This is a heartbreaking story, I wanted to take her out of this situation, give her a big hug and tell her that this is not how it's supposed to be, no-one should ever have to go through what she went through and it will get better but my words would probably have no comfort and wouldn't be able to take any of her pain away.

Physically, mentally and sexually abused for her whole life by her parents, her brother, people she called friends, people who should've been protecting her and the men she was made to 'see', no-one helped her, not Social Services, not the staff in the residential unit where she was placed, no-one.

She was instead left to fend for herself and try to get out of each situation on her own, dealing with the multiple rapes by drinking and taking drugs to numb the pain and degradation, trying so desperately to leave but having nowhere to go.

She fought long and hard to get where she is today, to build herself up, to get the justice she deserved for all the horror and abuse she went through, to show she survived, she hadn't lost her fight or her spirit, she hadn't lost her ability to love.

She is a strong, capable, independent woman. She is a warrior.

*Huge thanks to Zoe Patterson, Jane Smith, HarperCollins UK, Nonfiction, HarperElement and NetGalley for this copy which I chose to read and all opinions are my own*

Trafficked Girl comes with quite a lengthy blurb; usually, I don’t like when a blurb details so much about what’s in the book, but here, I think it’s extremely important. The blurb acts as a trigger warning and you need to be aware of the content you will be reading about and decide for yourself if you still want to read this book.

I’ve watched a few documentaries and docudramas about child trafficking rings in the Midlands, but this is the first time I’ve read a first-person account about it, and I majorly underestimated the affect it would have on me. I’ve read some harrowing nonfiction in the past, stories of the wrongfully convicted, people escaping conflicts, etc, but none have ever haunted me the way this subject matter did. I couldn’t sleep after reading this book; I just couldn’t comprehend the failings of staff and services that allowed these things to happen. For me, I’ve learned this is a subject matter, I likely won’t read about again because the feelings of upset and anger I felt were so intense – above my emotional threshold, if you like. I’m not advocating against reading this book, but because of the impact it had on me, I think it’s important to mention the lasting affect this book may have, if you read it. And it’s equally as important to mention, this book does have it’s uplifting moments too.

As for the delivery, Zoe [with the aid of ghostwriter, Jane Smith] takes you through her earliest memories to the present day, it’s personal, emotional and raw. At no point did it feel like anything was being dramaticised; this was a powerfully honest account of Zoe’s experience, living through horrors I can’t even begin to imagine. When I read harrowing books such as this, there is always a point when the pain transcends so viscerally off the page, I have to pause reading and take a minute to reflect on what I’ve read because I know it will stay with me long after finishing the book. The moment in this book was:

“But as the man forced me to my knees, I found myself praying silently, ‘I need you now, Mum. Please, just love me enough to come and rescue me.’”

When you read about Zoe’s life before being taken into care, and then read that above line – I think that shows how truly horrific Zoe’s life became.

Throughout this book, I was appalled, outraged, disappointed and upset at all the professionals involved in Zoe’s care, and it’s truly shocking the failings Zoe experienced and some of the remarks these professionals made, their blatant disregard for Zoe’s welfare – it’s painful to read. Honestly, it makes you weep for humanity – the police, social services, the care home staff, the school system, foster carers, how could everyone get it so wrong!?

I read this book it one sitting because I was adamant I would not stop reading until Zoe was in a better, safer place. Her strength, an inner strength that at times she didn’t even know she possessed, was incredible; consciously, and unconsciously, her will to survive was her saving grace; and years later, when she meet Pam, she could finally begin to heal. I’m not going to minimise what happened to Zoe, she recognises, as will the reader, that what she experienced has far reaching consequences and will impact the rest of her life. But, in order to move forward, you have to, somehow, find a way to live with all that you’ve experienced and build a future for yourself, and to see Zoe doing that brought tears to my eyes because if anyone deserves a chance at “normality”, it’s Zoe. Yes, there’s no denying this is a harrowing read, but Zoe also talks about overcoming alcohol dependency, obtaining justice from the system that failed her so miserably, gaining employment, living independently and pursuing her dreams – fighting back!

A harrowing tale of a terrifying and awful set of circumstances which failed to protect a little girl from harm. Well done to Zoe for having the courage to overcome your past and tell your story, you are an inspiration to all. It is shocking that this could have happened and I hope lessons have been learned from this shocking tale.

Trafficked Girl is about a girl called Zoe who suffered horrific abuse by not only her mum but by men and lots of people in her care home, it was such an inspiring read, what she went through was just unimaginable and I just wanted to hug her and help her through her ordeal.

This is a horrendous life of a girl who,does not deserve what a terrible childhood and as she grows up it gets even worse for her. An animal would have a better life. As I am reading about Zoe I seem. To get angrier and angrier at our system that allows children of no fault of there own to go through this mental torture and worse and still come through it alive
What can I say am I pleased I read this book cannot say so, just hope this sort of life of a child will end as more and more people know about what hapoens to children who are unloved, unwanted, and ignored in society.
Can I recommend this book, no because it’s terrible to read and as a woman and a parent cannot want anyone to read this just because it’s been recommended, but because you want to do something to stop,human trafficking.

I need to start this with saying, What an amazing courage this must have take to tell your story.
This subject has been very topical recently in the news, and after the big Rochdale scandal that broke out, being just a few miles from my home town, it was something I followed.
This book is very similar to what happened there, only in this case no one wanted to help Zoe.
Unloved and uncared for by her family, Zoe found herself in care. What goes on to happen to this poor girl whilst in care is utterly tragic. It hard to imagine it is happening. That those vulnerable children are being take advantage of.
Zoe was failed by everyone around her, it makes you angry reading this, it makes you cry, it makes you want to reach out and help.
Heartbreaking, and very upsetting. This was a difficult read due to the subject, yet it was brilliantly told and put together. Knowing it really is happening out there, yet children like Zoe find a strength to carry one. An amazing person.
​This book stays with you long after you finish reading it.

Thank you netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review.
I’m not one to read biographies but I was interested in this as the disgusting history of what happened in England with care homes has been a main news point for some time. Zoe has had such a horrific upbringing and then to be placed in a care home that did nothing to support, rehabilitate and counsel her horrified me. As a parent my goal is to love and care for my child and provide him with the best life and Zoe’s family could not do this for her. She was failed by adults in power and betrayed to the point she antes to take her own life. This was a gritty, hard, painful read but I’m so happy for Zoe and how she turned her life round. That a big V to those who failed her