is one that needs to be told and all my respect to her for telling it. I hope that her story helps others who may be in this situation, gives them the confidence to try and stop the vicious circles their lives are spinning in. No child should have to experience the things that Emily did, and I hope that her speaking out helps others in a positive way. Thank you for sharing your story.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thankyou to Netgalley and HarperCollins UK, Nonfiction for the arc of Enslaved by Emily Vaughn

5 Star read- TRIGGER WARNING (THIS IS A TRUE STORY!)
this follows an 11 year old named Emily whom should be playing with her friends but is groomed and trafficked, she became dependant on drugs and abused by many men a day.. but every single day.. this should not happen to anyone.. but a child thats worst for the worst, a poor innocent child..

this was so emotional and heartbreaking and itll make you have tears in yours eyes like it did me..

5 stars⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Julie Haigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shocking story, well-told.

Emily is just 11 at the start of the book. How had she got herself tangled in this world?

Written simply, so it's easy, yet uncomfortable reading at times.

Such a shocking story with terrible things happening in her life so many times.

How people get mixed up in stuff, and it's inspiring reading about if and how they get out of that hellhole and rebuild their life.

And don't think she was adused or abandoned by her parents-they did everything they could time after time, they did care, but at the time, Emily just didn't appreciate it.

Unpredictable. A long road and many dramas. A rollercoaster life.

[Aysh · Rating 4 out of 5]

a lot of trigger warnings for this one.

This book was a shocking, harrowing tale of a young girl (aged 11) who is groomed into the world of drugs and child prostitution and so many other triggers. The book was incredibly moving, and shed light onto the difficult and dangerous situations that children in our own country are going through. As well as this, as a teacher in training, I was incredibly moved and it helped me understand potential signs I may find in students, and this amplified the importance of reading this book.

[BookswithChantal]

I don't like to give star ratings to non-fiction books, it somehow doesn't feel right.
There are so many different triggers in this book, so please be careful. The main ones include:
Abuse, sexual abuse, drugs, selfharm, suicide, rape.
But this book, Emily's story is just so heartbreaking and terrifying. A story of a child being used and abused in drug and sex trafficking.
Emily tells this story so well, it must have been a horrible experience to cast her mind back and write a book that is so detailed about what has happened to her as a poor defenceless child. I have nothing but love for Emily, I love that she has taken the time to get her story out there for others to understand what is happening out there in the world and for those that have also gone through situations like hers.
This book is truly terrifying, understanding what is out there in the world, or more importantly, who is out there.
I have nothing but respect for Emily telling her story, going through all of her trauma and still managing to make a life for herself.

[Miss Lord · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this in one sitting and as a headteacher I recommend anyone who is working with children especially pre to teens to give this a read. I have learnt a lot from this book and what to look out for amongst my students.

[Cheyenne Lacanlale · Rating 5 out of 5]

💛💛Book Review💛💛
5 stars for this book!
Enslaved by #emilyvaughn

🚧⚠️WARNING: Not for the faint of heart🚧⚠️
Trigger Warnings:
Drug use, trafficking of minors, sexual abuse, rape and more.
True story of an 11-year-old being groomed by her neighbor's stepdad for child trafficking, drug addiction and drug running. This sums the entire story, I am not confident to say anymore as Em explains her struggles. This biography is well-written, makes me cry, and me watch my daughter more closely.
I don't want to say any spoilers for the end, however, I read this book in one day and the end my mommy feelers came out!!! I swear it is always the people close to you or someone you never expect that turns out to be the enemy.


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[Jan Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

It never fails to disgust me how awful people can be. Emily was just a child! What she went through and endured is heartbreaking. She is such a brave and inspiring woman. If you like reading these kind of books then I recommend you read this one. Emily’s story will make you want to hold your children that bit tighter ♥️

Blurb..
A heartbreaking memoir from a girl who escaped county line trafficking only to become prey to other abusers…

Emily has always felt like an outsider, so when a family friend takes her under his wing she is delighted. But soon it becomes clear that his motives are not all they seem.

At the age of 11, Emily is groomed into being a ‘county lines’ drug trafficker. It is the beginning of a vicious cycle that sees her become prey to one abuser after another, involving a huge child-sex-trafficking gang.

