A Stolen Life by Jaycee Dugard

This book is a horror story of events that most of us couldn’t possibly fathom. The story of an 11-year-old girl abducted as she walked to the school bus stop, as the other children, their parents, and her own father were unable to do anything to stop it.  The story of a 5^th grader bundled into a car and driven out of sight, never to be heard from for the next 18 years.

This book was heartbreakingly hard to read, I can’t lie about that, but knowing a little of this story from the media, I wasn’t expecting a fairy tale.  However, as hard as it was to read, Jaycee is such an example of strength and perseverance, with the most incredible desire to survive, that you can’t help but be inspired by her.

During the time Jaycee was confined to her backyard prison, she was subjected to atrocities that no human being should ever have to experience, things that most of the human race can’t even fathom.  She was held captive by a known pedophile called Phillip and his wife Nancy, abused and used for his twisted needs while aided by his jealous and manipulative wife. 

She became a mother twice, and I was truly in awe of her and what a wonderful young mother she was to her children.  Despite her limited education, Jaycee used whatever resources she could get her hands on to homeschool her little ones.

I understand that there are people that wouldn’t want to read a book because of it’s subject matter, and although there are scenes described that are disturbing, Jaycee doesn’t make those scenes the focus of her book.  There is no way for her to tell this story without mentioning what she endured, but she writes about those moments in a very mature way, and doesn’t give those times any power.  Instead, she focuses on the things she held on to.  She shares her hopes, her dreams, and the things that brought her joy. 

The thing that amazed me most about this book is Jaycee Duggard herself.  I am amazed that with all of what she went through, she never lost her own goodness.  She is a woman with a tremendous amount of compassion, hope, and love.  She refuses to let her captures take a second more of her life. 

Jaycee wrote this book in her own unique style, and I loved that, as it shows her youthful innocence in a way that a perfectly edited book would have missed.  With pages from the journals Jaycee kept during her abduction, you not only get a glimpse into what she must have gone through, but you feel like you she is taking you back there with her. 

I remember hearing about Jaycee on the news, and it’s easy to forget that her return was not the end of her story.  What we don’t always get to hear is that the family back home was broken by what had happened.  Her father had been the focus of the investigation for some time, which took its toll on his marriage, and forced him to move away.  We don’t usually get to hear about a person’s adjustment back into the world, the desire for anonymity, but the price and judgments that come with that.   Jaycee ends this chapter of her life, and this book, by sharing her hopes and dreams with the reader.  Not in a way that glosses over what she has gone through, but in a way that shows you that no evil on this earth has destroyed the strength of her character and the goodness of her heart.  

Read and reviewed by L. M. Potter