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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I cannot imagine what this young woman went through. Her fear that kept her from calling out to the policeman standing next to her is understandable. My daughter might have reacted to the same fear that she suffered, at the age of 14.
GOOD LUCK ELIZABETH
Inspirational
Such a sad story however Ms. Smart shows great strength of character by raising above the horrific experience and not letting the experience define her future.
Loved this book. It was nice to read about the account of the Elizabeth Smart’s kidnapping from Elizabeth herself. I expected the book to be depressing but Elizabeth’s faith and positive attitude made it inspiring instead. Great book.
It was a tragic story, of course, but it really is slow.
Very mediocre!
Well written, true story, did not dwell on the horror of her situation. Quick read
I remember when this story was in the headlines. I always wondered how Elizabeth recovered after her recovery from her dreadful abduction. I enjoyed her book because although she gave the details of her abduction she didn’t go into the disgusting details of her rapes. Her story apparently has a happy ending. I love happy endings whether in …
I remember the day I heard Elizabeth had been found. I was living in Canada & the news came on and reported that Elizabeth had been found. I burst into tears, I was so happy for her and her family. Even then, she seemed so poised & in control. After reading her story, I was even more impressed. I’m grateful her mother gave her such amazing advice …
Inspirational tale by a woman of great courage. Like the rest of the nation, I closely followed the media reports on the abduction of Elizabeth Smart. Her book truly captures the feelings of terror and helplessness she felt. Even more, it highlights her never-ending faith and trust in her God to deliver her.
Interesting to see what helped her move on from such trauma.
Such a sad story for a young girl. She was a victim of a deranged man and women. She went through 9 months of torture, but triumphed. A definite page-turner.
Amazing story of faith and hope in the face of twisted and demented evil.
A matter of fact telling of a horrible thing done with grace and tastefully done.
Very well written. So sad what she went through but so inspiring how she handled it.
Elizabeth Smart shares how her faith, her family, and expressing gratitude got her through her terrible nine month ordeal.
I couldn’t quit reading this book and didn’t want it to end. I wanted Elizabeth’s captivity to end, but loved hearing her story and I was so inspired by her faith and her perseverance!
It was well written and took you into the mind of Elizabeth and her strength for a girl of 14 years. What great lessons to be learned to indure pain, to be dehumanized, raped repeatedly and most of all to be so controlled by such an evil person and was still able to keep her faith in God and her family. This book is so worth reading.
I love this book so far. Amazing how she came through this tragedy!
Amazing young lady. No one should have to go thru what she did and it’s hard to believe she remains as stable as she is. From her upbringing GOD remained with her and she knew this which was how she survived. May God continue to rule her & her families life.