Dirty Little Dog: A Horrifying True Story of Child Abuse, and the Little Girl Who Couldn't Tell a Soul (Skylark Child Abuse True Stories, Volume 1)

When I first picked up this book, I thought, 'This person can really write and I'm going to enjoy this one.' "Enjoy" is not exactly the word that came to mind after I'd read Sophie Jenkin's story. If, like me, you've never been molested as a child, it's still easy enough to think in the abstract that sexual molestation is a terrible, disturbing ordeal that some children go through. But this very graphic book will really get to you, make you feel you are there with Sophie, sharing her disgust and shock and confusion, sensing her fear and distress and utter repulsion. Fortunately, poetic justice was eventually served to the perpetrator and empowerment was all hers when she discovered him sixteen years later in a school staffroom. I think everyone should read this book to be aware of who may be lurking around children (the mother's naivety was appalling) and to realise just how seriously paedophiles' actions affect the psyches and destroy the lives of some children. Just as importantly, I think, everyone should read this book so that they can watch for and understand the behavioural signs of children being molested.

I’ve bought and read all of Kate Skylark’s books. I like all of them. It was disappointing when I was reading my copy of “Dirty little dog” and found that page 36 was missing. However, it didn’t seem to take away from the story at all so I didn’t dispute it. Just putting it out there. All of them are great stories, awful yes, but they show you’re not alone and can survive and overcome anything.

i read this short book in one morning, but it is one I won't forget. I agree with the author as she has trouble forgiving her mother, who didn't abuse her, but handed her over to a child predator. This is a good example of how predators groom their victims and we adults may not always have our eyes open to a person's intent. This is a reality of how many abusers are never convicted of their crimes, and the victims may never tell anyone what happened, may never get counseling, and may never have anyone believe them or comfort them. So very sad.

A decent read and absolutely horrifying what happened to this poor little girl. I do have a major issue with the fact that, when she was an adult and found out he worked at the same school, she don’t go straight to the police, especially since she had his dna on the toy he gave her. In the two months before he then killed himself, what other child may have been molested by him? It was her obligation to report it, especially since she was a mandated reporter by the very fact that she worked in a school. Really disturbing that she didn’t think to do that.

A great read on childhood sexual abuse and how it really affects the victim. No Hollywood revenge embellishment, just reality. This book would be a great book to have in school libraries to help children who are experiencing this trauma.

It was not easy to read this horrifying true story of child abuse. Poor little girl thought her painful, abusive, life was normal. This book shows how difficult it is for foster parents when they agree to take in a sexually abused child. On one hand they want to help the child and on the other hand they do not want to jeopardize the other children. This is a short story and I read it in a couple of hours. I recommend this book for mature adults

Child abuse is a life changer. Child abusers should have their lives forever changed, physically. This woman will never have the chance to be who she would have been. I don't know that I could forgive my mother either, that is a tough one. Glad he killed himself and glad she was around to know it. Too bad he didn't do it sooner. I am sending positive thoughts your way young lady. You have a brave soul and I smile with the thought of you enjoying your time free of "that".

Too short and didn’t keep my interest for too long. Also didn’t need to hear her go off subject and talk about different stuff that wasn’t telling the story

Must read I love the way this lady turned her life around so much hurt yet she came through

How can a mother let her little child go with a stranger that she just met? The book shows how she tries to dwal with the abuse alone with nobody to talk to or even recognize the symtoms.

I found this story sad but also easy to read. I gave it a four star rating as I felt it was very condensed in content. I think a bit more time could have been spent exploring feelings. However it's worth a read

Hard to believe parents could be so careless.

What sort of Mother lets her 8 year old daughter go off with a stranger overnight? Very unsettling. I would have liked to know what happened when the Mother was confronted, if she was confronted at all. That was what was missing from this short story. I also don't understand why Sophie didn't report him to Police once she knew he had vulnerable children in his care. She says a couple of months past but he shouldn't have been allowed a couple of seconds alone with any other child.