Spilled Milk: Based on a true story

The book was written with complete raw honesty. It just farther acknowledged to me how, much our systems in place to protect children fail them. She preserved, never gave up.. The monster should have gotten prison for life. It was an emotional read, you could feel her pain and exhaustion but never gave up. I would recommend this as a must read to educate everyone and be aware of what to look for, in order to help children whom are being abused at home.

Spilled Milk is an excellent book. Based on a true story. I started reading it this morning and will finish by 10:30 pm.

This book is inspiring and heartbreaking. No one should have to endure abuse of any kind. This young child took on more than any child should. The burden she shouldered is incredible. She does not take on the role of victim she is a survivor. I would recommend this book to anyone fighting any type of battle. You can find strength through a glass of spilled milk.

While true happy endings are not actually endings, they can be seen as a moment in life when a particular hardship reaches a point of conclusion and the next part of life seems to begin. Often the conclusion isn't permanent, yet that moment you realize you've made it is one to hang onto. Sometimes, stories like this end positively, but leave you in a position of comparing your own life to that of the author's, and wishing you'd been able to get through as successfully as they did. "Why didn't I handle things like this? Why didn't I escape into studying instead of drugs or alcohol? Why couldn't I have had a mentor like she did?" Ms. Randis does not leave the reader feeling this way. Neither does she linger on the time in her life that she was a victim, or dwell upon the periods of depression, anxiety and pain she lived through. She tells her story in a way that connects with the reader; we all live through our own nightmares, and knowing only the pain of our own experience means no one story is worse than another, however it may feel. Ms. Randis tells us what she did to survive, and lets us know that no matter how it turned out, it was no easier for her than it is for any of us. She comes through as what she is: a symbol of strength, an example of courage and a beacon of hope. She took the profound suffering of her early years and then turned herself into a survivor. That's not something that is always guaranteed. But she hasn't run from her past, she's used her experience to help pull others out of the prison of their past, the shackles of fear that past put on them, and the darkness that surrounds someone who is forced to keep a secret. I find myself wondering how her life has gone since the story, just because her touching and evocative tale managed to connect with me so deeply. An understanding of, and a compassion for, those of us who have lived the nightmare of domestic violence in all of its many forms, has been renewed in my heart. I will encourage my teenage daughter to embrace this story as well, since she's always been my hero - due to her own strength in being able to disclose at the bravely young age of 6-1/2, and being the fierce little spitfire that has channeled her trauma into art (the justice system failed us, but she refused to let her life be ruined in spite of it all). I hope that she, too, will find a similarity between Ms. Randis' story and hers/ours. Whether we see our own moments of conclusion in a happy way or not, we will become survivors. People like Ms. Randis will buoy us up and help us through, and show us that we do not have to be victims forever.. we're all strong enough to survive.

This book got me. I haven’t had a book that brought me to tears but this one did it 3 times. Knowing it was based on a true story and the fact that it hit such a personal experience really was a gut punch that I wasn’t expecting. Brooke Nolan is the epitome of broken and healed as she endured so much trauma at the hands of the very people that were meant to protect her. I say people very carefully here because although it was only one person who physically abused her, she was failed by others around her in more ways than one. Her courage to speak up took so much strength and I am so glad that she had the support system she had at the time because it gave her the encouragement she needed. Hearing the details of what happened was really hard and I can’t imagine having to go through this in real life.

As a survivor myself, I found she said things that were seriously identical to how I felt. Literally had exact same thoughts or feelings that I had and it felt surreal to me. A very strong feeling of “Wow! It wasn’t just me” type thing. I do believe she went through a horrific childhood and had genuine struggles and experiences, but I really wish the book would have been strictly factual. While embellishing does make it interesting, it IS harder to feel a true connection when you are unsure what is a lie or what is truth. Also, sometimes it was downright confusing or puzzling. There were several times she would just randomly say something happened long after the fact or simply hint at it happening, but it was nowhere in the book. Like saying people kept coming up to her at school to share their stories. Or the ones making rude comments. Or the fact that she wrote in journals growing up, but nowhere in the story does it say she was publishing things as a child. And I do agree with other reviewers a little. The author claims to have gone through ALL of that abuse to save her siblings, but really she saved no one at all. She still allowed them to be severely beaten and starved in front of her? So how was she saving them? It wasn’t her “job” to do any saving or anything, but it’s the repeated claim that she did that is throwing people off. I wish the book also had more information on the siblings and how they coped. And I wanted to know more about her parents. Why does she not have any anger for her mother? Her mother was also a monster so why is it directed to only 1 parent? And why does the mother have zero consequences? How much was true about Paul? Did she really attach herself so strongly to him that she was willing to try cheating on her loving and loyal man just because he messaged her? Paul, in the book, was a total tool. Why was she glued to the kid who literally avoided her and treated her like trash when she had someone else there for her who loved her? I really wish we knew the truths from the lies 🤷🏻‍♀️. Ps. After I read the book I looked her up online. No matter how much is embellished in the story, she still had a horrible experience that none of us should ever go through. And she is literally fighting for her life today. Life is just not fair. I am glad I bought and read this book, if only to help ease her families struggles in a monetary way. I wish her the best in healing

This powerful book tells the story of a remarkable individual who overcame profound abuse and adversity to become a passionate advocate for others. The author’s strength, resilience, and determination are truly inspiring. Through honest storytelling and hard-earned wisdom, they demonstrate that healing is possible and that even the most painful experiences can be transformed into a force for positive change.

A very young woman tells of her shocking but true life story of domestic violence and incest. Why you should read this book, is because she was able to clearly tell what helped her, why she was eventually able to tell, why she wrote about her experiences: conversely she identifies the thoughts and feelings that prevented her telling her story sooner, when she might have been helped; the mistakes and oversights by the agencies and the multiple gruelling court cases, before her father was eventually incarcerated. One highlight was the court support person appointed to be with her at all appearances, show her the courtroom before hand and tell her what to expect of each appearance as well as coaching her where to look, how to accept and cope with her emotions and how to cope with questioning etc. Towards the end of her story, she has an opportunity to address a seminar of social agencies and court staff, telling part of her story but also sharing why she didn't ask for help and how she was betrayed by the services ( eg sending a letter to her parents saying Child Protection had found no reason for concern - no thought had been given to the parent' s reaction - or that it might endanger the girl' s very life!) This is a required read for ALL those involved with child protection, counseling, policing and court. BUT ALSO, for those in anyway affected by family violence and sexual assault. The message for them is to keep on telling their story until they get help, to trust their gut instincts, that their resilience will grow and help them survive to the point that they move from victim to victor or from survivor to thriver. I really believe that this story can help many who read it with a teachable spirit and a non- judgemental honesty.

For me, the story was Heart-Warming. The way Brooke 'sacrifices' herself for her family without being a rebel of sorts is commendable. I like Gina's role as well. Without directly confronting her or the family, the way she handled the situation is what makes the story par class.

Inspiring and touching, it truly gives you a sense of what children in abuse family goes through. A must read definitely

K.L Randis is an extremely brave and inspirational woman. This book pulled at my heartstrings and made me go into deep thought about aspects of the justice system I had never considered before. You should give it a read

An amazing book you can hardly put it down . The story is heartbreaking but Brooke calls herself a survivor more than a victim . We should take from her the strength to go on, no matter what and funnel our copying skills into productive outlets more than destructive ones

英語は母国語ではないので、英語の小説はほとんど読まないのですが、この本はスラスラと読むことができました。それだけストーリー(しかも著者の経験に基づいた)に引き込まれて、一気に読みました。日本語の翻訳も出て日本でももっと読まれてほしいです。