I've just finished your book,which I couldn't put down - I empathise with you - my childhood wasn't a happy experience but it was no where near anything you experienced.

I believe that I survived my childhood, and came through it inspite of my experiences and I believe you've done the same. What doesn't break you makes you stronger? Well I feel it has with me ... and after reading your book I believe it has had the same affect on you. Wishing you and your family much happiness, love and success in your campaign to improve the lives of so many vunerable children. Michelle Dorling

I read your book cry silent tears and just wanted to say that you are an amazing person. What you went through must have been absolutly horrific for you. The best part though is that you are really helping people now and I am so glad that you have a normal life now. I have a 16 month old daughter who I love very much and I just cannot understand how any mother could do the horrible things that your mother did to you.

Can I just ask though what happened to all of your abusers and your brothers and sisters?

Thank you
Jenni xo

I have read your book and been very moved by it. I have also read others in a similar vein. It's unbelievable that anyone can treat a child this way. It has prompted me to write this poem called INNER STRENGTH:


Was it my fault you touched me that way
Was it my fault you beat me each day
Did my face say come get me solely for your pleasure
Take me when you want me purely at your leisure

If I lock the door will you leave me alone
Will anyone save me from this hell that I call home
If I let you do it will you leave my little brother
Promise that you’ll kill me if I say a thing to mother

Every day I woke I saw the black cloud o’er my head
I remember that you came to me each night in my bed
Why did you hurt me when I promised to behave
I couldn’t make a sound, I had to be brave

As the years moved on I got away from you
I found an inner strength and my confidence grew
I reported what you did and you denied it all
But I persisted, I was no longer small

What you did enabled me to grow to who I am
Now I know your life is just a worthless sham
You’ll spend your life in prison where you belong
And I will lead a good life because you made me strong

Dear Mr Peters,
I am in my early twenties and from Australia. I was given your book from a friend returning from a holiday in the UK. Despite the difficulty in reading your book, I could not put the book down. I felt so compelled to understand and realise what can actually happen in this world and the unfortunate evil that surrounds us. I'm sure many people have said this to you, but I am truly sorry for what happened to you but also truly admire your courage and stength. Your father would be so proud of you!! If you know of any agencies within Australia, that help abused children I would most appreciate your feedback. After reading your story I really want to help.... my next step will be to pass your book on to someone else and spread the word down here in Australia!!

Thank you for sharing your story.
Liana

Hi Joe
I bought your book at London Heathrow Airport a week ago. I live in South Africa but i bought your book at Heathrow on my way home. I started reading it last night and could not put it down and finished in early hours of this morning. I had nightmares and still feel sick to my stomach that the people that should have taken care of you did this!! And got away with this... Your website is amazing - you are amazing - to have come out of this a survivor - stronger than ever. Keep up the good work. Keely

Dear Joe. I am a 15 year old and I am still reading your book,Cry Silent Tears at the moment, I have 1 chapter left untill I have finished it! It's kept me up late every night reading as you have such a gripping story to tell. It is horiffic how you were treated, child abuse should stop!! My parents do fostering and we meet soo many children from different backgrounds,and most of their stories abuse is involved in the reason why they are actually in care! You are amazing to pull yourself through this trauma of losing your farther and having an abusive family! You've done a great job to get yourself out of the abuse and trying to help others inthe same position as you.. Can't wait to read your book, Cry Myself To Sleep, if it is half as good as the first I'm sure I will be hooked again! Good luck in the future x x x

