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.

"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.

This story is incredible. The severity of abuse that was inflicted on so many children was horrible. One of the most disturbing things about this story, is the lack of help this poor child received. The fact that she was able to overcome that much abuse, and even help others, is inspiring. This story is very sad and hard to read without some tears, but is well worth it.

Horrible to understand the reality that this evil exist in our world. The consolation is knowing in the final results not only that these people go to jail but they will rot in hell. As difficult as this was to read, I applaud her courage to tell this story. How tremendously brave she is.

It was good but it's a true story of child abuse so I'm not recommending it to anyone. Just too heartbreaking.

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 was a riveting story of horrendous abuse beginning when the author was a toddler. I was horrified by the level of abuse and how constant it was. But I was also in awe of her unshakable inner strength and her determination to advocate for herself at all costs. The chapters were well organized, and her voice reached out through the pages as though she was actually conversing with her readers. Excellent book!

Arrived quickly. Fair condition but definitely not in good enough condition to cost $27