This e-book is truly amazing! When I read it for the first time I cried, I laughed and I wanted to reach out to this little girl and give her a hug. This book helped me to understand a lot more about how a child reacts to situations that are beyond thier control. It also gave me some insite on how the now adult struggles with these memories. I have too many people in my life that are struggling with this and for one who did not have this life gowing up, it was an amazing way to understand, better, the mind of a person who has.

Everyone should read this, just so that we can understand and hopfully stop this from happening to other children. We as a society do not talk about this subject enough. This book is about a survivor, but how many are lost because of this same thing. I cannot imagine. Thank You Annie O'Sullivan for helping me to understand. I am looking forward to the next three!

She Wasn't Allowed to Giggle by Lavinia Thompson
(Reviewed by Saewod Tice)

`She Wasn't Allowed to Giggle' is a very personal purging of Lavinia Thompson's dark abusive past. Lavinia doesn't sugar coat her words or rhyme, but leaves them with the raw emotions felt by a terrified little girl living in a woman's body. She Wasn't Allowed to Giggle broke my heart, disgusted me- because of what an abusive adult can do, and made me rejoice Lavinia's ascension from darkness.

Lavinia provides the reader journal-like entries into her past and present, while her poetry reflects her emotions. The poetry is often dark and miserable yet takes a turn to confessional and strong, giving you a real in depth look as she bares her soul.

There is no doubt in my mind that this confessional book was hard to write and even harder to put out for the public to read and judge. For an abuse survivor, that is bravery in its most epic form.

Bravo Lavinia for having the strength to tell your story.

Rating: 4/5
Recommend for 15 and older.

This book gave me an awareness of the horrors that some children are forced to endure at the hands of their abusers. Many of these individual stories were so disturbing that they were beyond my comprehension. The writer was able to make me feel, to a small degree, something of what the victims must have. When a book leaves me feeling an emotion and gives me something to think about is when I know I've enjoyed it. This book definitely left me feeling many different emotions. I loved the writer's style as it was a smooth read which made me not want to put it down once I had begun. I would recommend reading this book if you are someone who is not afraid to go deep into yourself and who is willing to broaden your awareness on the issue of child abuse.

I finished this disturbing book yesterday and spent today thinking about it. Two points I'll make up front:

1) I wasn't there, so I see no reason to disbelieve the writer unless some other information comes out.
2) Whether or not the story is true or false, here's a truth: There are people in this world that consider those that cannot help themselves (children, vulnerable adults, animals) a burden and do not care for them as they would someone they love. I've seen and experienced enough in my lifetime to know bad things happen, and the lack of love brings forth such events.

The story is about Lily, who lived with a mother and stepfather in London, and after an assault by a family member, was sent with her brother and sister to live with their father in Ireland. It didn't get much better there, as the father was often away, and the kids suffered neglect. When the community found out, they were taken in by a group of nuns and endured more hardship. When Lily grew up, she finally got away and met a man that loved her and continued to attempt to put her childhood behind her by giving her own kids the love she wasn't given.

Overall this was a compelling read that may turn away the skeptics and bring believers to tears. I liked the story, but sometimes, the truth is too hard for people to bear; so I recommend this story with a warning it's not for the faint of heart. Overall, well done, four stars!

This author writes a story and gives a voice for far too many victims of abuse.
She tells the story in an honest and brave manner. There were times when I had to put
the book down because the story was all too real. This is an excellent read. I
highly reccommend this book, not only for the way she courageously told a story
about taboo subject matters, but also for the way she describes relationships and
for just writing a doggone good book. I wonder what the author has next for us to read.

I finished this disturbing book yesterday and spent today thinking about it. Two points I'll make up front:

1) I wasn't there, so I see no reason to disbelieve the writer unless some other information comes out.
2) Whether or not the story is true or false, here's a truth: There are people in this world that consider those that cannot help themselves (children, vulnerable adults, animals) a burden and do not care for them as they would someone they love. I've seen and experienced enough in my lifetime to know bad things happen, and the lack of love brings forth such events.

The story is about Lily, who lived with a mother and stepfather in London, and after an assault by a family member, was sent with her brother and sister to live with their father in Ireland. It didn't get much better there, as the father was often away, and the kids suffered neglect. When the community found out, they were taken in by a group of nuns and endured more hardship. When Lily grew up, she finally got away and met a man that loved her and continued to attempt to put her childhood behind her by giving her own kids the love she wasn't given.

Overall this was a compelling read that may turn away the skeptics and bring believers to tears. I liked the story, but sometimes, the truth is too hard for people to bear; so I recommend this story with a warning it's not for the faint of heart. Overall, well done, four stars!