The scale of the abuse – at the hands of hundreds of men – is sickening, and at times it feels like there will never be an escape. But then, in the darkest of moments, a ray of light shines …

This is the moving true story of how one girl overcame her traumatic past and learned to love for the very first time.

[Jen Mc Gibney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emily, 11, should be out playing with friends on the street and enjoying her childhood instead of been groomed and trafficked 😔

This is a true story of Emily's life and how she went down the wrong path in life, mixed with the wrong people and her life was not how any ones life should be, never mind a child! 😥

This book was very hard to read, it upset me so many times I had to keep putting it down and taking a break! I just couldnt wrap my head around the fact that it's real life! No matter how many times I read books like this I struggle to believe and accept that this happens in the world around us! 😭

This is such an honest, heartbreaking insight into Emily's life. Extremely brave for Emily to share her story. Emily hopes to help others with this book and give people in similar situations hope that there is a way out of that life ..💔

[debbie day · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hard and shocking read at times to know that these could go on under our noses, in plain sight and to our children just doesn’t bare thinking about. A inspirational story of a child who grows into a strong women and mother who overcomes the worst imaginable teenage years a child could have. I just hope that through Emily’s counselling and the work that she does raising awareness that she finds some piece because she definitely was in no way to blame for any of it, the girl who handed her off in the first place was no better than a pimp that was no friend. With friends like that who needs emeries. Well done Emily you really are a inspiration and your daughter when she reads the book will think so too big hugs xx

[Elke · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was very hard to read. It was raw and real and a lot of the time I felt such anger reading it. Why didn't anyone help her? Did Emily always make it easy for herself to be helped no but that's part of the trauma. Someone should have seen what was happening and actually do something to help instead of blaming the victim. I see this so often in day-to-day life. People not believing victims or just plain blaming them. It's disgusting. I'm not even talking about people who are family or friends but professionals who's job it is to help people. Instead of judging, try and see why someone is doing things.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always find reviewing books like this problematic because it doesn't seem right to say I "enjoyed" reading about horrendous child abuse and exploitation, yet I couldn't put this book down and I read it in a day. I think part of it is I knew Emily was a survivor before I even started reading the books (because she wrote it) and I needed to get through all the horrible stuff to get to the part where she turns her life around and breaks away from her old ways. The part (as a parent of a teenager) that saddens me the most it that her mum asked all the right questions but she said she "couldn't" tell her.

[ChineseWhitesBlacksAsiansTurks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a strong young woman, who has been through so much, at such a young age, by the hands of sicko's who really should have known better, but these types of people don't really care, they have no hearts 💕, I had the pleasure of meeting Emily and wish her all the luck, and future happiness for herself with her daughter, this book is a real credit to you, keep shining, smiling, staying strong 💪, and most importantly spreading the message and being heard, the one's who know should be hanging there heads in shame, and be in jail forever, they are more than likely doing the same pattern of behaviour with others right now,they are dirty, disgusting, filthy animals.xx

[Kaydi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to this one on audio. Very horrifying and sad read about the author and her ruined childhood. This book is so important to bring awareness to child sex trafficking and rape. It is absolutely astonishing how little we may actually know about people who live otherwise normal lives, but who could actually be either a perpetrator or a victim to these crimes. Human and child sex trafficking is more common than I think most people realize, and it isn't always children being kidnapped off the street. Sometimes, kids might just start to be groomed to trust the wrong adult. I recommend this one but do be very careful of the subject matter and trigger warnings.

[Lou the bookaddict · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is very emotional and very well wrote. It follows the life of a young girl Emily, who was only eleven when she was used as a drug mule by her next door neighbour. I didn’t feel like I was reading it it more felt like I was there watching all the events as they happened. It had a lot of trigger points through out the book, but it ended in such a beautiful way. There needs to be a second part to this book that shows how lily gets on in life and how she’s takes to hearing about her mums past. 100% Would recommend to everyone.

