When Alex Cooper was fifteen years old, life was pretty ordinary in her sleepy suburban town and nice Mormon family. At church and at home, Alex was taught that God had a plan for everyone. But something was gnawing at her that made her feel different. These feelings exploded when she met Yvette, a girl who made Alex feel alive in a new way, and with whom Alex would quickly fall in love.Alex knew … love.
Alex knew she was holding a secret that could shatter her family, her church community, and her life. Yet when this secret couldn’t be hidden any longer, she told her parents that she was gay, and the nightmare began. She was driven from her home in Southern California to Utah, where, against her will, her parents handed her over to fellow Mormons who promised to save Alex from her homosexuality.
For eight harrowing months, Alex was held captive in an unlicensed “residential treatment program” modeled on the many “therapeutic” boot camps scattered across Utah. Alex was physically and verbally abused, and many days she was forced to stand facing a wall wearing a heavy backpack full of rocks. Her captors used faith to punish and terrorize her. With the help of a dedicated legal team in Salt Lake City, Alex eventually escaped and made legal history in Utah by winning the right to live under the law’s protection as an openly gay teenager.
Alex is not alone; the headlines continue to splash stories about gay conversion therapy and rehabilitation centers that promise to “save” teenagers from their sexuality. Saving Alex is a courageous memoir that tells Alex’s story in the hopes that it will bring awareness and justice to this important issue. A bold, inspiring story of one girl’s fight for freedom, acceptance, and truth.
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I couldn’t put this down until I knew that she was safe. An important read!
I felt like I was there. Straightforward. I felt for her innocense lost and her ordeal. She risked a lot and wasn’t broken. Brave
True story of a woman who survived gay conversion therapy as a teenager. Absolutely horrifying what was done to this child and so many others like her.
Very powerful story, sad and emotional, but an important topic. Perseverance is inspirational and this book provided that and more.
Predictable.
This was the incredible story of a young gay women forced into anti-homosexual “treatment”. Lots of awful people, but the main character seems to have come out the other side ok.
This true story is compelling and sad, but well written.
I finished it – and I never finish lousy books.
Excellent.
Tragic story of mistreatment of our gay children. Very eye opening.
The inner strength and perseverance Alex had to survive her ordeal is an inspiration and her experience is why so-called conversion therapy is such a horrible idea. Read this book, share it and speak out to help other young people trapped in similar nightmares.
This was a wonderful book and should be required reading for any parent who thinks they can ‘cure’ their child’s homosexuality. Our heroine, and I do not chose that word lightly in this instance, is Alex, a California girl growing up in a loving Mormon family. She gradually realizes that she is attracted to girls, and acts upon it in rather innocent ways. Things come to a head when she lies about spending the night at a friend’s house so that she can drive to LA with her newfound girlfriend. She returns home to angry parents and blurts out to her mom that she likes girls. I find it so sad to ponder that had she told her parents she’d slept with a boy, she’d likely have been severely grounded and then that would be that, rather than what occurred next. She was asked to leave the family home immediately, spend some time at a friend’s house where the friend’s mom treated her very kindly. Finally, she is told she’s being sent to her grandparent’s house in Utah. She is relieved about this, hoping some space will help her parents accept her. What follows is, as the title indicates, a nightmare. She is dropped off at a random family’s house for ‘rehabilitation’ at the hands of an untrained couple. Said rehab was abusive and reminiscent of the way a cult wears down its followers until nothing is left and they are completely dependent upon their superiors. Alex’s will is strong, though, stronger than I would have been in that situation. Her treatment at the hands of these people was not kept a secret in the larger Mormon community and it astounds me that so many people looked the other way as a vulnerable 15 year old suffered horrible abuse. Luckily, she eventually would encounter kinder people who would help her get out.
It breaks my heart that LGBTQ teenagers in conservative religious communities are treated in this fashion, as if they have a disease that needs to be cured. This book does well to both describe the awful treatment Alex received and the steps that she had to take to save herself from the good her parents were trying to do for her. It is poignant to me that through all of the ordeal she maintained her deep affection for her parents.
Very good to get a first hand view of “good intentions” that don’t go so well.
Excellent book. Already posted an Amazon 5 star review.
It was an interesting read, however a bit lengthy.
This book made me wonder why religions are all so different & why we can’t all just be accepted as we are. It also seemed to have some conflicting stories with the main character being treated terribly by her abusers one minute & the next she could come & go as she pleased; something didn’t add up about that. Atleast everything worked itself out.
Utterly horrifying. My heart broke. I can’t say anymore because it will turn into a rant. The brave ending gave me hope for this beautiful person who endured so much.
Eye-opening account of ‘gay conversion’ practices- awful the way the author (and housemates) were treated. So glad we live in a country where escape is possible and grateful the author shared her story.
Such a moving story of Alex’s journey toward living her authentic life. So much pain visited upon her as a result of religious beliefs by people who loved her.
I loved how Alex persevered under unimaginable circumstances. What a strong, courageous young woman. And to tell her story with forgiveness and love for her parents really sets her apart from so many who have tragic pasts and stories to tell.