Introduction

Ghost is a heart-wrenching and life-changing story by Lea Tonin. The narrative follows three young girls trapped in a nightmare of fear, despair, and pain. The book explores controversial topics such as sexual abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse, and betrayal, which many people can relate to. The author emphasizes that the power of writing helps her confront the memories she has spent a lifetime trying to forget. In each chapter, you will imagine the incomprehensible cruelty of a mother who would inflict pain on her child. You will question the complicit actions of a grandmother who allowed the perpetuation of her grandchild’s abuse and other family members who knew of the abuse but looked away.

Lea’s story of survival began when she was three years old. We are introduced to a troubled relationship between Lea and her mother, marked by indifference and rejection. Even at such a young age, Lea demonstrates an astonishing ability to sense danger and a strong desire to live like other kids her age. When Lea’s stepfather entered the picture, her agony escalated from bad to worse. His disciplinary measures will make you ache with the inability to help the girls. Unable to endure the physical and emotional traumas, Lea armed herself with courage and the skills she learned from the ‘Army Cadet’ and embarked on a journey of survival in the wild. How wise was this decision? I will let you find out.

As you read this story, several thought-provoking questions emerge. First, did Lea and her sisters ever seek help? Second, was the Social Services Department aware of their case? Were the girls somehow responsible for their circumstances? Were there other adult family members who could have helped Lea? Were there hidden secrets that contributed to the girls’ situation? The answers to these questions await you within the pages of this book. It is important to note that childhood traumas tend to affect the victim’s life significantly. You will gain insights into how the pain inflicted on Lea and her sisters affected their ability to trust, form relationships, and live normally. While most victims of abuse vent out differently, I like Lea’s decision to pen down her experiences.

The editing team did well; I encountered less than ten errors. There is nothing I dislike nothing about this book to deny it a perfect rating. I rate this book five out of five stars because it is educational and entertaining. I recommend it to therapists who handle victims of child abuse.