The Girl Next Door

Has anyone read this? It's by J. Ketchum... I heard it's based on a "true" story that happened in the 50/60s. I tried getting it at the library and they said that the story is too gruesome and graphics to carry. I live in small town USA. uhm...

Want to know more about it before buying it off of Barnes/Nobles.

I haven't read it. I'd be awfully upset about the library trying to censor what I read though!

I think I have. I don't remember much other than it was really disturbing.

It doesn't sound familiar, but now I'm curious. Funny how a little censorship makes you want to read something even more. True cases are always the most gruesome, aren't they?

LOL Lori! Yes, that's why I want to read this so bad now.

The story goes that these two girls were sent to live with their aunt after their parents passed away. The aunt took a dislike to the older girl and something happened, but she ended up locking the girl in the basement and tortured her. She also allowed a group of teens (8-15 years old) to have their ways with the older sister. Whatever goes. She was forced to eat feces, etc...

Basically, the question is... if you allow a group of kids to have free will, what will they do?

So I really want to read it (aside from the intrigue of it being a true and banned book from the library) and really try to understand the psychological of peer pressure, teens and complete freedom...etc...

I went and looked it up- I definitely remember it now. The movie was good- in an awful way (although they changed quite a bit, the parents were alive and it wasn't an aunt) but as usual the book was way better in a really really awful way. Can your library order it for you through their system? If not try ebay of half.com before paying full price.

I put it on my wish list at PaperbackSwap.com. Just curious now.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sylvia_Likens

Or if that doesn't work, Google> Sylvia Likens. This happened right here in Indianapolis in the 60's and people still talk about it. This was a horrible, horrible tragedy. It sounds similar to what you are talking about. There was a book and I think a movie made about what happened to this poor child.

I will never understand how people can be so mean and evil to each other, and truly, I hope I never understand it.

Tanya

Tanya! Yes, the author wrote the book loosely based on what happened to Sylvia... but he changed the name of the main character to Meg...

I will try the circulation desk at the library and see if they can order it for me...

This book is on its way to me now from Paperback Swap.

Lori, I ended up borrowing the book from my sister who got it from her library up north.

It was slow at first, then I couldn't put it down. I cried. Then I got really mad. I finished it in 3 hours.

It took me quite a while longer to read. I just put it back in Paperback Swap's system. The author took a shot at trying to explain what the feelings behind the abusers may have been and how it could have happened, but I don't get it at all. Not one of those kids was smart enough to tell their parents?

Yup... not one told the parents... It was real doom/gloom. Anyhoo, I read the "real" story online and it's similiar. No one in real life told the adults... One tried, but stopped (if I remember correctly).

Sadly, our society now is in worst shape.