Broken: The Most Shocking True Story of Abuse Ever Told Paperback – September 18, 2008

I found this story terribly disturbing. I also found I could not stop reading it until I had read the whole book in one session. As a man who finds this behavior appalling, I find myself wanting to apologize to and help anyone who was abused by a man. Anyone who treats a child(or an adult) in the way written in this book should be eliminated immediately - there is absolutely no place on this earth where this behavior is acceptable. I am a 54 year old male and I found myself with tears in my eyes often while reading this horrible story. It made me very upset and very sad. To think that this could happen to such an extent(or at all) is just incredible, and really terrible.I think that everyone should read this book - first, to put into perspective ones own life and second, to remind us that all of our actions have consequences. What I mean is this: I was not abused during my upbringing, and I have never abused anyone either. But what came to my mind is that I have certainly over looked events that I should have investigated or reported. None of these events were anything horrible as Shy went through, but they were events that may have had an adverse effect on someone. And I did nothing. I am sad and ashamed of myself now.I know I am a bit off topic here, this book was about child abuse, but I just wanted to say that reading this book has changed the way I look at events that happen in my every day life. I hope I will never again ignore any sign of a problem.

This book is a devastating first-person account of child abuse. No, not just abuse but almost the obliteration of a child by the people who should be protecting her the most - her parents - a mother and stepfather. And the system that should have helped protect her - from teachers to neighbors to relatives to police to Child Services - all helped the parents by turning a blind eye and sometimes worse.This woman - and her sister - went through some of the most horrific physical, emotional and sexual abuse I have ever heard or read about and survived. Shy Keenan, the author, went on to help expose and convict her abusers and is now a Chief Advocate, fighting for other children.This book is brutally graphic, gutwrenching. I cried, I cursed, I applauded. I thanked God that there were two couples that gave Keenan enough hope in her bleak world to persevere.NO child should EVER have to endure what Keenan did. I know.

This book is a eye opener to all those people that refuse to see the truth which is that even thought sexual abuse is not a topic that many people talk about it is a problem everywhere. You will find yourself going through a tornado of emotions when reading this book. It is some comfort to people that have gone through similar experiences to know that they are not alone and that they can move forward making there life a positive one. This book even talks about people in power turning a blind eye to such a serious issue. After reading this book you will realize that sexual abuse does not look at color nor social levels it can happen to anyone in any family so please don't think that this can't happen in your family. The author is a very courageous woman to make her story public may everyone that reads this book that has had similar experiences get the same courage as this author to speak out.

"Broken" by Karen "Shy" Keenan is an incredible read. What sets this memoir apart from others of this type of genre is the attention to the stages of recovery one goes through when recovering from abuse.Anyone who has experienced incest/sexual abuse as a child can relate to Keenan's story of surviving long past the actual abuse. Hers is a story of courage and of perseverance; and Keenan handles the telling of her story with the same strength she used to survive her childhood. One cannot help but feel empowered after reading how Keenan pulled through the hell of her childhood.Most memoirs are written to encourage, to teach and to inspire others who may be struggling with like situations, "Broken" does all of these. Keenan asks for no pity, sympathy or praise for overcoming her ordeal, but merely for readers, government agencies and all others to listen to and to protect children from predators of all kinds.

Truly horrifying. It's shocking to realize that this IS NOT FICTION. This woman's journey is heartbreaking, and the fact that she was able to turn it into a project to help other victims speaks to her strength.

I really give so much credit for how strong this author is. I can't even imagine how hard it must be to put your life story out there when it was so traumatic. From the first page of this book, I wanted to stop reading because it made me feel so sad for Shy Keenan. I continued to read, because I had to know how it all turned out!! This is a heart wrenching story of a young child who really was neglected by almost every adult that was in her life. This is a story that will open your eyes about what kind of monsters are out there and how society sometimes doesn't open there eyes to the truth! Thank you for sharing your story Shy Keenan. God Bless you!

I was shocked how a sick, twisted man (if you can call him that-he's more like animal!)could treat an innocent child! I almost cried many times thinking about how hard it must have been to endure such torture and the mom is just as gulity for not believeing her and not protecting her and also abusing her by beating her too. I work with kids and am going to be even more diligent about spotting warning signs of kids being abused so more kids don't have to go through the unthinkable things these poor kids had to go through. Wonderfully written book about an amazing person who miraculously survived all of this and now is helping others not have to go through the same thing, talk about turning around bad for good, amazing!

Shy Keenan's autobiography is incredibly moving, raw and a powerful read. It covers her childhood, growing up with a neglectful immature mother and a step-father who systematically sexually abused her from the age of four. Keenan details her abuse at the hands of Stan and at the hands of his paedophile friends. She escaped into the care system, only to be abused there and ended up on the streets of London. Every time Shy voiced what was happening to her, she was ignored or demonized as a 'problem child'. Eventually she was able to get justice via the BBC Newsnight programme in 2000. She bravely confronted Stan as an adult and he finally got the prison sentence he deserved, for abusing many children.The book made me reflect on how we need to give survivors of abuse a voice. Too often we, as a society, do not hear their words or have preconceived ideas about victims or abuse. As I was reading, I was wishing that just one professional had taken the time to see the pain Shy was going through and to act.Shy Keenan has established herself as a campaigner and advocate for those abused by paedophiles. She is one of those women that I have a huge amount of admiration and respect for. She is a fighter for justice and to support those who have also gone through similar experiences to her. She amazes me. A very courageous woman.

The sadest story I have ever read!It is unbelievable the strength that Shy has.She is an inspiration beyond belief!Her story has made me decide that as a society we have to do something to protect our children from the horrors of pedophiles.I have always felt strongly about doing something to stop violations against children, but Shy has made me realize we have to!The internet is amazing, but it only allows a forum for these monsters to abuse innocent children!

It was a terrible story to read about Shy what she had to go through with that man and others. live in Brisbane and so does Shy I would really try to meet her I felt really sorry for her.

Brilliant

Perfect condition!