For the first time, ten years after her abduction from her Salt Lake City bedroom, Elizabeth Smart reveals how she survived and the secret to forging a new life in the wake of a brutal crimeOn June 5, 2002, fourteen-year-old Elizabeth Smart, the daughter of a close-knit Mormon family, was taken from her home in the middle of the night by religious fanatic, Brian David Mitchell and his wife, Wanda … wife, Wanda Barzee. She was kept chained, dressed in disguise, repeatedly raped, and told she and her family would be killed if she tried to escape. After her rescue on March 12, 2003, she rejoined her family and worked to pick up the pieces of her life.
Now for the first time, in her memoir, MY STORY, she tells of the constant fear she endured every hour, her courageous determination to maintain hope, and how she devised a plan to manipulate her captors and convinced them to return to Utah, where she was rescued minutes after arriving. Smart explains how her faith helped her stay sane in the midst of a nightmare and how she found the strength to confront her captors at their trial and see that justice was served.
In the nine years after her rescue, Smart transformed from victim to advocate, traveling the country and working to educate, inspire and foster change. She has created a foundation to help prevent crimes against children and is a frequent public speaker. In 2012, she married Matthew Gilmour, whom she met doing mission work in Paris for her church, in a fairy tale wedding that made the cover of People magazine.
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Amazing true story!
Very well written! I prayed for her and her safe return! I am so impressed that she is a strong women and a survivor! Very uplifting!
This book is a testament to the strength and faith of this young woman..it is inspiring.
I’m so thankful she had the courage to tell her story.
She was a very strong person to have gone through what she did.
I didn’t like the writing, I didn’t like Elizabeth Smart..yes, what happened to her was awful but this book somehow felt like she was capitalizing on it. I also watched one of the tv specials which were equally bad
Amazing what a positive attitude Elizabeth still has after all she has been through.
I really liked learning how Elizabeth Smart endured her captivity with this insane couple, and how she stayed alive. She is a very strong woman.
This tragic kidnapping was a local event so I was especially interested in reading Elizabeth’s account. I found it honestly written and although not easy to read about the cruelty and suffering, it helped me understand her bravery and why she was unable to escape. I recommend this book, I could not put it down.
A brave young lady.
I remember following the news when this happened, and was always curious about her life after she was found. A very wise and brave lady. Now she helps others learn how to cope and heal from their bad experiences.
I thought many times at I couldn’t bear to read any more. But the next day I would be compelled to read more. How does the human psyche survive such horror? Her self analysis that led her to keys within her, lanted during her chiodhood was told with plain honesty. There are key moments in a person’s life that are not orgotten. For me, one of …
I don’t usually read this type of book, however Elizabeth has earned so much respect from me for not letting this monster ruin the rest of her life! The book is quite disturbing because of the things he did to her, but she does not go into great detail, so you are not subject to that while reading. She should be commended for being able to …
This was hauntingly written. It was very powerful.
This book is a frank discussion of the horror faced by young Elizabeth Smart during her captivity. It is a great story to read and learn from. Sometimes it felt repetitive and sometimes things seemed to hard to understand. My take away is that I’m glad I don’t understand some of the things that happened and pray i never have to.
well written
Fascinating in a horrible seance. So inspiring to see how Elizabeth made it through.
I followed this story. Elizabeth is a very strong person. I just couldn’t read it past about 4%
Should have been a magazine article, not a book.
I enjoyed the fact that good triumphed over evil.