Product Description

Caroline Stern is just like any London teenager. Except that she lives in a religious sect. As a child of ‘The Organization’ her every move – from what she eats to when she talks and whom she’ll marry – is dictated by her elders. But as Caroline’s free-thinking ways bring her into conflict with terrifying Miss Fowler and brutal punishments push her to breaking point, she acts on a terrible impulse and exacts a horrifying revenge. Twenty years later Caroline is living with her lover, Joe. He knows her as Lorrie and is unaware of the troubled childhood she’s left behind. Until an old friend reappears and Caroline discovers that the past isn't so easily buried ...

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #112203 in Books
• Published on: 2009-08-06
• Binding: Paperback
• 320 pages

About the Author
Clara Salaman is best known for playing DS Claire Stanton in the long-running ITV drama The Bill. She has written for Granada Television and Shame on You is her first novel.

Customer Reviews

Fantastic book - brilliant read. So true.
I found this book fascinating, it was a gripping read right from the first. It transported me back to 1975 when I was ten, it reminded me of all those details I had forgotten or suppressed. I could never forget the hideous green pinafore, the green bowler hat and revolting straw boater in summer. I wish I had been bolder and squashed mine on the train tracks. Unlike you our Ancient Greek teacher was a scrubbed red raw cold turkey who was barely one chapter ahead of his class, maybe the attractive american is a literary device. I remember being woken at the crack of dawn in a freezing house to dress whilst it was still dark outside and trek across london on the tube by myself. I remember the punishments, the slap on the palm with a ruler for making ink blots on the page, for not sitting upright enough during the pause, for laughing out loud or daring to glance at a boy during the church services. I remember freezing whilst we ran round Wormwood scrubs in fog and rain. I remember too running round the Serpentine on sports day. To this day I cannot listen to Mozart, I still dislike Leonardo da Vinci, I have a hatred of brown barely risen bread and hard cheese. I remember standing in the hallway when I refused to serve our jumped up titchy maths teacher first at lunch. I remember being told to serve those who moved and polish those things that stayed still. Im glad St Vedast no longer exists, I still feel the pain of those girls who couldnt take it and who did jump. I survived four long years of that slow torture and only escaped when I failed my Scripture 'O' level having been predicted an A, not surprising when we hadnt been taught the syllabus. No one believes you when you describe your childhood and school. No one listened at the inquiry or made those responsible pay for the physical and mental torture inflicted on the children. With your inspiring book maybe someone will at last. Thank you.

Wow, this is evocative and an interesting account of a cult
I was impressed by Ms Salaman. I cannot believe that this school or group of schools is still around nowadays. More than that, they have charitable status. Why??
I went to a boarding school which is one of the UK's top. It reminded me of my time in the most inhumane of places. Mine was C of E, but snobbery, insensitivity, bullying and terrible conditions persisted. I too was traumatised by what happened to me, so I could identify with this. Sadder still to have a mother and father that have no love to show you. How well she has done on the back of this. It is always brave telling your story if you have suffered.
What a woman, and what a story. Although the book cites that things have changed, I am wondering if this Organisation has a place today?

Real and Horrifying
This story follows the life of Caroline through her school and adult years. Caroline attends a very strict `cult' school in London, where music, laughter, fun, denim, cutting your hair and flowers are banned (among other things). Caroline is victimised and bullied at school by her Headmistress. This story shows her as an adult trying to deal with her childhood. She changed her name and never spoke about what happened at school, until she bumps into an old friend...
This is a very emotional read and at times it is very hard to read. The cruel treatment of Caroline is very real and heartfelt. It is really interesting to think how Caroline's childhood had depicted the person she has turned out to be. I felt that the middle of the book lost pace a bit but soon picked up again. Overall, a really interesting but horrifying story.