Summary

"Broken" is the harrowing true story of Shy Keenan, a survivor of unimaginable abuse who co-founded Phoenix Survivors to fight for justice for victims of sexual abuse and rescue children at risk. From her earliest memories, Shy's life was marked by neglect, violence, and sexual exploitation at the hands of a network of depraved individuals, facilitated by those who should have protected her.

Born unwanted in Birkenhead, Merseyside, Shy was beaten, sold, swapped, photographed, filmed, left for dead, betrayed, ignored, and orphaned, thrust into adulthood completely alone. Her childhood and education were stolen, replaced by dodgy authority care and the media. Despite the horrors she endured, Shy refused to become a stereotype, dedicating her life to helping others escape similar fates.

The book details Shy's struggle to survive in a world where anything that made you different made you a target. She recounts her experiences in council estates, where football loyalties could be a matter of life and death, and her determination to rise above the low expectations society had for victims of child sexual abuse. Through it all, Shy held on to her "Phoenix fire," a will to survive and a faith in the good that people can do.

"Broken" also explores the complex psychological effects of abuse, including the unwelcome insight into the minds of paedophiles and the multiple life sentences that steal parts of adulthood. Shy's external and internal monologues reveal the constant battle within herself as she strives to prevent herself from becoming the stereotype of a child sexual abuse victim.

Names and locations have been changed to protect the identities of individuals. Despite the dark and distressing nature of her story, Shy's journey is ultimately one of hope and resilience, as she rises from the ashes of a broken life to become a beacon of light for others in need. This is the shocking true story of a life reclaimed, a voice found, and a fight for justice that continues to this day.