Why Me?

Im not a book reader I just don't ever seem to have the time. but I was going on a cruise and wanted a true crime book and this one caught my eye. I found a warm sandy beach and could not put the book down.. any woman who came from an abusive mom can relate to this book. I found so many similarities to my own traumatic up bringing. I started second guessing myself if i wanted to re-live my child hood through someone else's pain.but I finished it, in one day and Im so glad I did. My heart is at peace. Not because i wanted someone to hurt like I did but that someone spoke up for me when I felt that I didn't have a voice even at 48 years old. I can't change my mom and I haven't seen my mom in 6 years. but I walked away from her and I will always have that to hold on to.. I was in control for once and she can't ever hurt me again. My kids will never know her or see a picture of her I find great satisfaction in knowing that Im nothing NOTHING like my mom...

I didn't stop reading until I made it to the end. I hate to say I enjoyed reading it because it was truly heartbreaking, but I'm glad the author shared her story with us. I purchased this as a big F you to her Mom, and I would have happily paid $10 to own this.My favorite part she included was her own epilogue letting the readers know how she's doing and where her head is at. I was thrilled to see a happy ending for her.

This was exactly like how I grew up. It was haunting.I even turned to riding horses to escape going home.I was the last one born and I was the "mistake".Hopefully teachers will be a bit moreproactive, if they notice wuthdrawn behavior, bruises or odd stories about how injuries occurred.I had a 3rd grade teacher call DCF 5 times, and they just kept telling my mother to "cut it out."Then she beat the daylights out of me with a rolling pin.To this day neurosurgeons have asked, "what happened to you when you were little?"WHY ME?Perfect title for a very sad but true experience.Parents like this need to go to JAIL for life.

Riveting story that I could not put down once I started reading it. I was appalled that a mother, who is supposed to nurture her child, ends up torturing her and yet though it all, I kept wondering why in the world Sarah didn't want to go into foster care? There ARE good foster parents out there and she chose to be beaten half to death every day over what could have been a loving foster family instead? The kind of abuse she suffered, I would have thought she would have chosen ANYTHING besides staying there and enduring it day after day, year after year! Her mother was and is (if she's still alive) a monster and should be thrown in prison! I wondered whatever became of her younger sister, Emily, because at first Emily was not victimized; however she was traumatized by watching what Sarah went through, so in that respect, she was a victim too. Then later, Emily was emotionally abused. Once Sarah managed to get out of that horror house, I wondered if Emily became the next target, and if Sarah ever tried to help Emily get out of there and away from that deranged, demented, demonized excuse for a mother. And the stepfather was almost as bad! I was amazed at all the things Sarah survived, the times she was kicked down the stairs - that she didn't end up a quadriplegic in a wheelchair or with permanent brain injuries! I was heartbroken for Sarah and for Emily. Why did teacher after teacher believe her made up stories about all the bruises and scars on her body? There is an explanation to her mother's behavior - it is called EVIL, PURE EVIL! She had a mother who was totally demon possessed and mentally insane! I kept wanting Sarah to fight back, fight back! But she realized it would only make things worse, and things did get worse when she tried to defend herself. I applaud her victory at the end where she finally escaped and is able to lead a normal life, overcoming the worst childhood imaginable!

I can't describe the rush of emotions I experienced while reading this book, but is the only one that's ever made me cry. This is the most powerful story I've read in a long time, and a masterpiece of encouragement. I chose this work because I can relate to a certain degree so it hit very close to home. I would recommend this to EVERYONE, because it's too easy to tell the victim they should have 'spoken up' from the outside looking in, but this book can help others understand why we don't 'speak up'. It can also help shed a light on the staggering numbers of people who witness the results of abuse and never get involved to try to protect the victims. Thank you Mrs. Burleton for your story and may good karma follow you forever.

This book....so many thoughts and feelings. After years and years of therapy, Al Anon, self help, conferences, seminars, this was the FIRST time somebody's story resonated with mine. Sarah not only has the superior coping skills to write about her experience but also built a great and loving life with two of her own children.(I have the great honor of following her on social media to see her newest pieces (Psychology Today, etc), The abuse, the sick, crazy, "no one can believe" life she had.....was mine as well. I love you for taking this risk and writing this book. May all your dreams come true, Sarah.

I read this entire book in one day. It is mind boggling to me set a mother can be so cruel to her child. That any woman gives birth to a child can treat her in such a manner. This book is eye-opening to me. My family is nothing like this. My mother was loving kind sweet generous. My parents were married for 66 years. My father is still alive at 92. I grew up in a loving family, with Family values, morals, and ethics. When I read such a story, it makes me so sad that this actually happens, And no one saw the signs. Blows me away that no one saw the signs to step up and help this child. If you want to read a book with a good dose of reality, this is a book to read.