[Jules · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up this book at my local Tesco’s and I’m so glad I did. I read this in one night and really could not put it down and I felt like I had to stop and pause and process everything I had just read. Emily’s story is brutal, shocking and disturbing but a story that needs to be told. As a social worker in training I am to spot children at risk and I’m saddened that Emily’s abuse was never spotted and it also amplifies the hidden signs that are not always obvious. I recommended this book 5 stars from me. Well done emily

[Jayne Griffiths · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a powerful book. I, like so many others have 'done the training' to recognise the signs of this, but only through the voice of Emily, can you realise how well hidden this can be, the power of the abusers to impose the guilt and lack of worth onto the victims. Its heartbreaking that even though Emily has her 'happy ending' with the ongoing love and support of her family and her beautiful daughter, she is still plagued by her past in unimaginable ways.

Stay strong Emily, you are an amazing young lady who deserves every opportunity to be happy and respected and loved.

[Anna Barnard-Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely horrendous true story, really harrowing. It’s almost unbelievable that so much could happen to one child but of course I believe Emily and understand how big the network of traffickers and abusers is. Hearing in the last chapter how the police and authorities have continued to ignore Emily’s case was even more devastating and I really hope she keeps fighting for justice.

Major content warning for rape, child abuse, drug and alcohol addiction, miscarriage, self harm and suicide.

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

A true story based on Emily’s exploitation as a child. This was a truly heartbreaking and disturbing book to read. What she went through from the age of 11 up until adulthood is simply unimaginable and I will forever commend her bravery and courage for sharing her story with us and help raise awareness for child/drug trafficking and other sensitive subjects that aren’t talked about as much as they should be.

[Emma Fish · Rating 4 out of 5]

A harrowing true life story of a childhood stolen. This book provokes many emotions from sadness as to what this poor girl had to endure to anger at the behaviours from a large number despicable humans. The fact she was able to overcome and go onto to share her story with others is testament to her strength but there are a lot of vulnerable, young people who will not be able to say the same and that's heartbreaking. A good read but trigger warning advised ..

[Brian Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a retired social worker and this heart breaking story of a girl's journey through a trip through hades on earth is riveting..I've seen cases like hers before but that did not end up well.Kudos on the strength of this amazing, strong , spirited individual on overcoming overwhelming odds. Was a great read and it'll bring tears to your eyes.

Brian Murphy

[MissC · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in one day and could not bring myself to put it down as I needed to know what was going to happen to emily next and I can not comprehend the abuse suffered by this innocent child. How did nobody pick up on what was happening and how those who failed her can live with themselves. A truly heartbreaking account of a trafficked child within our own country. I hang my head in shame.

[Kathleen Bennett-Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me drawn in from the very beginning. It is a very harrowing read & I urge everyone to read it & it will make you realise the dangers out there.
I kept on wanting to reach in the book & make Emily get away from the bad men.
I am just glad that it ended on a good note & Emily is doing well for herself & her daughter

[Frannie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this last night and I could not put it down I felt if I stopped reading that Emily would stay in those bad places longer than she needed to and I wanted to save her by carrying on reading. A remarkable lady who’s not only brutally honest but holds a powerful presence that makes you want to nurture and care for her and even though I don’t know her I feel protective of her. Big love Emily ❤️

[Gretta Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredibly lucky to still be alive today, Emily tells the story of how her so-called older 'friend' Andrea sets her up to be raped and then how she was subsquently pimped out as a child for sex with teams of men. Emily is brave for telling her story. It's important for parents to be aware of the potential harm that children can endure through grooming.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Harrowing story, your heart really aches for Emily. I did feel like more info on her life was missing, would have loved to hear more about her life in-between events. Unfortunately listening to this on audio ruined it a bit for me. I didn't feel like the tone of voice reflected what was being said a lot of the time.

[Jennifer Maycock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliantly written. Was hooked from the first page and struggled to put it down! The way she makes you feel for her and then the emotion goes. It puts in tonpeedpective how often this is happening around us without us knowing. Very brave

[Somer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant and realistic memoir on the trials on trafficking in the UK.
It causes you to become desensitised to some of the topics which truly allows u to reflect on the countries policies and occurrences of the issues at hand.

[Tanya Boulter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Such a sad powerful story, thank you Emily for sharing it. Cannot believe that even in the 2000's people would be treated as this young girl was. Glad she could turn her life around and move on as best she could.