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Reviewed by Mary Clarke for Readers' Favorite
Saving the Lost Girl: A Memoir of Healing shows the life of Kelly Jean Torres, who overcame a childhood marked by abuse, neglect, and abandonment. She shares her experiences with both her biological and foster families, where she and her sisters were subjected to physical, emotional, and sexual abuse due to her parents' failures and the instability of the foster care system. She also shares the cycles of violence and hardship that defined her early life, as well as the betrayal she faced in her relationships. Although the memoir is about cruel treatment, it is not just a recounting of past wounds; it is also a story of perseverance, self-discovery, and the search for healing, which makes her story both heartbreaking and inspiring.
One aspect that stood out to me was Kelly Jean Torres's writing style. It was so detailed and raw that I felt lots of mixed emotions while reading—from the depths of despair to the heights of joy and self-discovery. The narrative runs effortlessly, and she glides between the present and past with ease, which gave me a deeper understanding of the lasting impact of her childhood trauma. I read this book only at bedtime or while I was alone because of how emotional I got reading this story. I loved that Kelly did not shy away from sharing her past. Neither did she give a simple account of herself; instead, she went deep into sharing these experiences, showing how pain can shape a person without defining them. I recommend Saving the Lost Girl to anyone who has experienced abuse, abandonment, or a difficult childhood, as well as people interested in memoirs with themes of resilience, trauma recovery, and personal healing.
