Teresa Cooper Pin Down Reviews p2

Teresa Cooper Pin Down Reviews p2

superb!!, 16 Sep 2007

By J. WALKER (YORKSHIRE) - See all my reviews (67 book reviews) Fantastic - best autobiography I have read all year. Well done to Teresa Cooper for bringing this story to the public eye. Teresa suffered horrific instututional abuse and it made me cry to think of Teresa being so alone in her young life. I hope this book will put some ghosts to rest for Teresa. Teresa shares some beautiful photos of herself and her lovely family which must give hope to other survivors. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Pin Down. Author, 2 Sep 2007

By T. L. Cooper (England) - Kendall House was run by the Church of England and used by many social services with up to 2000 girls being sent there. Kendall House was first exposed in 1980 before I went there for it's chemical regime which horrified many but sadly after it's exposure in 1980, what went on behind those closed doors became what can only be described as a closely guarded secret until now. Kendall House, Gravesend, Kent was a place you would expect to find in a savage cold war but this was no cold war, this was a children's home for vunerable girls in care of local authorities. A place where you would expect care and compassion but that didn't happen. We can not begin to understand why those in a position of authority chose to ignore what was going on behind those closed doors and exposing it for the first time since the public outcry in 1980 is a step forward and ensure this never happens again. Sadly it still happens today and we have two choices, ignore it or do something about it. Say no2abuse and give children the voice they currently don't have. My book is backed up by overwhelming files and evidence and may we learn from these experiences and of others. I dedicate my book to all those who have suffered the devistating affects of child abuse. Kendall House is not related to the Staffordshire case The worst prison would be a closed heart

powerful stuff , 30 Aug 2007

By M. Thomas (nottingham) - i'm still in shock after reading this book. i can't believe that we can call ourselves a democratic country yet still allow things of this nature to go on under our very noses!! Teresa is a real inspiration to us all - i know people who have been through comparatively little in their lives and use their experiences as excuses to waste away their lives. Teresa's fighting spirit has enabled her to produce a well written book that should be read by anyone and everyone, especially those who think that this country is without it's faults.

Highly recommended, 30 Aug 2007

By G. Paterson (London, UK) - I read this book in one sitting, I just couldn't put it down. How can this sort of thing happen in this country? It's a miracle that Teresa Cooper survived and has gone on to make a life for herself. I wish her all the best and hope she gets justice.

Cycles of Deprivation, 30 Aug 2007

By M Woods - Separated from her parents as a baby, and put into the care of Wandsworth Council, Theresa Cooper's fate was sealed. Lack of professional child care stratagy, poor decision making, a string of inappropriate placements, each one subjecting her to multiple and mostly unqualified, untrained carers, ensured that she underwent the worst form of emotional and physical abuse a developing child can experience. If the child care services of Wandsworth provided Theresa with a damaged and neglected childhood, no doubt the very essence of deprivation they wished to protect her from when putting her into care, they excelled themselves when she became an adolescent. The horror of Kendal House, an adolescent unit for girls, with its (generally) unsupervised group of staff, overseen by a shady Dr Frankenstein, syringe in hand, compounded all the abuse that went before, except now it was with powerful psychotropic drugs and a regime of "Pin Down". And so the cycles of deprivation spiral down, deep into the body and mind, deep into the very substance of the soul. Reading Theresa's disturbing book, I came away with a sense of wonder at how she survived. I'm still wondering, reflecting on the terror of her ordeal, and can only conclude that her remarkable book, no, Testament, should be made obligatory reading for everyone setting out on a career working with children.