I read this book via audiobook because I was enamored by the Lifetime movie and wanted to learn more about the true case through the lens of the survivor herself Elizabeth Smart. I was not disappointed. I am glad that she wrote a book to share her story, as many victims do not get the chance to share their story or really put to words the shear trauma and torture their captors really put them through but I think Elizabeths recount of her story was fair. I would say for that alone, it would be criminal to rate this book anything short of great. But I can see the valid criticisms expressed by its critics which I will get into.

First of all, much power and praise to Elizabeth. She was just a normal 14 year old Mormon girl from Salt Lake City, Utah when she was snatched from her home and kidnapped by the wicked pair Brian David Mitchell and Wanda Barzee, two names that will live on in history as two of America’s worst child offenders. So to my surprise I was shocked to see that book is narrated by Elizabeth as if in real time at the time of the kidnapping, as if she is reliving it scene by scene for us. We see and in my case hear the fear, confusion, pain, sadness, and vitriol in her voice as slowly she comes to terms with the helpless situation forced upon her. Those of us familiar with the main details of the case know what comes next; Mitchell whisks her to his secret camp out in the Utah mountains and for the next 9 months of Smart’s kidnapping, does not go a day without raping, mentally abusing, manipulating, and in some cases attempting to starve the girl to break her walls down. It is interesting as readers to get a front seat view into the workings of a twisted man, but even more gripping to see how Elizabeth Smart perseveres solely through the strength of her strong Faith in Christ, love and Faith for her family, and Faith in herself.


I will say though, and it could be me but, certain aspects the narration felt oddly surface level and naively written (or narrated). Because this book was written so many years after the events took place, I had hoped there would be a more raw reflection of how the experience affected her. Some critics shared that the book, if pushed to visual form, would come across like a Lifetime movie where the focus draws on the trauma porn of the events and not the retrospection of the victim who survived the trauma (Elizabeth). While other critics say the book narration (audio) in particular had some very...awkward? points that felt like a comedy rather than a poignant memoir. And to that, I agree. I am glad that Smart has self awareness and was able to look back at the situation and still find dark humour in some of her trauma, but being that the realities of her kidnapping were more jarring than we as readers can probably ever imagine it’s hard to stay in that mind frame when certain scenes make out Mitchell to be more of a ridiculous Disney villain rather than the twisted and cunning man he was, if at least in that period. I couldn’t list off the specific scenes but several come to mind where Elizabeth retells how Mitchell was apparently so overly conceited and self pompous (like many narcissistic evildoers are) that she appears more annoyed by his than her actual predicament as a captive/sex slave. Which in reality could be her way of coping through the trauma - but may appear to some as confusing and at worst trivializing the situation 





Overall though I have to say that this story is beautiful to hear or read, and if Smart is happy with the way it was told and feels it was accurate than I don’t have anything further to say about it. Well worth the read.


Update : I just noticed she has a 2018 sequel book/ nonfiction called “Where theres hope there’s a way forward” which she says goes into her overcoming her trauma and inspiring other victims to move forward from their traumas, which I think is the missing piece most readers may have expected with this book. I may set my sights on it in the future.