Broken

The Most Shocking Childhood Story Ever Told. An Inspirational Author Who Survived It.

By: Shy Keenan

Narrated by: Judy Mason

Length: 10 hrs and 48 mins

Publisher's summary

I was born and broken in Birkenhead, abused from infancy by a network of every kind of pervert from ‘thinks it’s love’ to ‘show it hurts’. I was unwanted, beaten, sold, swapped, photographed, filmed, left for dead, corrupted, blamed, betrayed, ignored and orphaned.

But I was also born with a fire inside me. I call it my Phoenix Fire. I am no victim—that word only describes what happened to me. Nor am I a survivor because that implies I am over it. I am a Phoenix—a work in progress. This is my story....

©2022 Boldwood Books (P)2022 Boldwood Books

Critic reviews

"I found Broken very painful (in fact, I remain haunted by its contents). Shy is trying hard to make the world a safer place for my children." (Observer)

"Beaten, left for dead and raped from the age of four, but now a national campaigner—Shy Keenan, we salute you." (Eve magazine)

Unbelievable story

My heart really went out to this little girl and all of her struggles. I can't imagine going through the things that she endured. It took great courage to write this book I'm sure. I'm so glad in her adult life she was able to help so many and accomplish so much.

Heartbreaking and brave

What an incredible story. It is unimaginable what this woman endured as a child. Her inner dialogue gave true insight to her story.

Incredible

The author tells about her horrible childhood life in a way that's not graphic! I kept waiting for her to tell her auntie, because I think she would have gone to the ends of the earth to help her! Sometimes we are not given a choice but somehow she remained strong! 💜

Wow

That was painful but eye opening. I didn’t want to finish it but paid for it so
I did. A true survivor’s story.

She is such a strong woman! Such a role model!

Not only is she a strong and amazing woman, she is very talented! Thanks for telling us your story.

subject matter

It was a wonderfully very detailed in-depth book. I hope to read Things similar to this in the future

uncaring Adults

what this child and others endured because of uncaring professional who failed to do their jobs. I'm grateful that she never gave up the fight for her rights.

COURAGE, RESILIENCE, & THE HEARY OF A LION!

I cannot BELIEVE all this woman went thru from the time she was born, beginning with her very own parents! That step-“father” of hers was a REAL piece of work! Her mother wasn’t much better. She was a shoplifting, flighty, emotionally unavailable, all-around SCREW-UP! I can’t imagine the pain and horror this woman suffered through as a child and all the many ways the system at large failed her —GROSSLY failed her. Every single adult who failed her in any way should be thoroughly ASHAMED of themselves!

My very favorite part of this book is the epilogue. Despite ALL the author has been through, she has a WICKEDLY dry sense of humor! How she can laugh at all is beyond me, but laugh she does! KUDOS TO YOU KAREN. There is no better revenge on those who wish to do you harm (in this case mentally AND physically) than to LIVE WELL, laugh, be happy and love through everything!

Speaking out about her abuse not only gives KAREN a very public voice and platform, but a voice for thousands of kids all over the world, The author sounds completely sane and in charge of ALL her senses; no small feat given all she’s been through. Keep laughing Karen, keep living well, keep loving.

Although it was so hard to listen to this book, I am glad I did. Throughout the book, I found myself wanting to not only hug the author, but I want to hug the little girl she once was and tell her how terribly sorry I am for the physical pain she endured and the mental suffering she had to live with. Most of all, I want to apologize for ALL the adults and systems who failed to protect her as they are meant to do. They failed epically — one after the other.

In the epilogue, Karen describes the diabetes she now suffers from because of “comfort eating,” and all the criticism she gets for it. Unbelievable! Let those who have lived through what Karen has throw the first stone. I would think diabetes would be the LEAST of her problems! She’s aware of it, what caused it, and she’s working to resolve it.

The TIA’s (miniature strokes) she suffers, should be of much more concern. Those little TIA’s are often pre-cursors of a larger event to come (much like tremors come before a larger earthquake). These are likely from all the beatings she took as a child in the head and face (courtesy of her crazy mother and step-“father”

Thank you Karen for having the courage to write this book. Thank you to your narrator, who also did a fantastic job on this book!


BLESSINGS TO YOU KAREN💕

A very emotional roller coaster ride throughout the whole book.

Very hard to hear but needed to be heard story thank you for telling it!

Heartbreak, shocking, and Inspirational

I had a hard time getting through some of the chapters; they were heart breaking, shocking, and another let down of the events transpiring throughout a child’s life. After many breaks, I finally was able to finish this and learn to watch for signs of abuse as a medical profession. There were signs discussed through her experience, that can be recognized as abuse that we can all learn from as adults and become vigilant to prevent child abuse, sexual abuse in our own children or others. Inspirational life event that could help others heal from abuse even through brokenness.