To Joe's Dad - RIP x

Hello Joe,
As with many others, I also just finished reading your book. It was given to me by my mother as she could not get passed the first few chapters. She gave it to me as she knew I would be able to 'cope' with reading such painful events in a person's life. This is because I too have endeavored some abuse in my life, by all means it was never by my blood relatives or family, and was never as horrific as what you detail in your book, but the fact is that there are many who have, are and will continue to suffer in silence. After reading your book I became rather frustrated about the ending, however, I realised that I too never turned in my abusers. I Understand why. I am just writing to you to tell you that I have come across many difficult cases in my life with regards to helping children with their own situations, weather that be abuse, self harming, or their behaviour. But one thing is for sure that their is always a reason why people do what they do, and why we behaviour the way we do. I agreed with you strongly when you couldn't understand why the social workers would not continue an exploration into your case. But I have come to realise that this is a field for those who can think out side of the box, it is more than a 'job' and should only be taken on by those who do truly understand. However, from your book, i have a greater understanding of how different our worlds are as well, I am in Australia, and while our system is also in need of great change for the better, it seems that the UK system for social workers is rather basic, being treated as 'a job' rather than an opportunity to commit themselves to those children who are in dying need. It really does stir up ideas of what we can do as individuals to change this.
With that said, I believe that you are what we call the definition of resilience. It really does take every bit of ones self to get through an ordeal like that, but at the same time I am thinking that a small part of you wouldn't have it another way as you have probably learned a lot of life lessons, which got you to the point in your life that you are at now. I also completely understand that. Without your suffering, I bet if you reflect you probably would not be doing what you are right now. Thats what makes us who we are, and who we turn out to be. The only difference is that at a point I believe that you made a descion for the better. I can see how easily it would have been to give in and become like your 'family'( I say this as 'family' because as I guess you would have learned that is not what a family is. It really takes more than a physical act of having
a baby, or being born to the same person to be a family.)
I think that we and many others have some connection with each other through going through events such as abuse. It really does change who you are, or maybe it lets you know who you are and the fact that we can prevail above the most painful, humiliating, despicable acts. But for us to be able to say' yeah, that happened to me but look where I am now.' really gets me thinking what makes a person prevail above all the abuse, when they can so easily become just like those who abused them. From study and getting my degree, psychologically, i do understand how and why this happens. But there really has to be something else there that we have to prevail above the abuse that make us different from those who have become abusers.
Well your book, im sure has stunned a few people, but I am thankful that it has been written and published, without it I don't think people would be aware of exactly what goes on in this world.
A huge thank you to you for bringing this further insight into my life. It would be great if you could email me back and let me know more of your thoughts. However, I do understand that you are a very busy person.
Best wishes really do go out to you and your family where ever you are now in the world.
Jessica

Hi joe
As I said in the email I admire your bravery for sharing your brutal life with the world , I cried reading your book it was so sad , some people dont deserve kids and there's others who spend thousands trying to have kids of there own and cant , why cant people just give unwanted kids away to people who will love them properly , in all the books I've read like yours I think the social serves have a lot to do with this kind of thing by not believing kids like you it makes my skin crawl that this kind of thing is still happening , when reading your book I even got into bed with my son , I was so upset reading it I was getting paranoid , you did well Joe I admire you , best of luck with your life now your deserve a good one

Hello Joe i have just finished reading your book which i will have to admit wasn't sure i was going to be able to read after the first few pages as having a daughter at the age you were when most of these awful things started happening to you choked me to tears it is so hard to digest that there are people in this world that would do any of these things to an inocent child let alone to their own flesh and blood but i picked it up again after a few days as i just had to see how your life unfolded and to my joy you have over come all of these things and gone on to show that it can be achieved i to was sexually abused from around 5-9 it isn't an easy thing to have to deal with but i too have found happiness with my partner and two adorable girls who i cherish and would never allow anything like that to happen to them good luck with your future all our love xxx

Hi jo. I have just finished reading your book. It brought tears to my eyes and a lump in my throat. The world is a sick place and to think this is happening to someone right here right now is terrifying to say the least. I just hope lesley (your mum) She does not deserve to be called mum and all the others that caused you pain in your life has read this and feels sickened and ashamed with themselves. Im glad you were able to move on and find strength. Good luck to you and your family in the future.