Product Description

Joe knew his mother was cruel and violent, but he trusted his beloved father to protect him from her. When a freak accident saw his father burn to death in front of him, Joe was left at the mercy of his mother. Without the love of his friend and brother, he wouldn't have survived. With them, he went on to spend his life fighting child abuse. Joe was just five years old and the horrific scene literally struck him dumb. He didn't speak for four and a half years, which meant he was unable to ask anyone for help as his life turned into a living hell. His schizophrenic mother and two of his older brothers spent the following years beating him, raping him and locking him in the cellar at the family home. Fed on scraps that he was forced to lick from the floor, he was sometimes left naked in the dark for three days without human contact. Unable to read or write, all Joe could do to communicate his suffering was draw pictures. The violence and sexual abuse grew in severity as more people, including his stepfather, were invited to use him in any way they chose. The only thing that saved Joe was the kindness of his elder brother and his only school friend, both of whom showed him that love was possible even in the darkest of situations. At fourteen he finally found the courage to run away, hiding in a hut by a railway line, fed on scraps by some local children who found him. Joe's is the ultimate insider's story, casting light into the darkest of hidden worlds, and a truly inspirational account of how one small boy found the strength to overcome almost impossible odds and become a remarkable man. Now that he has found his voice again, Joe speaks out against child abuse and helps support and protect other children whose lives have been blighted by it.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #10148 in Books
• Published on: 2008-08-04
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 304 pages

From the Publisher
Sunday Times Number 1 Bestseller

From the Back Cover
`Then he made me stand up and wash myself in front of him. I felt ashamed and dirty. No one had ever told me these things were wrong, but I knew anyway.'

Joe was only five years old when he watched his beloved daddy burn to death in a garage fire. And five years old when he lost his voice.

Left at the mercy of his abusive, violent family and unable to ask anyone for help, little Joe's life turned into a living hell. Raped by his mother's boyfriend, beaten and locked in the cellar, he was fed only on scraps that he was forced to lick from the floor. To drink water, he first had to gnaw off the glued top of a bottle, a trick played on him by his brothers.
But much, much worse was to come...

This is the heart-warming true story of how an abused little boy overcame impossible odds and grew up into a remarkable man.

About the Author
Now thirty four years old, Joe Peters survived a horrific childhood to bring up five children of his own, some of whom had special needs. He has set up a service on the internet to help children like himself to find assistance and is a spokesman on behalf of all abused children, particularly those who fall into the hands of the organised criminals who create internet pornography.

Customer Reviews

To an amazing man
A truely amazing book written by a truley amazing man. Having been taken in by him and his family a couple of months ago when i needed help i can truly say that he is a remarkable man. Despite what he went through he shows so much love to his family and is always keen to help others in need. To anyone who has not read the book it is well worth a read...i would strongly recommend it. Thank you for everything you did for me. x

Horrific and astoundingly hair raising. All social workers should be made to read this book !!
Another reviewer says, this is the most shocking book they have read of this type - and i agree absolutely.I didn`t think i could be shocked any more as i have read many books like this one, but what i felt was beyond shock - beyond anything i have ever felt before. All the way through i felt i was rushing as i wanted to quickly get to the part where joe was saved, and i kept thinking please let it be in the next chapter as i can`t bear any more of this... It never happened. Things just got worse and worse and worse. We are often told that kids are more at risk of abuse at the hands of family/friends, but we don`t really believe that and are always worried about the `bad man` who will run off with our child if we`re not vigilant at all times. Joe helped me to understand that, yes indeed, kids most certainly are in a hell of a lot more danger from family/friends than any stranger. The world of paedophilia is a very dark, frightening and secret place - not where kids are killed - but used and abused - and then alarmingly, taken back home ! How any mother could treat her child the way joe`s mother did is beyond human understanding, and if the devil has a mistress it surely is her.So many people were alerted to joe`s plight, yet chose to close their ears and eyes. There was a time when she could actually have killed him - i thought she was going to - and no-one would have asked any questions. He simply would not have been missed - even though he should have been at school. That in itself is extremely alarming !
I feel i do have to say to wally - joe`s brother - I know you did your best for joe, and at times he clearly wouldn`t have survived if not for you, but when you managed to escape your mother`s clutches and went to start a new life for yourself, it wouldn`t have killed you to make a phone call and send the authorities round there to rescue joe from the cellar, would it, wally... ?
Joe, i don`t know what to say to you because i simply don`t have the words, except that i`m so sorry you were born into such an evil family - you deserved so much better - and i`m so, so sad that you lost your lovely dad the way you did. He was no angel, but he most certainly was your guardian angel, your hero, and your protector - the sort of dad everybody wants - god bless him.
And god bless you. x

Unanswered questions
I know i will be absolutely slated for this review, but i would like to think that some people may want the same answers as i do. The book was so horrific in places that i simply could not read it i skimmed it hoping and praying that i came to the part where Joe is rescued - it is when you are near the very end with a few pages to go the awful realistation dawns that he wont be rescued.

The questions i have are why instead of writing a book trying to highlight what happens to our young children (too many people turn a blind eye even today)did you not go for prosecution - those animals need caging whats to say they arent still abusing children now, there is evidence (physical scarring, Joe mentioned himself being filmed etc) so i just cannot understand why instead of being hell bent on revenge you choose to write a book where names and identifying details are changed so no one will ever know who these cretins are.

I am in no way saying that these awful things didnt happen to you and i am not saying you have embellished it at all i simply want to know why you allowed them to get away with what they did, i appreciate that being happy can be the best form of revenge on them but i think our youngsters should be protected from these predatory monsters and we cant do that unless people speak out.