When Ann Kenny was four years old her foster mother hit her across the face with a fireplace shovel. She was left lying unconscious on the cold hard floor while her foster family went to mass.

She was given most of the household chores, and she was not even allowed to sit with the family at mealtimes, but was forced to stand while they sat. Her grandfather also regularly beat her viciously. She later discovered that he had also abused her sexually, drugging her with whiskey before putting her to bed.

When she grew up, Ann got out of Ireland completely, but she couldn’t escape the shadow of her childhood. She married an alcoholic; his drinking came to dominate their marriage, and she was left to raise their three children as best as she could.

Ann set out on the road to recovering her life. She came to terms with the past when she sought out and found her birth mother. This book is a testament to the strength of a survivor.