Surviving a Childhood of Hell: Not Dead Yet is a Harrowing Account of Torture and Abuse

 

Not Dead Yet

Tracey Nudd

Independently published, 2023

ISBN: 979-8868334139

54 ppg., softcover

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In a perfect world, all children would be loved and cared for by their mothers and stepparents the way an innocent childhood calls for. But, sadly, in the real world, many children endure relentless physical, verbal, emotional and sexual abuse at the hands of the people not only who brought them into this world but also those responsible for caring for them.

 

And while Bella’s story of physical, verbal and sexual abuse is horrifying and gut-wrenching, it is just one of many stories of children suffering years of such torment.

 

This book is definitely not for the faint of heart. There are graphic scenes of child sex abuse wrought upon Bella by her stepfather and his friend. There is even psychological abuse, as he pressures Bella to say “yes, Daddy” when he asks her if she is a whore or if she likes what is being done to her. Bella knows better than to say otherwise.

 

One may ask if the person in such a situation ever tries to escape. The story is told in first person, and Bella recalls her many failed attempts to either hide from her abuser or run away.

 

Bella’s mother could be her rescuer but, instead, only adds to the abuse. She physically and verbally abuses Bella, though the story is mostly focused on the abuse Bella receives from her stepfather. She keeps Bella alive and around only because of the food stamps she receives, which she sells for drug money. She also jokes with her husband that if his many rapes of her daughter results in pregnancy, it’s more children to use for food stamps as well as for abuse.

 

Tracey Nudd writes a story of a child who endured years of brutal and horrible abuse in her home. Many readers are warned of triggering content in this novelette, and for good measure. Most of this story was hard to read but it is also close to the reality of what many children being abused endure. We cannot turn a blind eye to such things. This kind of material may be hard to expose ourselves, to but it is harder still for the children in real life who are forced to experience the same kind of horror.

 

Not Dead Yet is a haunting story of a child’s horrifying experiences of rape and abuse. It captures just one of many stories out there, except other stories will never be told by the victims. This particular victim-turned-survivor lived through the kind of hell no one should ever endure, with the kind of spirit holding out hope to get out of that hellish nightmare alive.

 

 

Five stars

 

 

 

Disclaimer: I purchased this book from the author and my review of this book is completely voluntary.