I can't comprehend the idea of that this is a true story, that what happened is actually real and not fiction, I keep thinking that even Oliver Twist will cry reading it ,Kevin's childhood was so horrific and unjustified, the way his mother Gloria treated him , the abuse and the hitting , it is all too much , my frown and grimace was showing all over my face whenever I read such scene. it was a terrible childhood, and am only glad that there was a little sun ray between the clouds that kept him going, then Kevin grows up and away from the clutches of his parents, only to face the real world , and the just business life, It made me think I should never trust anyone again, yet he was so kind and still trusting whenever he met someone new, loved how he faced all his struggles and faced his demons, and took what was his right regardless of how he did it , but I cant blame him, and I could only snarl at those people who tried to trick him , they were greedy and they deserved it. it is amazing to see how someone goes up and do something of himself, after going down and turning into the bad routes , it put a smile on my face to read the ending of this book, I was so happy that he found his family, and he now have some one on Christmas , the word finally is the suitable one here.
I might seek the squeal of this I want to read a happy closure, but being a book of life it feels kind of a risk to keep reading...
Kevin Lewis if you are reading this, I thank you for sharing your story, and am sorry for your child-self, especially when there was no one out there to turn into for help, but am proud of how you turned out to be.....
242 The story of the author's horrifying childhood was well-written. the story makes all other books about child abuse seems far-fetched. the terryfying experience and physical torture that he little Kevin and his sisters and brothers had to endure is beyond imagination.
the book still affects me a couple of hours after finish 242 I stayed up all night to read it and finished it in less than 24 hours. I made sure to give my children and extra cuddle today...as to you Kevin Lewis, bless you x 242 Didn't like this at all. Although the writer, subject of the book, had a really bad upbringing i just didn't find the story moving and felt nothing for him. I thought the writing was poor and that he came across as self indulgent. 242 The true story of Kevin Lewis who grew up on a council estate in South London. Beaten and starved by his parents, ignored by the social services and bullied at school, he was offered a chance to escape this nightmare world and was put into care. Despite his best efforts to make things work out, his life spiralled out of control. At the age of 17 he became caught up in the criminal underworld of London, where he was known as the kid. From the violent anger he suffered at the hands of his mother and father, to the continuous torments at school; from the way in which he coped with rejection from people he trusted, to suffering from bulimia and a wish to take his own life, Kevin succeeded in making a better life for himself.
A brilliant book and a great insight into a young boys life and how he coped with his everyday events 242
Expected this to be a real emotional rollercoaster, especially as it is a true story. In the event, whilst Kevin's treatment by his parents was absolutely terrible and shocking, there were only a few sections where I felt the book was well written enough to allow the reader to empathise fully with his situation.
Once he was making his own way in the world, I mostly felt frustration and disbelief that he could blunder from one disaster to another without learning from his mistakes. 242 the most heart-shattered moment from this book was when i learned that kevin is still buying birthday present, wrapped in beautiful wrapping paper, for himself. even after those years of despite and torturing have long gone.
i guess, some wounds are just too deep to heal..
242 I actually finished this book a day before doing this review, but only got round to this today.
I'd say this was more of a 3.5 rating than a 4, but we can't do .5's on here.
This book touched me, it wasn't like the other true-life child abuse stories that i've read.
Kevin does go into some detail about the abuse he had suffered, but he doesn't just dwell on that and tell too much of it.
Some of the time whilst reading this book my heart was breaking for this poor kid, and tears were in my eyes. It's hard to believe the things parents could do to their own children...
The thing that made this book different for me was the after-life of the abuse. Telling his story afterwards - what he went through then, too.
A brilliant book. I do recommend it to people who like to read these types of books. It is definately worth a flick through, and you can't help but not feel and root for this kid. 242 Read this a few years ago, and i remember i was quite moved by it. It made me become a lot more sensitive towards violence, especially towards children. 242 الكتاب يحكي عن قصة طفل عاش بين والدين عنيفين وكانوا يستخدمون كل انواع العنف و الظرب معه، عانا الطفل من قل الأكل وسوء حالته الصحيه و سوء تحصيله الدراسي، انتقل في فترة بين فوستر كاريرز و مدارس داخليه بعيد عن أهله لكنه رجع وعاش العذاب مره ثانيه بس هالمره بعمر يسمح له يشتغل ويجيب مبلغ بسيط يأكل فيه اخوانه وخواته لكن تحصيله الدراسي رجع أسوء ويداوم للمدرسه وعلامات الظرب بجسمه، البيت الي كان يعيش فيه افتقر للنظافه و للمال و والديه كانوا مدخنين و مدمنين كحول، الفكره اللي تطلع بها من القصة بأن فيه ناس كثيره تعاني معاناة شديدة بدون ماتقدر تحرك ساكننا لكن في الحياة أيضا فرص تخلي الانسان يشق طريقه لحياة أفضل بمواجهته لبعض الصعوبات، أحيانا نتعلم في الحياة دروس بالطريقة المؤلمه لكن مانطلع خالين اليدين 242
Kevin Lewis grew up on a council estate in South London. Beaten and starved by his parents, ignored by the social services and bullied at school, he was offered a chance to escape this nightmare world and was put into care. Despite his best efforts to make things work out, his life spiralled out of control. At the age of 17 he became caught up in the criminal underworld of London, where he was known as 'The Kid'. From the violent anger he suffered at the hands of his mother and father, to the continuous torments at school; from the way in which he coped with rejection from people he trusted, to suffering from bulimia and a wish to take his own life, Kevin succeeded in making a better life for himself. This is his story .. The Kid AUTHOR Kevin Lewis